still here

Sorry people, I'm still here, but probably won't write until after the weekend. Crazy times. We finally had our family's Christmas tonight and I'm pooped. I thought it would be a blessing to have the last Xmas 4 days after the actual holiday, but then you figure an extra 4 days without sleep, knitting and crocheting and plastic canvasing along and I'm tired tired tired. Everyone was appreciative and oohed and aahhhhed and it was sweet. Mom & Dad got Jeff some craftsman tools and Jeff made my folks some beautiful wooden carved ornaments and a gift cert to their favorite restaurant. I got lots of good stuff! Gift cert's to craft stores, yarn stores, makeup (my fave mineral stuff), a sweet bag with pockets and leather and looks all official job-like (now that I'm working from my "virtual office" aka bedroom, I must look official, you know) that I'm thinking would be great for stashing a project in progress, and some other good stuff. It was a great evening, family, food, OH MY LORD, I've got to take a pic of my mom's present from my brother. OH OH OH I almost wet my pants. Pic and story to follow soon, I promise.

Happy Happy, Merry Merry and can we PLEASE stop listening to Christmas carols now????

the boy did good!

click for bigger pic of my present!

He did great! We had such a wonderful evening! Did the whole turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, crescent rolls, gravy thing and it was SO SO SO good! Kids all played well together, everyone loved their presents, we had a fire raging in the fireplace, played a bit of monopoly and then after kids were in bed, we snuggled on the couch. No big "L" words, but some very intense loving looks and then he said "we're going to be ok. you know, right?" I'll take it.

The pic above doesn't actually show the color very well, the stones are lighter with firey little bits of green. Sounds weird, but looks great! I didn't give him one hint as to what I wanted, but this was PERFECT! :) Big ass smile on my face. I gave him this black serving tray with photos put in of him & his boys, each of his boys' school pics and a pic of him and I and all 4 kids riding on sea-doo's. He has this big monster black leather ottoman as his coffee table and had this sad little silver tray that wouldn't even hold one drink without tottering. I also made him an afghan for his new dark blue leather couch in the fireplace family room. He seemed to really like them, he is all into that whole "making something by hand means something" thing, which I love about him.

MERRY MERRY HAPPY HAPPY and all that jazz!!! You all have a wonderful holiday, we're off to western KS to see the grandma's and will be back on Sunday night.

I may be on the naughty list now...

SO, I'm all in the holiday spirit finally, most of the craziness has passed, my children went to school yesterday (ONE DAY EARLIER THAN THE END OF TERM) with their little goody bags of hand-knitted scarves and wrist warmers for teachers, nurse, librarian and counselor. I've still got to finish an afghan by tomorrow night, but no biggie there as I'm already on the fringe. I wrapped almost every gift we've got last night, and was even in bed by midnight. WWWOOOOOOOO baby it feels good to be almost ready. I'm still searching for star wars lego stuff as the toys r us here is sold out, but it's not a must-have item. I'm still going everywhere trailing yarn behind me and my fingers have little grooves the size of the double pointed needles that are always in my cramped little fingers as I can't stop making wrist warmers. I've still got a few to go.

I was shopping my little heart out yesterday, stopped outside a hobby lobby where one of those bell ringers was singing. I mean this pure voice, it was amazing. I joined a crowd of about 6 people and sang along. It was such a great moment. We, total strangers, took a moment out of our busy commercialized day to bond together with song over the joy of the holidays. Beautiful. We sang silent night, holy night. Then moved to hark the herald angels sing...glory to the newborn king... It went to the next verse and I went right along. Third verse, I goofed in the middle and ACCIDENTALLY said "oh crap, shXt, I mean shoot, wrong verse". MOST of those around chuckled. I sang "third verse, same as the first" (I know, I am a total dork as I feel a violent femmes quote is always appropriate). ONE lady was not amused. She VERY LOUDLY told me off for cursing AT "our Lord and Savior J.C." and asked if I "ENJOY cursing AT baby Jesus" and stomped off. Cripes, lady, I figure the Lord knows I mean well most of the time. Spreading Christmas cheer wherever I go, that's me, the little potty-mouthed angel.

Jeff and his boys invited me and my kids to their house Wednesday evening for our own little holiday celebration. We're bringing presents and food to do a big ol' turkey dinner with the works. We're just doing a turkey breast, and he's in charge of the bird and the stuffing (stuffing makes me gag). I'm doing the rest. Crescent rolls (from a can of course), veggies and mashed potatoes... LOVE that stuff! I'm really curious to see what he gives me for Christmas. I think it'll be something totally practical that I need, but I'm hoping for something entirely NON-practical that is just for fun. We'll see. It's our first present opportunity as we did the take-the-other-out-for-dinner-and-drinks thing for our birthdays in Nov. I'll put details up Thurs morning, don't worry!

