Happy New Year

And Change.

A wonderful word that has recently been used by famous blogger that I've decided to steal.

This will continue to be a year of change. Change for the better. Better me, better family, better life . . . not that the old life was bad. But I made some radical changes in the fall and am still adjusting to them. Good changes, scarry changs and changes that had a trememdous impact on several people.

So, on that path forward, I will also vow to change my blogging habits and do so more often.

Peace

Happy Thanksgiving to All and to All a Good Night!

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl!

May you be smarter at 25 than you were at 24

Public Transportation

Oh the adventure. At least it isn't Monday.

Because I snapped last month and quit my job, I've been thinking about the next road. In the meantime I decided I could "temp" for awhile until things settled down. I figured the holidays are coming up, people want to be off. There is this huge scare about the flu - which funny now I'm not hearing about so much becuase of the senate health bill, idiot killers, etc. but I digress.

I got a job in town which means taking the bus and then subway or driving. Not driving, the traffic doesn't bother me but the $20 a day to park seems really wrong. Although I've been taking the train and that is costing me almost $9 a day, but hubby has been dropping me off in the morning and picking me up at night so it is still about an hour from home to office and we're spending some time together. Plus I've got 40 minutes of uninterrupted knitting time each way on the train - score!

So last night he says to me, I'm going to leave before 7 tomorrow, do you want to go in early or take the bus from the house? duh. So this morning I drove down to the end of the neighborhood since it is raining and I wanted to catch the bus at the main road so coming home would give more options. Got to the stop, bus came in less than 5 minutes, no stops to pick anyone up and we were on our way to the train station. Only got two rows of knitting done though. I haven't ridden the bus to the train station in almost 20 years. In fact I haven't worked across the river in almost 20 years. I remembered my first day here why I chose to work on my side of the river. But there you go. So any way, got to the station, looked around and oh my has it changed. I was smart enough to figure out where to pick up the bus this evening (lower level) but the couldn't figure out how to get to the subway entrance. LOTS of security at this location. Finally had to ask someone. Found my way, and lo and behold, there was a train just sitting there waiting for me :)

It was the wrong train. Oh it went into town, just that the first stop was at the other end of town. They use to have huge maps in each car at each door showing you the different lines, and stations. Now they have one teeny tiny map at the door of which you can't see because of the lady sitting in front of it and I didn't want to seem like a lost tourist or someting. Had to maintain that air of "i'm cool and do this all the time". Fortunately the next station transfers to other lines, so I got off, went down stairs and another train was pulling into the station just for me. Fortunately this time it was one that I wanted. Had to ride back 5 station stops, didn't knit for fear I'd mess something up or forget to get off.

I still got to work 25 minutes early.

oh well

The Art of Positive Thinking

I've been doing a lot of that lately. my 'tude has improved about a million percent in 5 days and things are looking up. Since I've decided to become self supporting - and that lead to a few sleepless nights, I've put feelers out for clients and gotten a few, I've ordered about all the stuff I need to work from home, and then I got scared and signed up at not one but two temp agencies to try and get a little outside income once or twice a week until I'm completely up and running.

Of course, this week was to be dedicated to getting set up, meeting with school counselors and just plain decompressing. But I got a call last night, can you work thursday and friday? of course I can. Oh, and they will want you next week too, probably, is that okay? Well of course. Now I'm scrambling and nervous and annoyed that I have to take both the bus and subway into town tomorrow in the rain, but there you go. The pay rate is better than I expected and whats a little rain?

I'll tell you. Today is nasty, I've been glad I could stay home, except I had to go to the market becuase I didn't go this weekend. And WHAT is with these women in the market in the middle of a rainy day? In the past I refused to step into the doors of a market on the weekends unless it was between 6 - 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. There are few people, no screaming badly behaived children and you aren't getting run over by impatient rude shoppers. Sundays are a wonderful time to shop. I found out Target that that time is good too.

So I'm thinking, meh, it is raining and cold, it is the middle of the week in the middle of the day so how bad can it be? HA! Well, I will say it wasn't crowded, but really women and yes it was women, old women (my age) not elderly I can make a lot of exceptions for women. Two tried to run me over, one kept coming at me head on no matter what isle I switched to. ack. they didn't even have children with them. Oh, maybe those little brats playing tag and hide-n-seek simultaneously were theirs.

So I'm back to my orignal plan. If anyone in this house wants food it had better be on my list by the time I leave sunday at sunrise. Or you can go to the stinkin store yourself!

Change is in the air

The times they are achanging, and it is looking good! Positive thinking is what we/I need now and we're off to a great start. Just hope I can keep up the momentum. I have faith, determination and necessity so onward!

This is a Test

Sometimes, I astound my self in my dumbassness. A few weeks ago, I had enough at work. I quit. There were words of course, I'd been there 6 years. We had become friends as well as employer/employee. I did it all in the office. I never complained, just did more. (see dumbass comment above) But I'm going back to school to finish my degree which is a very good thing. I've been working on it for almost 30 years on and off. Now the kids are grown, I've got the time and finally mostly the desire.

Employer spent more and more time either networking (i.e. "visiting") with clients and strangers or at home "working" While employer use to come to the office around 10 or 11 in the morning, now it is 2 or 3 pm. And that's okay, because it is employer's and employer can do whatever employer wants. But then I was being held hostage in the evenings. by 5pm I'm done, I get up early, work at home, get to the office around 8am and at the end of the day I'm ready to leave. Employer however parks in the driveway blocking me in. Every day it's I've gotta go, can you move your car? yeah, I'll be ready to leave in a minute. which turns into 30 or more minutes. not nice. and while I'm on my whinning streak, 6 years, no raise. grief if I take a few days off every 3 months (4 day weekend) to visit family. never call in sick. got a few bonuses the first 2-3 years, which made up for no annual raise, but then as the economy tanked, the bonuses stopped. With a vague "I'm going to take care of you if/when I ever sell the business. And we can retire and live together im my country home, won't that be fun?"

Well, in a work no, that won't be fun. I take care of you now, why would I want to do it when I don't have to? harsh? yeah, maybe.

But that isn't the test part of this. I've been sending my resume out looking for another job, one that will fit in with classes, be less stressful and appropriate for an old lady. I've sent lots of resumes out, not much response, which is okay, but I did go on a cold call last week. The lady was nice, said she'd be doing call backs this week. This morning at about 7:30 she called to say she wanted to interview me and one other person and was I still interested. Well, yeah. I'm not sure, but I haven't had any offers and I'm getting nervous although I shouldn't be, and what the heck, it will either work or not work. SO I said I'd be glad to come in, but I couldn't do it today, could we do it tomorrow morning? She said sure, she was interviewing the other person at 7:30 could I come in around 7? I said sure, I'm up at 5 and that isn't a problem, but maybe we should make it 6:45 so that she and I didn't run into each other. SHe said well, I'm here aroud 5 so that would be fine, and why don't we make it 6:30 so there is enough time. Absolutely I replied.

So, now I have to leave my home at 6:15 am for a job interview I'm not sure I even want.

I am a dumbass.

Yard work

I got up bright and early to rake leaves. I figured just the front today, we bought a new "toy/tool" friday night. Fancy schmancy yard vacuum thingy looks like a lawnmower. I was assured that it got good reviews on research . . . and the people who didn't like it just didn't know how to use it. huh? While I take people's comments about products with a grain of salt becausey, well yeah, sometimes they don't know how to use something properly, or as in my HD case, I know how it should work, don't tell me to read directions . . . . hrumph

So off I went. The wonder of yarn maintenance is crap. Oh, is sucked up the leaves well enough and I was pleased with that portion, but whoever designed the bag was a moron. It took three people to dump the bag into a bag. Well, yes if I'd gone out and bought some rolling dumpsters, it would have been easier to dump by one person, but I didn't. I shouldn't have to. I said no. This isn't going to work, take it back.