Miss me? I sure missed you guys, I've got a lot of reading to catch up on now!

So I took a little trip to crazy-town. I went to the land of la-la where crafters go in the last week before Christmas. Yup, LOST MY FREAKING MIND. I ended up with a migraine, two days of lost time on presents and almost no studying for the big final. I decided I wasn't doing the damn final paper either. I got an A on the final, almost enough to get a B in the class (just a titch of flirting bumped me to the B). God, sometimes I'm glad to be a girl. 37 years old and FINALLY completed all the requirements to get my damn undergrad degree! woo freaking hoo!

OH I couldn't find a doctor to call in some imitrix for my migraines, mom was getting pissy as I kept taking her imitrix pills whenever I got one of those babies. Mom said call my gynecologist. WTF? I said, doesn't she sorta specialize on the OTHER end of me? but tried and she DID IT! I now have 100mg pills instead of mom's 50mg babies. They may just make me loopy as hell, but I'm glad to have them. Thanks for the comments, I thought I was the only one having that whole speech problem and was freaking out that I was actually having strokes. It's a bitch. Thank God the imitrix works for me, my friend is trying all kinds of freaky drugs to get hers under control. I only get them when I get too stressed so it's not too bad. The lovah-boy was very sweet and checking up on me the day of the migraine, but then was totally pissing me off last night on the phone while I was still hurting and loopy. Just little crap, but I'm like "you are NOT trying to pick a fight with a woman recovering from a migraine on the night before her final exam on her last class, ARE YOU????" Then (due to slow reflexes I'm blaming on the drugs) I came up with a zinger for a comment he made TEN MINUTES before. I called him back up, woke his ass up and said... "yadda yadda YADDA!" or whatever the clever remark was, can't remember now and he's like "oh. ok. goodnight." Today the boy must have been feeling bad as he called and was VERY nice to me all damn day. Damn straight buddy.

This will be a serious picture post, so click the baby pics to see big ones...

FIRST of all, we must all hail the almighty secret pal!!! See? did I lie? she was a-freaking-mazing! Pretty bag CRAMMED with....Fiber Trends The Sheep Tote pattern, Needle Felting Kit, AND natural roving variety pack to make the little cute needle felted sheep on the side, OH I've wanted this forever!, Second-Time Cool book for the Art of chopping up a sweater (very freaking cool), Stranded Color Knitting book, Stitch N Bitch Knit Happens Journal, psychedelic tin for notions, Ring Markers (I am ALWAYS needing those), cute pink rhinestone C keychain, a KnitPicks catalog with (drumroll please....) $THIRTY DOLLARS GIFT CERTIFICATE for YARN!!!!!, AND the coolest set of 1940's era "plain & thimble" soap, stitches hand cream, a thimble and a CUTE AS HELL little sewing kit. Are you in love with her too? I so am! THANK YOU KRIS for spoiling me all along!!!

So, what have I been up to anyway that made my brain go numb? Glad you asked! First, I finally completed the kids' latch-hook rug kits I'd started ages ago. Why now? Who the hell knows. They don't even count for Christmas presents, jeez


Next, everyone needs some tacky-ass plastic canvas gifts, don't they? Santa and his coasters are for one brother & his wife. Pig coasters with white picket fences (can you see the little curly tail?) are for my cousin, RV coasters with mountain scene holder are for mom & dad and there are actually two of the ugly apple gift totes to wrap my kids' teachers presents in. (OH I forgot to photo the pink sparkly scarf I made for Beth's teacher, crap.)


On to crochet work. For my daugher, a capelet made of lion brand homespun and trimmed in fun fur, which we all know is neither fun nor fur, but 9 year old girls love it. I'm also working on THREE crocheted afghans, but didn't wanna lug them out to take photos and NONE of them are done yet.


This IS a knitting blog, right? Scarf for Russell for bday and Xmas combined, fringe to be attached still and given Sat. night. Scarf made with plain ol' garter stitch on that WONDERFUL Schaefer's bumpy yarn. Wrist warmers for Joey's teacher and the librarian, nurse, music, art & pe teachers... OH and my mom and aunt. Three and a half pair down, a butt-load to go... LOVE this pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, they crank out in a few hours. I started with Art Yarns (sz 6 dpns) and then moved to Lorna's Laces superwash worsted weight (sz 7 dpns)and like that even better!


OH, I forgot about making this, I think I'm going to try to felt it and see what happens. Crocheted flower purse was a pretty fast project, so if it doesn't turn out I can crank out another one for my cousin's little girl and maybe for Jeff's niece too. (I just can't seem to stop myself now!)


And, last, but absolutely not least, we went and saw Santa Claus!


Tonight I've got TWO nine-year old girls a-giggling and one almost-6 yr old boy a-yelling just like in the Christmas carols, huh? I'm actually getting a LOT of crafting done! Feed 'em pizza, send them outdoors, then back inside and down to the nintendo room. I'm back baby, and I just might make it to Christmas without totally cracking up...maybe.

My wish is that all crafters finish their projects and still have time for sleep and spending time with family and friends on this holiday season (instead of sitting in the cold car saying "I'll be right there, stall the present opening for 5 more minutes, dammit!" like last year.)

migraine yesterday

I had such a busy schedule set for yesterday, I was gonna conquer the world. Then I got this little flash of light in my vision. I thought, no. I didn't see anything. Then I think I saw it again.... This is not the start to a good afternoon, nope not at all. I ended up getting home in time to pop an imitrix (heaven sent I swear by this med.) and get into bed. I get strange migraines. I think they're actually mini-strokes and this probably explains a LOT for why I'm a titch ditzy every so often. I get loss of vision on the right side, my right side of my face AND HALF MY TONGUE goes numb, my right hand goes numb and I have a hard time forming words. If I don't get the pill in time I get the pain, but normally it's more of a dull ache with the meds, not too terrible as long as I can sleep for long periods of time.

I had just popped the pill and one of the other moms called needing to know where I took my daughter and her friends for Beth's bday party. I told her I had the start of a migraine and was on heavy drugs, so be patient. I tried to say "dye your duds" in olathe out by the movie theater." It was so strange. I could totally picture each thing I was trying to say in my mind, but the words wouldn't come out. It was like playing charades with a mentally challenged person. I finally got out "the place you do stuff to fabric....and it was out in the town where I work"...and I could not say movie theatre to save my life. I finally got out "you look at stuff up on a wall" and she figured it out.

So much for studying for my final or getting any knitting or crocheting done, guess it's time to take a break. Now I've gotta learn all there is about Hinduism, Buddhism, and other eastern religions before noon tomorrow. Guess I should'a done a bit more studying as the semester went on, huh? cripes!

I'll try to get my amazing secret pal pics up tonight amidst studying, you'll be amazed and envious of me. My kids were even going "oooooh" "wow" when I was opening the package, just like watching fireworks.

My secret pal strikes again!

Ok, I have no time for details now, I'll load the pic and give the goods tomorrow, I promise. Let me just say HOLY FREAKING COW I got the motherlode of good stuff! SP, you really were the best EVER! Each present I got was as big as the final send-off could have been and the final send off was a doozy!!! You also inspired me to try things I otherwise wouldn't have thought of, thank you THANK YOU thank you!!!

On home front, I'm wrapping presents, still crocheting presents, COMPLETED a few more projects, started a few more, I KNOW I know I KNOW it's insane. Holiday Dementia strikes again.

OH and my daughter of all of 9 years old got her first phone call from a BOY tonight. The father called first to make sure it was ok with me that a boy call my girl, just as friends, but still wanted to make sure. OH it was freaking cute, slightly freaked me out, but still freaking CUTE! OH how much longer will she still want to talk about her friends and boys with her mom? I sure hope a few years longer.

I also have santa pics of the kids to post too! I promise to get my rear in gear soon!

Christmas Carols Knitting-Virgin-Style--come on, sing along!

It's beginning to look a lot like stress-mas!
Everywhere you go.
My schemes, they were so grand,
But now I'm crippled in one hand,
Knitting presents for every person that I know...

It's beginning to look a lot like stress-mas!
Yarn buying's made me poor...
Afghans, wrist warmers and hats,
socks, ponchos and stuffed cats,
Why didn't I just buy them from the damn store?

It's beginning to look a lot like stress-mas!
I'm truly in denial!
Oh my aching fingers and back,
I must have been smoking crack,
All these presents getting finished with a smile?

It's beginning to look a lot like stress-mas!
Oh what a bitch!
Gifts may not be done on time,
Let's have another glass of wine!
There's love and STRESS in each and every stitch.
(Maybe I should aim for Xmas 2006!)