I finished raking the entire front yard by myself in about an hour. Yeah, lots of bending and dragging bags of wet leaves. Forgot to meniton the rain huh? But it was done. Next weekend I'll tackle the back, with my trusty giant rake, and be done in a couple of hours.

Good Mother, Good Employee and Good Friend

Steph, just wrote a heartfelt missive about how sad and disappointed she feels for leaving SOAR to be home with family. GO STEPH! (and of course I don't know her except through her blog, but I pretend and there you go). She's right, it sucks being a mom sometimes, and it is absolutely right that you let one and all know your disappointment, after all, why can't we be disappointed? and more important, why should we not be allowed to express our disappointment. I don't mean looking your kid in the face and saying "I hate you because I have to do something for you instead of me" it means, "man, I'm sorry you're sick (or whatever) and I'm glad that you need me but I'm really sorry that this happened now because I have been looking forward to my trip all year". And what would be wrong with that?

I have been accused of being a not got employee and not good friend. That hurt. I didn't reply that the accuser was not a good boss and not a good friend. Because sometimes you know that whatever you say is going to be flipped and then it is all your fault/responsibility. Then you sit there and wonder WTF and how did that happen? Then you realize that the flipper is really good at it and why are you surprised because you've seen similar instances of this same scenario happen over the years. And hmmmm, maybe all those other people had a point. So what do you do? Resign. As in find my replacement I'm out of here. As in, OMG as of next week I will be unemployed and not able to collect unemployment because I QUIT.

AM I NUTS? Well, actually someone has accused me of that, but when I checked with my family and a few other friends discovered that no I'm not. And you know the crazy people don't know that they are crazy so maybe since I thought to ask people if I was crazy, that meant I really wasn't. Maybe. But I do know that I got through the first of my last two weeks, and by the end of the week things were better. I've been given the opportunity to change my mind until the last time I walk out the door, and I honestly thought about it for about 30 seconds, then stopped myself. Things won't change. The circumstances won't get any better and I know that some people talk behind other people's backs and make things up - because that is what they truly believe. I'm also aware that being two-faced is human nature. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

On being a good friend. Good friends don't try and come in between their friend and that friend's sister. There. I've said it. I didn't realize how serious the situation really was until recently. Fortunately I did realize that there was a problem and adjusted my conversations so that they did not include said sister. But the stress and strain was apparently coming to a head (see quiting above). I feel better. My face doesn't feel "heavy" never had that one before. and maybe my heard palpitations and racing and other crappy feelings will stop some. Although I've been told that goes with the territory of "the change" like some horror flick. We shall see. I'm going to try and keep a better handle on the blog, since I know so many people read it - hahahahahahha I'm gong to be better at time management, since I'll be looking for a new job for the foreseeable future. I'm going to try temp work for awhile and most important. I'm going back to school. I'm going to finish my stinkin degree even if it kills me. Then I"m going to have to decide what to do when I grow up.

Oh yeah, and I need to spend 5 hours at the dentist at the end of the month. Can you say pudding for thanksgiving????

Author Unknown

I couldn't resist repeating this - well done.

A recent study indicated that yarn and thread gives off certain pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quanities, in enclosed spaces the pheromones (in the yarn) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome (similar to the one squirrels have before the onset of winter, i.e. storing of food) therefore perpetuating their species and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed that these yarns emit a very high-pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as "loomers". When played backwards on an LP the sounds are heard as chants, buy me, loom me, and wind me into a ball.

In order to overcome the so called "feeding frenzy effect" that these yarns cause, one must wear a face mask when entering any storage facility and use ear plugs, to avoid being pulled into their grip. (One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a yarn store with WW@ army gas masks and headphones). Studies have also indicated that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects that these yarns have on the human population. They are called "yarn store clerks".

It's also been experienced, that these same pheromones cause a pathological need to hid these yarn purchases, when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash). When asked by a significant other if the yarn is new, the reply is "I've had it for awhile."

Ravelry Swaps

Is there a support group out there for swap intervention? I like ravelry, I pop in on it every day or so just to see what is going on in the fiber world. I like a few of my groups a lot. Some of the groups I just peek into every now and again to see what's up.

WHY have I now joined 4 swaps all between now and the end of October? What need is missing in me that I feel I should do this to myself? arg. Now I'm going to have to spend a whole day organzing my list and then shopping.

Please, stop me. I declare that I will not join another swap before Christmas, 2009.

My Weekend

This is Stanley. Stanley likes ham. He doesn't like roast beef. He doesn't like chicken. He does like tuna on the rare occasion I give it to him. He wants ham, every night at 8:30. He is most insistent on it. If I ignore him, he will go find someone else to help him. If he could open the refrigerator he would. He will often go to someone else anyway just to see if they are on their toes in hopes of getting more. Do you know how expensive ham lunch meat is?

This weekend I:

- Raked the back yard, oh my the acorns are falling fast and furious this year, I guess to make up for being NONE last year. I liked last year's crop better.

- Mowed the front yard, and raked up acorns.

- Helped DH work on the car he is restoring. The one we bought for DD when she graduated high

school, then bought back from her a few years later when she and SIL bought a new car and

needed cash. Did you get that? I paid for the car once in 2002 and again in 2006.

- Helped DD refinish her spinning wheel, which I bought for a few years ago unfinished (because

I'm cheap and had just rebought a car I'd already paid for). She has stained her Ashford

Traveller a beautiful cherry - she will finish the job next weekend.

- Joined yet another ravelry swap because I get caught up on the moment and can't seem

to help myself

- Was enjoying Fidler on the Roof when work interrupted, now I'll have to rent it, ugh.

- Cleaned the gutters, acorns you know. Oh crap, just realized I forgot the garage. Guess what I'll be doing next weekend?

- Missed a call from my son in Iraq :( hope he can get to a phone tomorrow or the next day, I need my weekly conversations with him, even if it is only, love you lots, can't talk.

Girlfriends and Sisters Week

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says "Oh Crap, She's Up"

I like this. It is time for a new attitude. Too many of us are wallowing and we need to remember how grand life can really be, and to seek out the wonders of it, not just wallow in the muck.

And a special atta girl, to a family who has been sorely challenged this summer. May life only get better each day and have faith.

Spinning Sunday

Spent a wonderful lazy sunday afternoon at Misty Mountain Farm working on spinning techniques. Had a bad habit pointed out to me I didn't even realize I was doing, now I'll have to watch my hands or tape some of my fingers together, learned another drafting technique, and learned to navajo ply! That was a biggie. Didn't even think about asking, but Linda offered and yeah man. Also bought some stuff for ravelry swap partners and something really cool for me. Of course I took the camera, but neglected to pull it out. Will at least show yarn as soon as I find said camera and take pics

Off My Duff

Ugh. okay, let's start again. I finally am getting around to cleaning off the camera and here are pictures of my charity knitting project going to warm woolies. Vest not included but being worn by the indistructable Helen. Whose teeth were punched out by my mom's brother when they were little and he was being a stinky boy about something. She survived grandchildren and has been living with me for the past 35 or so years. Sometimes in the cedar chest becasue for some reason she creeps out my daughter and husband. Probably because she is toddler size and has a vacant start. Oh, but how I love her. And the cats don't seem to be bothered by her so there!

Hat was knit with Yarn Pak chunky and the stripes are courtsey of my phat fiber box (RuLe OuT) Emily Dame-Gibes Kanga Feet - spun sugar" 100 SW Australian Merino Fingering weight, which worked meh with the chunky, but experiment is the name of the game and I really like how it came out.

This butterfly has been hanging around for a few days, either jack hasn't seen it yet, or they've declared a truce. Such a pretty summer afternoon.

Hard Month

It has been a really, really difficult month. Summer is almost over and I declare September first my January 1st, time for reflection and a change. more to come . . . In the meantime, I'm going to take a page out of Jack's book for the rest of the weekend.

Don't bother me I'm exhausted

This is pretty much how I feel . . .

Lace didn't go so well yesterday. Haven't lost faith, but REALLY not pleased. Will keep as learning tool, and I really need to remember with bobin lace that directions are not a suggestion but pretty much do it this way or it will look like crap. Plodding along. The problem now that I'm finding is there is not enough time to do all the things I want to do. I think I'll pick a day for spinning, a day for lace making and a day for working on my sweater. Then the other days I can do what I want which will probably finish sweaters before it gets cold and not feel like nothing is getting done. Of course, I still have to find time to clean and do laundry. Working on that separately.

Yesterday I went to a friend's farm to buy yarn for my swap partner. Got some great stuff I think she'll like and today will get that box ready to do since it was probably due out in the mail last week. I know the partner sending to me is in singapore for the rest of the month and I told her I'd be glad to wait until her return - thinking how cool would stuff from there be? They yesterday when I got home I got another swap assignment. this was after I promised myself I wouldn't join any more swaps until September. But this one is a simple one, 1 yarn and 1 tea. No extras. Wonder how many people will follow that rule? So, get my box put together, go to the tea shop and I'm set :) No package to army son this week since he moved and hasn't gotten a new address yet, but two packages to swap. It is looking good.

Well, I'm not doing too well with my summer goals. MUST get crackin. I haven't come close to throwing/freeing 1,000 things and I know it doesn't have to be done this summer but really, sholdn't I have done more than 25 this month? I've been careful not to bring unnecessary "stuff" into the house and I have tossed and replaced a few things, but still. I'm getting better at time management and have decided that my biggest time sucker (besides the innernet) is dinner. SO my new goal for the weekend, after I get everything else done of couse, is to sit down and not only make a menu with accompaning recipies, but to then actually make them. I love my crock pot eventhough it is a little old I am going to commit to the next 2 weekends because lets not get lofty goals of cooking in it both saturday and sunday in the hopes that we will have enough leftovers for the rest of the week. stay tuned

Trolls and Bullies

Well, I haven't figured out what title to use yet but I feel compeled to write something about the Yarn Harlot and recent developments - and man just the hateful nature of some people. While all her fans are supporting her 1 million percent and I am one of them, it just floors me about how mean people can be. We'll not go into the curiosity factor that some of us have not been able to reign in even though YH asked us to . . . human nature and all that. And those of us blogging about it are not honoring her request either. But then that is what freedom of speech is all about isn't it? Religion has no real place here either. I believe that the panopticon wrote a wonderful blog about his experience with religion and a train ride a few months ago. LOVED IT. And really ladies/gentlemenn, let's not bicker amongst ourselves - really.

I haven't gotten on the troll's website, and will try very hard not to. She is still JUST a bully. That means she can and will eventually go away because her needs at some point will not be met. She will move on to someone else and we should all be prepared to be her next victim. How do people get the idea that it is okay to attack another person? Bullies baffle me. They will be the first to hide behing the bible, the Cnstitution and their right of free speech. They are also the ones who hate war/soldiers/government etc. They are allowed to go on their merry way and I certainly don't know the answer on how to deal with them.

But I do know that that it is much easier to be kind and to take the high road. Not the snotty, stuck up high road. But the belief that rising above any kind of personal atacker is the better way to go and the belief that what goes around comes around. In this light I tend to igore the items/people who I can't agree with or events that I just plain don't want to know about. Except for the very personal nature of this woman's belief/attack, she is not much different from the agressive driver or the person in line and the market who keeps shoving her basket into the back of your foot because you aren't moving fast enough for him/her. But that is a rant for another day.

So, lets all move on. Go back to the happier days of last week. There is a sock summitt to prepare for (of which I'm not going becuase I really don't like making socks) so I didn't even sign up, but if I lived closer I'd go shop :) and let the sun shine once more.

I will continue to read comments in Ravelry and on the Harlot's blog becuase I'll admit I'm curious, and I will try very hard to refrain from mentioning said troll an future blogs. Which won't be too difficult becuase obviously I don't post so often. This too shall pass

Stepping off my own soap box now.

Vet/Pediatrician

My cats have become my children. My children say they feel replaced. hmmm.. Nah, the cat can't reach things off the top shelf for me. Nor do they write drunken messages to their friends on facebook in the middle of the night. But that I believe is for another day.

cranky cat less cranky cat

We went to our annual vet check this morning. I had two very unhappy cats in my car. Stanley went right into his crate without a word. I didn't hear from him until he got on the back seat. He has a pathetic cry. Jack you would of thought I was putting into a sink full of water. He fought, growled and was generally very unhappy from the moment I zipped him in. Thankfully I saw his tail before the zipper caught it. So we are all healthy - yea! Something got Stanley's nose a few weeks ago but it is healing nicely and the vet said it was probably a spider - that he stuck his nose somewhere he shouldn't. Jack is good and contrary to what everyone says, he isn't overweight, he looks fat but for his size he is just fine. (and I already knew his teeth were good). They are now basking in the warmth of the front yard and they may never come in again.

1,000 Things and More

I need to make a list of things to do. Then I need to remember to look at it.

I started tossing. I have 3 weeks to get my knitting room reorganized and get my son's room back to his room. arggggg. I did throw out the old clothes drying rack that was rusty, too small and half broken. I also bought a new one so that doesn't count as truly decluttering. I've gotten two swap boxes in the past two weeks. I sent two out as well so those don't count either. BUT I've made progress in other areas. If I'd get off the computer, I could spent 15 minutes cleaning my desk and count each piece of paper towards my 1,000 items. do the M&M's I ate count?

Insects

We discovered this the other morning. I'm not fond of bugs that aren't lady bugs, fireflies or crawly things that turn into pretty butterflies. This home is definately not a friendly neighbor and out it went.

1,000 Things and Flylady

I've been reading/getting flylady for oh, 6 or 7 years now. Love the concept, have a hard time getting into the routines. I make my bed (military dad, that one was pretty mandatory), clean my kitchen because I finally learned the wisdome and joy of having a clean kitchen. Do laundry pretty much every day, because once when my kids were little and my parents came to visit, by the time I got home the entire livingroom was full of clean folded clothes, and my mother said she felt like she was working in a chinese laundry. After that, the laundry never got quite so bad (oh the shame) and she wasn't even criticizing. Swish and Swipe I'm getting, good on my bathroom, good on the basement bathroom. Son's bathroom, well he'll figure it out - although I was in there today and it DEFINATELY needs mom's hand, sigh.

Now, I've been turned on to 1,000. Get rid of 1,000 items in a year. And there is a story about a guy who only owns 75 things, and before he can bring something new in, he has to get rid of something old. I can actually see this happening. Well, maybe not the 75 things, but using the 1,000 number as a starting point. As I look around the family room, I can see a good number of items that can GO. but not jack cuz he's so cute sleeping on the footstool, which he fell off of a few minutes ago when he stretched.

So, tomorrow I'll start tossing. Why tomorrow? Well, it is late now and way past my bedtime, and tomorrow is trash day so I can put things straight into the dumpster then roll it out. Will have to remember to list all the crap as it goes. . . . yeah right.

I spent a lazy weekend piddling around the house, being sad that my boy is far away, but proud that he is serving his country, and finally getting around to cleaning and recovering the dining room chairs. Okay only 2 because I am doing them one at a time, and doing other things in between. This may take the entire month of July to finish. I also washed the curtains in my bedroom, took the extra big quilt to the laundrymat to wash and dry in the big machine and caught all the dust bunnies under my bed (but there won't be pictures of that)!

I found out how much my cats really hate 4th of July and the noise. For the first time in 24 years, we did not do fireworks at our house. In the past about 4 families and various miscellaneous friends (and even a few years the cops) have gathered in our front yard for a celebration, everyone bring pretty things. Now the neighbor kids (and mine) have grown, moved on and there is a new generation of neighbors. It is fun to see the little ones running around, or being pushed in strollers, so it is time to pass the batton so to speak. I noticed the family next door had a group so let it be their turn. I will continue to watch from my window for a few minutes, then go to bed at a decent hour. I believe it usually took us 3-4 hours to get through all the fireworks.

fuzzy picture of our beautiful stanley, but something got his nose. wasn't a cat fight but he's also missing a tuft off the top of his head. Scalped right down the the skin, but didn't hurt the skin. He eats well sleeps the same and wanted to go back out yesterday afternoon so I guess it will get better on it's own. Pet ownership is hard sometimes.