Stressed? Me? Naw, I've got total Christmas Dementia. I was actually at the Joann's craft store with a full basket of yarn, cheap yarn, and when I say full, I mean FULL shopping cart FULL of yarn. It was Saturday, December 10th. I somehow thought, hey, just because I haven't finished the 2 afghans I've started and the 6 pair of wrist warmers, put the fringe on the poncho for dd or even started the hat I was thinking of making for bf, why not start THREE more afghans. sure, why not. I was sitting there in line, adding up how much $$ I had to fork out and I swear to Goodness that it was over $100. I don't care how much I love people and want to create hand-made gifts for them, I'm not spending $100 on crap yarn. It's not gonna freaking happen. Then this nice lady ahead of me with TWO skeins of yarn said, "honey, you do realize you've only got 15 days, right?" I said, "oh, of course. Crocheting is much faster than knitting..." I stood there thinking WTF am I doing (I still had to get to the Studio for more artyarn skeins for more wrist warmers). I handed the poor girl at the checkout counter most of the skeins and kept enough for ONE more afghan to start for my son. It's his birthday RIGHT before Xmas, so SURE, why not? I don't need sleep, nope, not me. I can do anything. I'm super knitter/crocheter/plastic canvaser/cross stitcher... I'm also insane.

I think I've figured it out. It's like childbirth. There must be some hormone that comes into our bodies right after Christmas that makes us forget how horrible last Christmas season was. Every freaking year. You'd think I'd learn, huh? Nope. Not me, I was actually printing off patterns for new projects. My heart has been racing for two days now. I thought it was too much caffeine. Then I realized I'm even knitting and crocheting in my dreams.

Everybody now....It's beginning to look a lot like Stress-mas, everywhere you go..... Maybe it's just me. Other women I see in the LYS look totally sane. They seem to be shopping for pleasure. I'm lucky I'm still bathing daily and able to drive. Is anyone else out there going crazy? Or are you being smart and shopping at Target and Old Navy? I really should do that, but I still have 15 days left. Oh, 14. And a big-ass final in my class I'm not ready for. And children to raise. and a job. and a boyfriend. But still, 14 days is a lot of time....

snow days

Whew! Yesterday and today are snow days so TWO kids are home with me. It's FREAKING COLD outdoors, so we've only been able to play outdoors for about 15-20 minutes at a time. Since it takes about that long to get both layered into their snow pants, boots, scarves, mittens, hats and coats, it's been quite an ordeal. I think I froze part of Joey's face yesterday as he's got little red patches on his cheeks. nice one mom. jeez. I think we're staying indoors today, as it's all of 8 degrees out. The poor dog was funny as hell yesterday morning, Miles is maybe 6-8 inches tall, and the snow was about 8 inches with drifts. I finally had to carry him out to the road to walk in some tire tracks. He was doing the bunny in the snow impression and it was cute as hell.

I knitted and crocheted my little fingers off yesterday and now have 2 afghans half-way done, 2 finished scarves, another finished wrist warmer. Now I think I'm gonna switch to the voodoo wrist warmers from knitty. One sock puppet (a socklet that was going to be way too large for Joey so I added buttons and a mouth and he's in heaven) and a bunch of laundry and a little bit of work. I've got to work today from home, so the kids are playing video games (more good momming here, huh?) and watching tv for a few hours.

Sorry for the lame posts, got to run. I'm searching for a good hat pattern for a plain old men's stocking hat (maybe lined with a smaller hat inside?) to make for my boyfriend, still in the midst of YEAH, I can knit that too.... knitting dementia. I'm sure reality will sink in soon and I'll be freaking out.

Anyone got some fast crocheted afghan patterns out there, I'm trying to make one MORE before Xmas...I've still not done the wedding gift afghan for my brother & his wife that were married in JULY. cripes.

Fantabulous day in court!

OK, so I didn't get out entirely, but I was able to get to pay HALF my fine without having to go back to court. The D.A. said I had to get a lawyer and get a court date if I wanted to negotiate, but I said, "but that one lady earlier this morning was able to pay half her fee today, what about that?" (said with eyelashes a-blinking--it may be 1950's style, but I've got great eyes and can woo dorky men with them. The D.A. was not what we'd call a stylish man.) He said, well, the judge does have to power to override the protocol. I went up, did my stuff, and the judge told me I'd have to get an attorney to contact the DA and then set a court date for Dec. 21, etc. and I did the poor little single momma....I don't want to have to take more time off work....and just did the sad eyes thing (no 1950's blinking this time as the judge was a cutie, older man but a cutie). I said I could afford to pay half now, but attorney's fees would cost even more than the ticket I can't afford to pay now and ...... He sighed, said, "you can pay $90 today?" I said "yes please." And I paid my money and I am DONE! yeah for me! Glad that's over. I have been working on driving the speed limit lately. I never realized how often I was a speed momma. cripes.

I also sat & knitted along and finished another wrist warmer. 5 down and about 5 to go. Anyone out there got cold wrists? I can keep you warm baby. Add it to my Xmas list. On the way out of court, the man standing looking official with his gun said "You know you really aren't supposed to have knitting needles in the courtroom." and when I asked why he didn't come tell me to put them away he said he figured he could take me if I caused any trouble. bwaaa ha ha haaaaa I've got them all fooled. With 5 wooden size 6 double points I could take over the world..... please people. SO, if you're going into court, do the "don't ask don't tell" system. If you ASK if you can do something, people tell you no. If you don't ask, and just do it in a non-threatening way you can do whatever you damn well want to. I've used that philosophy in most of life. Antidisestablishmentarianism, it's a good thing. Ok, I don't actually know if that's what that is, it was just a word I remember winning a spelling bee in 4th grade with.

OH for all you Xmas party drinkers out there...(and you jazzercising/drinking/dancing fools too!) I heard something on the radio called Chasers. You take 2 pills with your first drink of the night and you're supposed to wake up feeling great. They sell them at Walgreen's, so I'm gonna get a bottle and try them out! NOT that I ever imbibe, no, not me. That wasn't MY face in the toilet hurling on my bday night. I figure it couldn't hurt.

winter knitty's finally up!

Can't talk, gotta go check out Knitty. I'm now knitting presents for the kids' teachers, scarves, wrist warmers (my very new favorite knit EVER) and gonna make lovahboy a hat for Xmas, but it has to be washable and dryable, so I'm off in search of something not totally acryllic as it makes my hands itch when I knit with it. I can crochet with it, but not knit it. How weird is that? I'm only a yarn snob when I knit? wtf?

Off to gaze and create yarn shopping lists in my head. Oh, and work. Plenty of work.

Miss A, we need to get together more often! Maybe in Jan. we can do a once a month girl's night or something.

Just go ahead and sign me up for the old folks' home now!

OH HOLY DOG CRAP ON A STICK!!!!!!!!!!! So, first of all, for those that don't already know me and love me (or know me and tolerate me) I must state that I can be a titch on the dingy side occasionally. I also have some strange cosmic power where strange things happen to me or to those around me. Not always good, not always bad, just strange and funky. Life is seldom boring around me. I'm always worried that my children will have me committed as insane when I get old. I've always been borderline nutty so they'd have a lifetime of examples of why mom shouldn't be out on her own.... here's another one for the books.

So, wanna hear about my morning??? Remember I have a court date set for 8:30am on the 7th day of December. (yes, we ALL know NOW that today's the 5th of Dec. but work with me.) I must have read that ticket 14 times to make sure it was tomorrow (I have a history of things not working right so I was a bit gunshy). I looked at my calendar to verify Monday was the 7th (anyone got this one figured out yet?....NOVEMBER had a Monday the 7th...December's Monday is the 5th... yup hadn't flipped the calendar to December yet.) Ok, that would be bad enough, to show up on the wrong day, wouldn't it? Nope I don't do things that simply. I once had a music professor (when I wanted to be a professional flautist aka flute player) who always told me to stop worrying about making mistakes. She told me that if I was going to mess up, make it a monster mess up with every part of my heart and soul. That kind of stuck with me through life, so I just blame her.

I get both kids up and running, drop them at school at 5 till 8am, right on time. My wet hair is frozen as I didn't have time to dry it and I gotta get to the other end of town, find a parking place and get to court by 8:30. Look out, low fuel light comes on. dammit. OK, no problemo, go to gas station. Look in purse to make sure I've got a check to pay for the ticket if they don't let me out of it, NOPE last one was used up, none ordered yet. OK, no problemo, hit the atm at the gas station. Gas station's atm is having "communication problems" DAMN. No problemo, go to the little drive-thru atm across the street. Did I mention this is at State Line Rd and 103rd where you cannot get across traffic??? Find a nice man who lets me across the street. Got the cash, can NOT get across traffic for TWO lights, say FUXX IT and go to Wornall's entrance an entire block out of the way. My honey calls me and apparently I just flew by him on the highway and didn't even see him. Good luck kicks in and I get past FOUR cops (city AND state troopers) doing speed traps. (some luck here as I didn't think it would help me get out of a ticket by getting ANOTHER one on top of it, huh?). I make it to Santa Fe and am going down the road, I just might make it, and the TRAIN light starts flashing...the bars aren't down yet, we can make it we can make it, but OOOOOOHHHHHHHH the car ahead stops early just to be safe. We must be safe, must'nt we? OH, I sit there for THREE minutes (it seemed like an eternity) and then safety sam ahead of me WAITS just to be sure the train is really gone after the bars go up....OH MY GOD GET OUT OF MY WAY PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Finally I get to the courthouse and have 2 minutes to spare, find a parking spot RIGHT IN FRONT (which never ever happens), run through the building, find the traffic court after taking 2 wrong turns...sit and wait. and wait. and wait. I'm rolling my ball of yarn, talk to another lady who ASKED at the courthouse door whether she could bring in knitting needles and was told no (mine are just always in my bag, so I had mine). and waited some more. 8:50am the judge comes in and I notice everyone else has a LOT of files and lawyers and such. There's no police in the courtroom and the cases are all about people with DUI's and HITTING people with their cars and such, no just trying to get out of speeding tickets. I pull out my ticket, slip out to find a cop outside the room and ask WTF? It appears there is ANOTHER freaking courthouse in Olathe. Yup, I'm at the wrong one and it's now almost 9am. cripes. He gives me directions (complicated and I'm already frazzled).