Off to a day of spinning with friends, willl try and get pictures taken (yeah right) I take the camera with me, and then get engrossed in my project and forget to use it.

Random Acts

Well, this hadn't planned on being my topic today but life is full of changes. There is a girl who started a movement to make people (especially girls/women) smile and feel good about themselves. We all know there is a serious lack of that everywhere. Check out www.operationbeautiful.com I love the concept and think I'll put a few little notes in my bag for those times I'm out and about too.

Adventures in Wool

I've decided to try my hand at preparing wool from the beginning through spinnning a fine yarn. Well, fine yarn isn't exactly accurate, but yarn nonetheless. And from the beginning means AFTER it has come off the sheep and some of the gross stuff picked out.

the right picture is 4 days of cold soak, the left picture is draining before going into clean water/soap.

A friend of my sisters bought 350 lbs of wool. That is a lot of wool. She was willing to sell some for a very reasonable price. I was willing to buy some at a reasonable price becuase having never soaked and combed my own wool, we're just not sure exactly how this is going to work. After this first soak, it is definately much cleaner and while it smells a little barn like outside the house right now, I waited until this evening to change the water and though we're not expecting rain in the next few days the smell should be gone before most people go to work in the morning. windows seem to be closed, ac is running, it is good.

Looking forward to seeing how this looks Sunday when it will be time, maybe for a hot wash :)

I picked up 2 5lb bags of romney, one brown and one white. I believe I've soaked the white first, here it is after the first 4 day cold soak. It is looking decidedly white to me. I haven't even opened the other bag yet becuase I'm doing 5 lbs at a time.

May 30th

Well, I guess that's not so bad. Of course for someone who is trying to post more often that is really bad.

DD has successfully settled into her new home and last weekend got a kitty. Flynn is a 3 year old rescue kitty from the Fauquier SPCA. He has been there since early March and we don't know why but he is a friendly kitty (except when he is scared and uncertain and then he hides behind the bed) loves to be petted and brushed. And is very familiary with the concept of catnip. His new little brother Charlie gets to come home Friday. I don't know why they insist on neutering kittens so young, but there you go. And I must say that they are much more reasonable about pet adoption. The one reason we did NOT adopt our cat from our rather large area (went to three shelters) as well as the cat rescue league here is because you fill out an application with personal references then they come to your home for an inspection and interview to see if you are "qualified" to own a cat. huh? I told them that I wasn't required to be inspected and interviewed to have a baby and I certainly wasn't going to subject myself to some stranger deeming me "appropriate" to own a cat. Craigs list there I went.

Anyway, Fauquier has you fill out a form, pay your money, tell you that if for some reason things don't work out, please bring the kitty back to them. and then give you a free bag of kitty food along with your new family member and there you go. They were all very nice, the place was as nice as an animal shelter could be and I would recommend it to anyone.

pictures to follow

Happy Birthday to My Boys

Dear Boys - I am so proud of both of you! You have been a true joy and have become such wondeful men (although I hesitate to say grown men). You have surpassed my wildest expectations and should be proud of yourselves. You are kind and honest and have grown into adulthood without getting into any major trouble! That says a lot about you. Because you either played by the rules all the time or didn't get caught - and I don't want to know about not getting caught.

I love you
mom

Kitchen Appliances

Ya know, you buy a new appliance, you expect everything to be just peachy. I've replaced my refrigerator and washing machine both. Hooked them up, turned them on, a thing of beauty. I ordered a new dishwasher a few weeks ago. Paid extra for Saturday delivery, and no they didn't need to hook it up, we'd take care of that, just haul the old one out please. Friday night took the old dishwasher out and left it in the middle of the kitchen floor. I keptthe bottom rack thinking that I'd need to do dishes for about a day until we had time to hook the new one up. Planned to be home all morning saturday since they said the window of delivery was between 9:45 am and noon. Not a problem, there's always things to do at home. They arrived at 8:35 a.m. It was starting out to be a fantastic day! I should have known.

Once it was in, we rearranged our day a little, went out and did some work elsewhere and figured we'd hook the new one up that afternoon. Well, it was really Sunday before we got to it, but it was done relatively easily, turned in on to the rinse cycle as directed by the instructions, no leaks under the sink, the water filled up just fine, it is quiet even without all the sound barrier stuff ont the bottom installed yet. . . left it out just in case. No water underneath. High Five.

Then we noticed the cat's feet were wet. Huh? Then I stepped in a puddle of water off the the side and coming from under the cabinet. Not the side where the sink and hoses are. ARGGGGG. Stopped the dishwasher, unscrewed it from the wall, pulled it out, couldn't figure it out, everything underneath was dry! However, the was water dripping out of the grey plastic box on the left side. Huh? Got a long piece of hose, hooked the water line back up, ran the rinse cycle again and immediately water started puring out of the plastic box - the one with wires attached to it. Not good.

Called the store 800 number where we purchased it, on a sunday evening of a holiday weekend. phone was answered, calls routed to India. I have no problem with anyone, but they can't do anything but repeat how sorry they are that I'm having a problem and cut me off. It took 35 minutes and 6 transfers to get someone who could only say (after I'm sorry you're having a problem) that service would be able to come out Tuesday between 8:30 and noon to look at and it probably wasn't hooked up correctly. Please tell me, oh never mind.

So, here I sit, after paying extra to have a new appliance delivered over the weekend, missing work time waiting for a reapirperson. I've left the dishwasher in the middle of the floor so that he/she can run it and see what the problem is and not assume that we're too stupid to hook it up and make sure the connections are tight.

The only thing I'm really wondering about is was this actually a new appliance or did they send me one that was returned? When we opened the door for the first time, it definately had water in it. I assumed that was from testing it before packing, but I dunno.

Lawyers

Location: warm snuggly bed
Time: 5:24 am

Phone rings. Okay. Have a kid out of the country, an elderly mom who lives 8 hours away, and staff who have jobs this morning at various times. So of course answer the phone.

Attorney, oh, why did you answer the phone so early in the morning? Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. Blah blah blah. I need a reporter today at 1. we were in court yesterday and all showed up at 1:30 but the judge had 1 on his schedule so we have to go back today.

WTF????? It didn't occur to him to call yesterday? Well no, of course not. Attorneys are bad about that. Plan ahead? nah. I'll call and if they don't say yes right away, I'll whine until they do.

Well, it is the nature of the business, and it got me up. Now I've got to go get two other people up and tell them their schedule has just changed.

Happy Friday and have a good holiday weekend. Anticipating Rolling Thunder - YEAH!

Chocolate and Coffee Swap

I've joined the C&C swap on ravelry and my partner this time is from Fineland. HOW COOL IS THAT? Okay, maybe for those of you living there, not so cool, but I think it is great! I haven't traveled for years, and it is on my list of things to start doing in the next few years now that everyone is grown up, last kid will be out of college next spring and then my money is more mine. I started stalking her she has a website and I though hey, how cool is that? Popped into visit it. It is all in finnish. harump, don't think I'll be learning that language anytime soon and her english is really good so I'm feeling like that stupid american now, but maybe there is a way for me to get it in english. I'm going to work on that one. Of course if I was more capable on this stupid computer/innernet stuff, it is probably a simple fix. Well, I did figure out how to blog and it didn't take THAT long, just haven't figured it all out yet.

.