I book it out of there, follow most of the directions, can't find the damn courthouse. How hard is it to find a little building with a bunch of flags in a little town anyway??? If the cop would've said "right down the street from the Great Plains Mall" I'd have been there instantly. Nope, he said "old highway 56 and Harrison" great. That helps. not. Drove around until I found three Olathe cops sitting talking between their cars and they showed me where the courthouse was. Municipal court. great. I get there at 9:05am. I ask the clerk if I'm in the right place, tell her I'm late, she tells me to go on in and they'll get to me. So, again, I'm sitting, winding my ball of yarn, watching this nice judge talk to people about why they didn't do their house arrest, how they can't pay their debt today, but next week..... and on and on and on. No policemen in the courtroom here either I notice. I think "hmmmmm" not again, I whisper to the D.A. sitting up there looking bored. He said this is the municipal court, and it is the only courtroom, but today was "failure to pay" day or something like that. I tell him the mini version of my morning from hell and he asks to see the ticket. He said "your court date is set for Wednesday." I go "OHHHHHHH" (said like Grace from Will & Grace from the gut and with much pain). He said, "you know you can just pay outside today." and I'm like "not now I can't, with all this effort invested, I wanted to see if there was any way to pay a lesser fee." and he said then I have to come back and see me on Wednesday. dammit.

SO I go to work. Remember the work stress? Well, it's much less now thank you very much! This job that I was dreading and hating and trying to get out of last year and now am trying to hold onto with every fiber of my being because it's PERFECT for me and flexible and all that but I wasn't sure if I'd be employed after Dec. 31??? Remember that??? well NOW I find out I'm still going to be employed after Dec. 31 (can I get a WOO HOO??? WOO HOO!) AAAAAANNNNNNNNNDDDDDDD I'm getting a Christmas bonus (not supposed to be very big, but it'll be something) AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDD the raise I was supposed to get on Aug 6th is now kicking in (also small, but again it's more $$ in the pocket and actually more than the raise I got last year when we were still a "normal" company) AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDD I'm getting an extra check for the backdated time that should cover the speeding ticket plus a tiny bit!

So, I really should save my time and go over and pay, right? nope. not gonna do it. Wednesday morning I'm gonna get to the right courthouse this time and sit & knit until they call my name. :) Wish me luck! (again)

My hair stayed frozen until just a few minutes ago. Thank God for Allegra the magnicent and a hair cut I can leave the house without doing ANYTHING to! I need a drink. It's got to be beer-thirty somewhere...no, that doesn't sound good, but margarita-thirty, mmmmmmm. that's what I'm talking about!

Is there a patron saint for speeding tickets???

I don't know why, but I keep flashing back to Christmas at my grandma's old country church (the only thing left in the closest town to her farm) and the old people reciting the rosary and then the ...."blah blah blah saint XXX pray for us.... blah blah blah" and wondering. We Catholics have saints for almost everything. Why not one for getting out of tickets? come on! This is not sacriledge, it's quite serious! Saint who-ever, be on my side tomorrow morning as I go into court in the dreaded sin city of Olathe... more to follow later.

Knitting news...finished TWO pair of wrist warmers and am wrapping them tonight before bed. I think this is a new record for me, having actual gifts WRAPPED in the acutal first few days of the month. freaky, I know it. I'm so the beyond the last minute crafter.....you know, still sewing in ends in the car on the way to the holiday celebration house...waiting in the car to wrap the gift while the family goes inside thinking mom's totally lost her mind and may well freeze to death in the car, but not really being concerned kind of thing.... you know, right? I'm not the only one? Maybe I am, but I have some damn fine gifts under the tree by present-opening time! Usually. sometimes. (ok, so my baby bro and his wife's still not received the afghan promised in the wedding gift card in July, but hey, it's Xmas season now and they live in FLORIDA for Gosh's sake. I told him by the time it either freezes in Naples, FL or they move somewhere cold, I'll have a blanket done for them and congratulations. I mean, COME ON!!!! They need bottled water and ice for hurricanes, not afghans to keep warm, right??

Wish me luck tomorrow at 8:30am people...we'll see how much crying helps. dammit. One hundred and eighty freaking dollars....how much yarn could THAT buy??? damn damn damn damn DAMN!!!!