10 Cities

Okay, I'm totally stealing someone elses idea from yesterday becuase I'm lazy and unorganized. Actually that isn't true, I've got the guest room pretty much cleaned out and ready to turn back into the guest room and just have to get the storage area organized/cleaned so I can empty that money pit of a storage facility we're renting. It was a stupid idea, but I'm getting rid of things I don't love/haven't used for a year, if I think I treasure its memory, I'll take a picture first. Why do we save things thinking we will need/use them at a future date or they may be valuable one day? That is such a total crock. Don't people watch antique road show? 99% of the junk that comes in is just that.

Oh yeah, cities
1. New York
2. Atlanta
3. New Orleans
4. Rome
5. Geneva
6. Omberamuague (okay I can't spell it but it is in Germany)
7. London
8. Seattle
9. Juneau
10. Chicago

Quiet

This morning, except for having to call my children to be sure they got up in time for work. LONG night and further commute now. It was a very peaceful morning. Putzed around the house, ran the dishwasher since I forgot last night, got a load of laundry done, vacuumed upstairs (and changed the bag in machine) and generally played suzie homemaker for a few minutes. DS will be home tonight, but I have high hopes that I'll be able to get a few more things done. If I set a goal for this week I know I won't meet it because for some reason if I have a list and try to get specific things done at a certain time, my inner princess rebels and nothing gets done, but I'll list away anyhoo. I've got to get the stairwell storage cleaned out and ready for more crap that is coming from the storage room so I can close that out. I want to get the guest room reorganized and furnished, the new dishwasher comes saturday sometime and I WANT TO KNIT

wallets

As I was helping my son pack to move I saw him put his id and bank card into his sleeve pocket and I asked where his wallet was. He looked at me blankly and said he hadn't had/used one in a long time. I just stared. by the time he was 4 he NEEDED a wallet. It was important I was informed and needed to have lots of cards in it. So, we made an ID card and covered it in plastic so that it was official, and whenever we had used gift cards and store "bonus" cards (we'll get into those another time) he kept them. Now he doesn't need one. Hm

For some strange reason as I was doing more of his laundry today to reached into a pants pocket. Out came my clean hand (thank god) and $12. Jackpot! That will cover the dry cleaning bill! Ain't gettin that one back baby. Added bonus, I quite sticking my hands into his pockets about the same time he was entralled with the wonders of a wallet. If it was alive it would surely be dead by the time the wash and dry finished, and if it was just plain gross then the washer could go another round with it. One time was more than enough.

Come to think of it, not only haven't I found his wallet while putting things away, I haven't seen his drivers license either . . .

Moving Day

DD moved into her own apartment today. Made three trips to carry stuff from her one room at home to her 1 bedroom apartment. Got rid of a few extra pieces of furniture. Rain held off and hopefully it will be a good day tomorrow to finish.

Kept the pedom. on and logged 15,508 steps!

Call me any time

I said those words to my DS a few days ago. He's overseas, his schedule is erratic and slammed full of things to do before he moves again.

I didn't really mean to call at 3:30 am. Well, I do want to talk to him whenever I can, but really. And when the phone rang I sat straight up. We all know that the phone ringing in the middle of the night is rarely a good thing. So the first words out of my mouth were are you okay and he said yeah. I then said you know it is 3:30 in the morning here don't you? He said yeah, you told me to call whenever I could. So. Had a nice 10 minute ish chat, then I went back to bed, he went to another class.

I'd better start going to bed earlier I guess

Step Count 8201

okay, so if nothing else, I'll write my count down every day.

I managed a 25 minute walk last evening, with my old kathy smith walking cd (not on my ipod) then cooled down with CSN. Missed getting to the rental office for DD so we're going to be there at 9am when they open. We'll both be late to work . . . well, I've got the phones so it should be fine.

Wednesday

Oops! well, missed my goal already. Oh well, we go on. DD got her apartment and will be moving next weekend. That leaves DS at home and stuff. It is going to be a very busy month, re-doing her room and turning it back into a functional guest room, closing out the storage room whose monthly rate has increased twice in less than a year. Then I've got to find a place for all the stuff that is still in it. Well, guess that means I will have to be ruthless with getting rid of the crap in the house that we don't need/haven't used in awhile. I had wanted to paint the laundry room over memorial day weekend but guess I'll be working on the other room instead. that will probably make me happier and then I can get my knitting room back into shape and kint in peace :)

Long Distance

I received a call from far far away this afternoon. Hope to receive many more. My next job is to research webcams and figure out how to install and use it. Technology is not always my friend.

Happy Mothers Day

From my children.

Happy Mothers day to all the moms in the world. May you have a day you want, enjoy and cherish.

Today begins the first day of DS1's reassignment overseas. My goal for the time he is gone is blog every day. HA! that will be a good one, but if he can serve, I can write.

arggggg

I just spilled my guts and then deleted before saving!

How does that Happen?????

Long story short, spent sunday with my sister for her early happy birthday and yarn tasting. It was great. We discussed the latest ravelry swap we were doing and anticipating our partner info when we got home.

My computer crashed. died. gone. taxes done butnot printed. gone. 3 years worth of pictures I never baked up. gone. husband watching wife cry in silence . . . after 2 days he got my pictures back and temporarily restored turbo tax. Didn't even lecture me on how stupid I was to not back up. He is setting new system up so even a dodo like me can back up

Why I don't blog more often

Because I can't come up with things like:

No single theology holds the monopoly on faith-based douchebaggery.

Thank you Franklin.

However, I'm going to figure out how to jazz up my blog and write more . . . starting April 1st.

I've been busy, there is stuff to say and do. Maybe only interesting to me, but then I don't suspect many people read this either.

There's a counter thingy I want to get up on my blog and I am bound and determined to figure out how to get audio books from the library onto my computer without leaving the comfort of my chair (which my big fat butt is sitting on).

April 1st is in 3 days, I'd better get crackin!

knitting Retreat - Part 1

Destinaton Boone, NC.

Well we got up at 4 am, fortunately the truck was ready to go, and hit the road. After almost missing my turn 4 miles from home WTF we got to our first stop 70 miles away picking up my sister. Then since she lives in a small town, I went and got my truck washed because of all the snow 3 days earlier and I couldn't stand that salt anymore. And of course, becuase she lives in a small friendly town, the car wash is open 24/7. They take credit cards, and you're good to go. Yeah me! I finally felt clean. And yes, I took a shower when I got up, but you know what I mean.

We stopped at a McDonalds/Gas Station around 6:30 thinking that one stop would serve us until we needed lunch. We knew to get lunch before arriving at our destination because our first class was at 1 and we wouldn't be fed until dinner. Used the gas station side of the store first, filled up, bought tums and gum, did the necessaries on road trip gas station stops then walked over to the mickyDs. Placed my order, egg and cheese biscuit, coffee. Oh, sorry, there's no coffee today. Huh? The water is out. Huh? I just stood there looking confused. My DD ordered steak and egg bagle and OJ. Oh, sorry, there's no OJ. Water is out. Huh? So then the three of us looked confused. Finally the light bulb came on over my head and I looked at the cashier and said fine, cancel the order. Looked at my family and said we'll just find another one. Then walked out wondering how they could serve food with no water and thinking ick!

Found another MickyD, got food and we're off. Then it was drive, drive, drive Im near Washington, DC. Boone is in the mountains of NC. The north end of the state as opposed to the south end where my mom is. It is about a 6-7 hour drive. Very uneventful fortunately, but man, did I see a lot of cops running radar.

Got to Boone at 12:15 thinking we were doing great. We had 45 minutes to check into the hotel, check into our class, get our stuff and then be in time for class at 1. Traffic stopped right as we got into town. It took us 30 minutes to go abut 2 miles. Then the parking lot at the hotel was packed. But we got in, checked into one room (the other wasn't ready yet). Checked in with our group, got cool knitting basket, unloaded the truck and put all the stuff in one room, and got to class only 10 minutes late.

Learned two ways to join yarn in the middle of a project. WAY COOL, of course unless you already knew how to do it.

Sunday

A lazy day. Everyone is mending well, the sick seems to be slowly leaving the house. This morning there was a trace of snow on the ground but not the street. I had covered some of the spring blooms that decided last week it was time to wake up and see the world. Since I love my spring flowers I thought it prudent to cover them up.