Knitting Virgin's Guide for How to make a center pull ball of yarn without cursing...too much tutorial

If you're one of those talented people who just "gets" stuff, go away. This is for the rest of us. I struggled and struggled and read online and got frustrated and almost gave up on trying to do this. The other day when I was messing around, it finally all clicked. It's so easy it was amazing! If I can do this, YOU can do this too! I recommend ALWAYS having the LYS wind yarn for you, but if you're like me and get yarn from a secret pal, or as gifts from family, or from online stores and you don't have the cash for a swift and winder, here's how to do it!

The first thing to remember is DON'T WIND YOUR YARN TOO TIGHT.... Click on any of the photos to see bigger images.

STEP 1: Start with some lovely yarn

STEP 2: Untwist yarn and cut any pieces where it's tied together.



STEP 3: Either leave yarn on floor or use the back of a chair, a loved one's arms, or your feet to spread out the yarn in a big oval. (my arms get tired unless I wind from the floor). Wrap the yarn LOOSELY around your two fingers of one hand. Once you get good at this, you can keep the tail tucked between those fingers and hang onto it throughout the process. I'm not quite there yet.



STEP 4: Pull the yarn off your fingers and squish it between your thumb and fingers, this is the wad or guts that you will start knitting from.



STEP 5: Begin winding yarn LOOSELY around the wad, do about 8 wraps before changing direction. I try to do it diagonally and only move the yarn a little each time as I go. Your goal is to have a smooth ball to pull from, so don't do too many big moves like sideways then up & down and back, try to meander across the ball with your yarn. Remember sewing classes LONG ago where you had to wind your bobbins on top of the sewing machine and it would wind its way up and down gradually? That's what you want here. YOU MUST KEEP YOUR THUMB ON TOP OF THE WAD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS!!!



STEP 6: Continue wrapping with thumb still in center of ball, make sure you don't wrap too closely to your thumb, as you want some room there.



STEP 6 1/2: Still wrapping, make sure to go slowly when pulling your yarn from the oval as it has a tendency to get all tangled up at the end. There was a bit of cursing at this point (see the yarn all piled up as it should NOT be...) you can take your thumb out, just stick it back in the same spot and keep going after taking out any knots you encounter. At this point in the process I always say the nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner, sat in his corner......stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plumb...." At that point my children roll their eyes and leave the room.



STEP 7: Tuck the last tail outside on the bottom somewhere, fold up the yarn tag and put into the hole from your thumb, and admire the thing of beauty you have just created. Bring your children, husband, or significant other into the room to bask in your glory. Ignore rolled eyes and comments that the nursing home isn't far away. You did it, You are an amazing fibre queen (or king as the case may be).


STEP 8: Using the yarn...this is the true test. Take out yarn tag, stick your thumb and a finger in there, wiggle around and pull out the very center part of the ball. If you wound too tightly (as I did in the yarn pictured) it will be a mess. Cursing here is allowed. Don't give up, wiggle that thumb around a bit more harshly and keep pulling, you WILL find the little wad of guts you started with. Just keep unwinding and knit from the guts until you get to one yarn strand coming from the ball. If you did it perfectly or if you are a truly gifted person and still had the little tail, it should go smooth as silk. Knit or crochet your little heart out.


You will get better with practice. These are really lovely and look beautiful set out in baskets as home decor too!

Lawrence Ladies and the quest for the damn dpns

I forgot to post about meeting some of the Lawrence Knitters the weekend before last! I met Elinor, Camille and Beth at the Yarn Shop & More where we petted and admired yarns, then we went to the Plaza for eating at an Irish Pub and off to the Studio. I had my daughter's bday sleepover so had to run home, but really enjoyed meeting them! It's funny how knit groups are so good for the soul! Here's their site Knit Lawrence. If you're in the area, get yourself over to Milton's, I keep trying to get there but my Saturdays are still too hectic!

I did go to TWO Lys's yesterday and mostly behaved myself. Instead of the more pricey Koigu, I'm going to work up some superwash Lorna's Laces shepherd sport yarn ($10/skein 200 yds) for mom's wrist warmers. I'll let you know how they go as I think this could be a fast knit for presents! I was home rolling them into center pull balls and thought I'd do a tutorial as I keep running into knitters who are MUCH more talented than I am that are still rolling old fashioned (and quite frankly pain in the butt) regular yarn balls.