DS and DD fought over a box of froot loops this morning, just like old times - they are both over 21. I told DD to go open the new box and DS immediately said no, I'll share! HA

Got oil added to my car, and washer juice filled up. DD put oil in her car, new wiper blades and washer juice. DS got transmission fluid topped off, wiper blades and washer juice. The news said we can expect 4-9 inches of snow tonight. We haven't had snow all season, except about an inch in January. I LOVE THE SNOW, but wish it would have come friday or saturday night instead. I've got the kind of job that doesn't care about weather problems and tomorrow I see a nightmare afoot. Think I'll go to bed extra early tonight, and hope for a nice surprise in the morning. If it stops in time for the plows to get the roads done, tht's great. The problem is all the stupid people in little front wheel drive cars who think they can go in the snow. grrrrrrrrrrrr

Sick Part 2

DS2 now feels better. Decided yesterday morning he felt better and maybe he wasn't going to die after all. Of course, DH came home last night saying he didn't feel well. Fever of 102 by 2 this afternoon. I'm sleeping in the guest room tonight and for probably the rest of the week.

Big plans next weekend. 4 day knitting retreat. Paid for. Going. I'm now taking ecinacia, C, reg vitamin and fish oil. I'm taking so much good stuff for you my system isn't going to know what to do about it.

We're expecting "weather" tomorrow afternoon and evening. I plan to stay home and knit, maybe go get my hair cut and fill up the tank for travel to work Monday am.

Sick

DS2 is sick. Sick enough to want to go to the doctor tonight. That is because he heard about a kid who died of flu earlier this week. So off we went to the minute clinic, which actually is a pretty cool concept. Walk in for easy stuff. The girl said she couldn't see him if his fever was 103. it was 102.8. She did flu test - negative. She did strep test - negative, which I could have told her because when you have strep you KNOW you have strep. But she sent it to the lab anyway and said she'd call tomorrow. Maybe pneumonia? I'll call our regular doctor tomorrow and see what he wants to do. Problem? NO HEALTH INSURANCE. That totally sucks and I can't believe we've got this problem. The Tylenol keeps the fever down, he's not miserable anywhere else.

DD has a sinus infection. Got drugs for that this morning.

DH has now decided he's sick (temp of 99.9)

I'm going to a hotel with the cats.

Tea

I went to wholefoods to find a tea a friend recommended. some kind of cammomile with citris. I'm usually not one to like fruity teas. Don't like the smoked ones either. plain no sugar is the way to go. But this was particularly good :) While I was there I also got a box of Rooibos becuase I heard it was very good for you and I don't like green tea either - leaves me very dry mouthed. THIS is my new favorite tea! not only is is smooth and mild, but it doesn't get bitter and it didn't cost $15 a box!

Happy/Sad

My DS#1 is coming home the end of march for 10 days. This makes me very happy because except for a long weekend he got off, we haven't seen him since August (and that was only for 9 days).

It makes me sad because when he leaves, he goes back to base, trains for 5 weeks and then is leaving for the sandbox.

But, not going to dwell yet. DD has a wicked cold. DS#2 said he's not feeling so hot. I just gave a nasty cough and now my throat hurts. My Office mate is sick - I alcoholed the phones at the end of the day and was sure to use only one all day. Think I'll finish my hot cocoa, take some drugs and go to bed. Don't have time to be sick!

Traffic Rant

Not only did the idiots in the state of virginia decide to go with a contract to widen the beltway in an area that really is only bad in the morning for a few mile stretch - and don't get me started on how many trees they've cut down since last fall. Trees that have been there for over 30 years. But then as I'm reading more and more about this project, which only benefits the company building the wider road, because hmm, it is called a HOT lane, and to use it you have to pay a fee. By the mile. AND, if the income generated enough doesn't meet a certain amount, guess what? the state has to kick in the difference. To add insult to this, in the article one of the dopes who actually signed on for this said "oh, I didn't know that was in the contract". Arggggg, don't you people R E A D????

Now I find out that sometime this week, after the cut down more trees, they are going to start tearing down a bridge. The bridge has worked just fine for the past 20 years. and it has been there over 40, just got widened. I take the ramp onto the highway every morning and every evening. I know that from my house to the beltway is 10 minutes if there is no traffic and if there was an accident anywhere in the area and my road is the bailout route, that it may take 15 or 20 minutes. Still, not a big deal. NOW I learn with my morning coffee that they are closing one half of the bridge. Three lanes. the other bridge is to handle all the traffic both east and west for at least a year, then the open the new side and close the current side. Are they widening it? of course not. they are just making it different to allow for a toll booth to get into the new HOT (i.e. pay for us) lanes. I may start drinking this morning.

Not only would I never use HOT lanes because it is against my general principal to pay for any road my tax dollars have already paid for, but now for at least the next 2 years I've got to either leave earlier to go to work, and don't know how I'm going to get home. I can suffer from terrible road rage and i hate mean people and trust me people around here are not only mean, but selfish and poor drivers. They already feel they are entitled to not have to sit in a line of traffic, and I see accidents getting way far worse.

but then when it is all said and done, there will be less trees (and really, I'm not a tree huger, but I do love them) my taxes are going to go up to pay for this stupid idea, and the company building the road is going to reap a HUGE profit for the foreseeable future.

I haven't figured out how to see the initial contract but I hope to god that somewhere in it is a limit to how long we're stuck subsidizing the company earning the profit.

Ravelry

I'm on ravelry. A lot sometimes. I like ravelry. I like seeing what other people are talking about imagining them living next door to me and then being surprised when they are on the other side of the world! How cool is that.

I tend to join groups. I just looked today and saw that I am in about 50 of them. Now really, am I going to read 50 different group thingys? of course not, so I got out of a couple that I'm not that into anymore, or haven't had a lot of activity. Sometimes I'm reading something cool and just mindlessly click the join this group button. Then I don't have to remember so hard where I saw something two weeks later. But maybe that makes me look like a pig. Joining all these groups I can't reasonably participate in. Or that I have no life. Well, I'm not inclined to give up sleep, although I don't sleep much anyway right now.

And now Jack has remembered how fun it was to sit on my desk when I type and try to get the cursor thingy, his tail laying across the key board, and Jack, your head ain't made out of glass ya, know?

Anyway back to my rant. But cool things do happen, I've got a few new email type friends and I've picked up a few hints and ideas that will be helpful, and there is one group I know I'll leave in a month or so, it is for a knitting retreat I'm going on and quite frankly, anyone I still want to communicate with in July will be a buddy by then and I can email and not visit through a community forum. At my knitting guild meeting last night I heard about another guild in the area who does really cool things. Do I have time for another one? I'd like to join a spinning guild. But I think they meet the same night as the knitting guild . . . maybe I'm getting ready to click too many groups?

I went to my knitting guild meeting tonight, but should have stayed home. They did a workshop on making beaded jewlery which I knew I didn't want to do. I did want to see some one to ask for some help. Of course she didn't show. I ended up leaving early and thinking for the first time, I really wasted my time tonight :( Well, that's not true I always get some good information and overheard a couple of conversations that I will follow through on. More about that another time.

But my pink jacket is almost done, I just have to find someone to show me how to crocet the neck binding and then block it. It is very pretty, but I'm not sure I love it. I may rip out the bottom band and make it wider. I didn't follow the directions all the way through, and made the band shorter because I had made the body of the jacket longer, not realizing that there was a seed stitch band around the bottom. Because, why after all shouold I read the directions all the way through before starting?

I'm slowly getting ready for my knitting retreat which is really only in two weeks now. They haven't sent the supply list, but I'm thinking I'll pretty much have everything I need since I'm making a sweater, taking a cables class and a couple of little technique classes, and spinning. I've mapquested my directions. Told my sister what time to expect me that morning, becuase we're leaving before sun up it is about 6 1/2 hour from her house (allowing for gas and food stops) and we need to be there between 11 and 12 so we can settle in our hotel room before a 1pm class. Will be eating on the road that day I fear. I've got to get DS to change my oil, fill up the washer fluid thingy, air the tires, etc. Starting to get excited.

Happy Valentines Day!

Had such a lovely day! Met an old friend for lunch at a tea house. Very nice, not too fancy, but will definately go back. Had to do a little bit of work, but not too much, about an hours worth. Got a foot massage since I've been feeling crappy all week and haven't done one since before Christmas. I have found that a little reflexology once a month seems to keep me happier and balanced. Don't know if that is true or just in my head but I'll pay anyone 30 bucks to rub my feet for half an hour and be glad of it.

Just finished a nice steak dinner, DS2 helped me cook it and it was perfect :) Now I'll relax with a cup of tea and call it a good day.

A Day

I dared to walk the treadmill last night. My knees still hurt a bit from step class, but not enough to worry, my abs now hurt and I've been telling myself all day that is a good thing, and if I'd of used them and exercised more in the past oh many years, I wouldn't be complaining about them now :)

It's the weekend, I'm gonna catch up on some knitting, got a few things I'd like to try and get finished and a big project I've been working on that I'm determined to get done by the end of the year!

Oh and I'm having tea with a friend tomorrow who I haven't seen for a couple of months. :)

Exercise

Tonight DD and I decided to go back to our step class. We quit going on January 1st because the instructor was all excited that the classes always fill up in January as everyone makes their diet and exercise resolutions. I'm already not good at step and the rooms aren't that big, so we opted out until all the excited people came to their senses and quit going.

It was a good size class, about 6 of us. BUT Amy wasn't there! There was a different instructor just for tonight. That's cool, different can be really good sometimes. Didn't matter that I didn't remember much from December. Fortunately I'm old enough not to be embarrassed when I make a fool of myself. However, this instructor was F U L L of energy. sweat dripped of me for 45 minutes. My legs were spaghetti towards the end. I may not move tomorrow.

Fires in Australia

Somehow this seems more horrible to me than the annual fires we hear about in California and all the tornadoes we seem to have in the mid-west. I cannot imagine. please donate to the australian redcross

redcross.org.au

There is a raffel going on if you donate to win donated prizes. Donate for free please

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, it was a week ago, but life happens huh? Had a very nice moning to myself, which allowed me to catch up on what I hadn't done while I was in Atlanta, and recover from the trip, and rescue the house from my absence, which really wasn't too bad. laundry though . . . Then I spent the afternoon doing what I wanted :) Here's a picture of the mug I got in Atlanta (mom got a matching one) and the sweater I got. I also got a heard rate monitor for my exercising but didn't take a picture of that, and cards.

Taken From Others

Use the first letter of your name to find a word for each of the following:





Your Name: Stacy

Four letter word: Soup

Boy Name: Stuart

Girl Name: Sally

Occupation: Stripper

Color: Sienna

Something Found in a Bathroom: Slime

A Place: Salt Mine

Reason for Being Late: Stuck Knitting

Food: Soup

Something You Shout: Score!

Atlanta

I spent Thursday and Friday in Atlanta with my mom visiting museums and seeing cirque du Sollie. Thursday we saw the Chinese Terra cotta army from one of the first Chinese emperors and then had plenty of time to visit the rest of the museum. No pictures allowed. But we did have lunch at the restaurant on top of the Westin hotel and saw the roof of a cool building. we were 72 storeys up, WAY high and I didn't look straight down, but had a good time, the restaurant spins so you get a view of the entire city. Of course I admired the city, all the great architect, the Olympic area, and didn't take any pictures except the one building.

On Friday we saw the King Tut exhibit, had lunch at Chateau Elan in Georgia, very nice resort with a small winery. Bought three kinds of red wine to try next time I go to my mom's. I flew down and didn't check luggage so it couldn't come home with me. Got back to mom's by 5:30 and had a late (for her) dinner and went to bed EARLY.

Saturday, we went into Charlotte, a 2 hour drive, to Baskets of Yarn and had a luxury yarn tasting. More about that on another blog. Then I sat at the airport for hours, so mom could get home at a decent hour and my flight wasn't until early evening. But I got a lot of knitting done while i waited and just listened to my ipod. So, relaxing all the same. Two flights, because of course I had to fly south and change planes in order to fly north, and there were NO screaming kids. that was a true blessing. After a short drive home, I was home by 10 pm and in bed and asleep by 11:30.

Apparently I was missed on this trip.

Travel

I'm getting ready to go visit my mom for a few days. From her house we're taking an overnight trip to Atlanta. I was trying to decide what knitting project to take and thought that I could work on my Mermaid sleeves. Since I started one, got half way done with it and saw HUGE error. Rip city baby. Then I looked at the front I had started . . . rip city there too. I bought this Hanne Falkenberg kit and by golly I'm gonna make it. Durn it. I figure an hour on the plane wednesday won't get much knitting done because I'm in a middle seat - ugh but I can read up about my raging hormones and how I'm going to control them with diet and exercise - yeah right!

But I digress. Three hours on the bus from mom's to Atlanta, sleeve knitting, miscellaneous down time in Atlanta, maybe a scarf? I'd best get hoppin on that one. Three hours on the bus going back to mom's sleeve knitting. A day with mom? precious. But will spend it helping her get those things done that she wants. Airport going home, with a lay over in Atlanta, yeah well, what can I say? knit, knit, knit. Got my clothese ready, the ipod is charged and loaded with hours of tunes . . . bring it on

Lazy Day

Got my fingers and toes done not that anyone cares, but it was a quite enjoyable hour and a half. LOVE those pedi chairs! Then met my sister half way between our two houses for a hot chocolate and some knitting time. Never had hot chocolate from starbucks, mostly because I refuse to pay for overpriced "names" but she bought so that was a bonus - thanks!

Then we went to a new to me yarn shop. they had some good stuff and I can definately see me shopping there often, even if it does take about 40 minutes to get to. I saw a great sweater/jacket thingly hanging from the ceiling and said to her, love that. Need to get the pattern. She asked, the owner said oh, we're doing a workshop on that in a few weeks. it is from the Kimono book. Well, wouldn't you know that I actually got that bookfor christmas from my sister? and wouldn't you also know that my mom saw it and kept it? Well, I said she could borrow it until I came back to visit . . . so I'm taking it back this weekend when I leave.

Now I'll have to buy more yarn, which I really hadn't planned on doing before Maryland Sheep and Wool. I've got some projects I'm trying to finish up. I'm going to a knitting retreat in NC in March and will have one sweater to start there and I don't know what else

Random Wednesday on Thursday

Let's try again, shall we?

1. Knitting guild on wednesday night. Great fun visiting, played casino knitting game. I'm not much into these cutsey games, but had good conversations and learned about a korean market not far from me that has apparently much better produce at much better prices. Will take a gander in there this weekend.

2. Went hunting last weekend for yarn to make a sweater. Has to be a specific yarn for a retreat I'm going to in March, just have to pick the color and picking colors on line simply sucks. Didn't find the color I was after, but got two other possibilities, swatched one and made a cap with the other.

3. My sister found the color I was after today and will send to me (I'll make another hat) she wants to see the hat I made because she wants that color for the same sweater.

4. working on my jacket, have one sleeve 1/4 done so it is just a matter of finishing it, doing the other sleeve and then putting a color and bottom in seed stitch on. Piece of cake. Wanted to be done with it by Sunday but don't see that happening. well, maybe.

5. I've GOT to get pictues loaded into the computer and posted. WIPs should be shared dont ya think?

6. Going to spend a couple of days with my mom next week and go to Atlanta. Should be fun times - will take pictures.

Inaguration Day

Wow, I have been watching a little tv (with no sound) and am amazed at the number of people who were on The Mall at 5 am. Being in DC area, I've elected to stay home and not get caught up in the crowds and I can work from home easily.

I have also seen come of the one line comments on MSN sent in by various people. There is a lot of hope out there, and that is good, but I too wonder how much pressure is being put on one person to solve all the problems we've got. Somehow I think that many new members of this administration are going to feel a cold slap in the face within the next few weeks when they find out exactly how much they can not get accomplished. I remember when Clinton ran and started. Health care reform was right up there on the top of the list. What no one took into account was that not only does congress/senate get a say in what passes, but the drug companies and insurance companies are not going to want chang eand you can bet your bippy they will be lobbying congress to NOT pass anyting that will cut their costs. Why you might ask when it will be so good for the people? Because it cuts into their profits and their stockholders won't like that.

Should I even get started on the banks? Wow, they needed money to "help the economy and those in need" Hrumph. I sure haven't seen any help. Now they want more. There are 3 million tax payers in this country. The Government should give each legitimate law abiding tax payer 1 million dollars. That would still leave a bit left in the coffer so to speak. And yes, I'm sure that a majority of the receipients would go right out and spend that money on cars, houses, vacations, etc. but wouldn't that stimulate the economy? Why doesn't "the government" tell the banks okay, we'll give you this much money, you wipe out these credit card debts and close the accounts so that the people who were in trouble to begin with have a harder time getting another credit card. Yes, that lets a lot of poor money managers off the hook, but hey, isn't the government letting banks off the hook by giving the more money when they sure made bad decisions letting people run up credit cards they couldn't repay and buy houses and cars they couldn't afford?

I hear how the new president is going to make everything better. It wasn't the old president's fault (and I am certainly not one of his fans) but nevertheless, he didn't cause the stockmarket to fall. He didn't cause the banks to make poor decisions. He didn't allow crooked executives and didn't approve the high obscene kickbacks/benefits that the heads of large companies make. The stockholders control that. Deregulation caused that and plain old greed. The rich will stay rich, the poor will stay poor and those of us caught in the middle will continue to struggle helping the rich stay rich and feeding the poor with our tax dollars.

I am on a spending diet for awhile and will wait to see what the next 100 days brings. I have hope, but am not trusting that anything will change and I fear a lot of americans are in for a big let down.

This morning, I stood at my son's door and watched him sleep. He's 21 years old.

He came home for a long weekend Friday and it is the first time we've seen him since early August. Telephone calls just don't cut it. Sometimes you just have to see the flesh.

I did very well I think when I picked him up at the airport. I stood at the baggage claim area for almost 30 minutes. When he came through the tunnel, I didn't run to him, didn't scream, cry or waive my arms shouting. But I did walk up to him, stand on my tippy toes and hug him until he finally said "okay mom".

Today he spent visiting friends

DD and I spent the day looking for yarn. We are going on a knitting retreat in march and have to choose colors for our "big project". I learned the hard way a few years ago that picking colors on line don't cut it. Of course, I didn't find the color I really wanted but picked two possbilities. I'll swatch them and look at them for a few days. Then I'll need to decide if I want to pick the color I want but no store had, or go with black. Berroco Inca Gold, grey, deep pink (sorta) or garnet (which I want but can't find)


stay tuned

A very very good day!

I thought monday was a great day. DS#1 called to say they had a 4 day weekend and he was coming home. get him a ticket. Of course, he wasn't taking into consideration that airline tickets are at a premium the week you want to travel, unless of course you have flexibility. The Army is not known for flexibility. Then you have to take into consideration that he would be flying into the washington dc area. on innaguration weekend. for what is touted as being the biggest inagural deal ever. Being a determined mother, I succeeded. He leaves at 6am friday morning but gets here before 10 so he'll have most of the day. He leaves earlier than a mother would like on Monday but he does have to fly to florida, change planes and then go west and then drive 3 hours from airport back to base, so I had to be a little flexible. And he won't get back there until about midnight. But as he said, he can sleep on the plane (both of em)

Then I got home and my mom had ordered and had mailed to me an egg poacher. I love her egg poacher. It is about 60 years old. Good Revere ware. She guards it when I visit her. Of course I could get one very much like it, but then I'd have to spend a lot of money and I just can never bring myself to spend a ton of money on pots. Of course, cooking would probably be a bit easier, but, meh. So now I've got a 6 egg one (hers is only 4 eggs) and it looks as if the teflon pan can be used separately to fry. I don't usually believe in teflon pans because you scrape that stuff off, it gets in your food, then cancer city. And yes, I know, if you don't use metal things, the teflon won't come off.

Bathroom Stories

no, not that kind.

Last night DH and DD were chasing each other through the house . . . ages 63 and 24. Don't ask. DD ran into her room slammed the door and locked just as DH hit it. Loud crash. then lock stuck. Reminescent of years ago.

DD and DS#2 were in the bathroom . I thought they were running from DS #1 but apparently not. DD had some glow in the dark toy and was showing DS#2. So of course they went into the bathroom, which has a window. The door locked. they couldn't open it. it took us a few minutes to figure out they were in the bathroom, then the screaming clued us in that something was wrong. Of course DH "mr mechanic" had to try and open the door first. Tried to talk them through unlocking a handle they hadn't locked, and finally saying well, we'll just have to kick it in. That made DD and DS#2 start crying more than they had been. To give them credit, they were 2 1/2 and 4.

So we told them to get into the bathtub and close the sliding door. Two swift kicks (we were a log younger and stronger then) and not only did the door open, but it came off it's hinge and the door frame separated from the wall. Now please explain to me why the door didn't just break? Why would half of the door frame hold on to that door so hard? it was as if . . . well, never mind I won't go there. But, we got a new door, replaced the frame, painted and 18 years later DD still remembers it vividely. Even remembers the stupid toy.

Stash Knitting

Since I've been of a stash diet for the past year, I've tried to knit only from my stash. Except I keep having to buy those little things. I was working on a knitting bag last spring. Ran out of yarn. Went to a couple of fiber festivles, didn't see what I needed. Of course I could buy it on line and have it delivered in a few days but what's the fun in that? I'm definately a touchy feely kinda shopper especially when it comes to yarn.

Well, ended up ordering it on line anyway. Ordered saturday, arrived monday. From across the country. How great is that? Bag is finished, remaining yarn measured and divided for the straps which I'll work on tonight and if all goes well and when does THAT happen I'll be able to felt it tomorrow and then wait a week for it to dry. There lies the problem, patience is not one of my best virtues. Picture to follow . . .

Direction

Saturday night. I'm happily knitting away and watching a stupid movie, which I'm going to turn off shortly. DH is on the phone with son #1 talking toys - because what else to grown men do on a saturday night but discuss their gas powered little cars and how fast can you make them go if you up grade the motor? The stinking car is 15 inches long. son #1's frame is bent because he lost control of it and ran it into the tire of the truck. A real truck. big tires.

Son #2 and DD are on their way to a skating rink 40 minutes away. Looked at map quest but didn't bother to print the directions out. Now there is a receipie for disaster just waiting for it's time. Of course they call my cell phone which is in the room with DH talking on house phone with Son 1. Directions are asked. I say, well hold on, let me go turn my computer on and pull u mapquest so I can see where you are and where you need to be.

DH says to son #1 hold on. then says to me, give me the phone I know where they are going. So I hand him the phone and leave the room. Just how stupid am I? Don't ask. I then hear DH saying when the road ends you have to turn. and then turn right. No, I don't know the name of the streets just do it.

HA!

So go turn my computer on knowing what will come next. . . . . yep, Hey, come talk to the kids. They want you. Imagine.

Because during my days I have people calling me because they are lost, I have become the queen of directions. I even got son #1 and #2 unlost when the were in another state. Of course when I asked them where on the highway they were the answer was mile marker 73. Unfortunately I had to give a long lecture on how map quest doesn't care about no stinkin mile marker and I need a city/town/route or dirt road sign.

DH and son #2 are merrily on their way now, and haven't called for about 15 minutes, so I am presuming they are at their location. Son #1 and #2 got unlost out of state and ended up coming home.

night