After doing all this, I felt like quite the accomplished knitter, I could conquer all, I am instructing people in this glorious craft.....etc. THEN I realized I'm a freaking idiot. For TWO HOURS I searched and searched for my doublepointed needles (size 6) that I bought last week at the Studio. I know I bought them. I know it. I put ALL my knitting stuff and stash in ONE PLACE so they HAD to be there. They weren't. I looked at least 4 times in the same drawer. FOUR TIMES. I even completely emptied it on the 3rd time and apparently thought just in case, let's look again. I was all upset, not going to work on any of my existing projects, NO I wanted to start the wrist warmers. dammit. Finally I gave up, went to bed, where I had NOTHING new to read, re-read HP #4 in preparation of seeing the movie (no, I haven't seen it yet, I don't get out much). I was all kinds of pissy.

This morning, I grabbed my son's sock (soon to be a sock puppet) in the ziplock bag to toss into my purse, and what do you know, THERE were the damn 6's. In the sock. cripes. Now I've found 4 of the set of 5, but can't remember where I put the damn last needle and the little package it came in. The pattern I use calls for all 5, so I'm off to the damn LYS again today. BUT the good news is that I've got a punch card all ready to go for $15 store credit! woo hoo! I think I'll pick up 6s and 5s just in case I need them to hit gauge.

Some of you will remember I'm not a fan of the dpn. I actually burned the first set I had to work with. In the grill. burnt to ashes. They don't really burn easily, either, I had to get some gasoline to throw on (we were out of lighter fluid). ANYWAY I have been experimenting with the 2 circ needles thing, and I can't believe I'm saying this, think I like the dpns better. *gasp* I'm not saying I care for either one very much, but I may just be getting the hang of the whole knitting with a living porcupine/leaving ladders big enough for firemen to climb up problems. They're still there, just not quite so bad. Maybe practice does make perfect. Right now practice just makes "not quite so horrid." I'm good with that.

Non-knitting news, I'm applying for student loans and trying to come up with a plan B should the jobbo be gon-o on Jan 1st. Lovahboy gets taken out tonight for sushi. I hope they serve cooked steak. If not, it's gonna be a lot of rice for this girl tonight.

Yard Sale!!

It's PAYDAY!!!!! I made it. whooooooooooh hoooooooooooo baby. Yes, yes, it's almost all spoken for, which is why I'm normally flat broke days before the next one. PLUS I've got Christmas shopping to do, so I'm getting creative this year. It still feels good for one day to have $$ until I start paying bills. I'm going to the yarn shop too. Only buying 2 yarns. One for mom's xmas present to cast on and one for the little capelet thing for moi. seriously. that's it. I can stop any time I want. really. No 10 step program needed here, nope. I may do some looking at knitpicks though... SAVING MONEY people.

I'm off to Jazzercise to sign up today! Gonna bite the bullet and do it. Still doing the slimfast thing, not getting too slim too fast. Crappy name. slimfast. Should be chubbyfast or slimslow. Still tastes like crap, but I'm getting used to it. I've actually missed working out these last 2 weeks of laziness, a tiny bit. Who'm I kidding? I'd be happy sitting around like Jabba the Hut if I had the metabolism for it.

Taking the lovahboy for SUSHI (ick, ick, ick, ick, ICK) tomorrow night for his bday celebration. Gonna break out the b00bs for the cleavage sweater. (my silicone when I want it option) (aka poor girl's b00b job). I don't dislike all sushi, but the texture grosses me out and I'm not big on cooked fish, let alone the raw stuff. I did eat some weird thing of eel eggs or something that felt like poprocks. I was equally grossed out and amazed by the coolness of it. I just got the shivers here remembering, so end of subject.

Remember my friend from Scotland? She's a mom of one of Beth's best friends. She and I found out we went to the same girl scout summer camp (Oakledge in MO) at the same time, and knew all the same old songs, etc. She and her family are moving back to Scotland for her hubby's amazing job and are SO excited, but the girls (Beth and her daughter Fiona) are having a hard time with it. We've been doing LOTS of playdates together and they're each working on a best friend's book and then trading with each other and filling in parts on the other's book. They're selling off a bunch of stuff they don't want to move so even MORE of my $$ is gone as of tomorrow. I'm getting 4 bookshelves, a tv for my room, tv stand and the kids' big xmas present. I wanted MORE MORE MORE but can't afford it, so I'm being good. If you're in the KC area, there'll be a heck of a yard sale with furniture, appliances, lamps, etc. on Lee Boulevard between 95th and 103rd this Friday and Saturday. Lee Boulevard is one light west of State Line Road just off of I435 and State Line.

Grandparents in the snow update

Update on the grandparents...still no power, but one of my uncles and aunt were able to get out to the farm and are spending the night with them. They got the wood stove running and are warming up the house, cooking on it like the old days and playing cards by the light of an old oil lamp. Everyone's breathing easier now. Other grandma is still without power also, but another uncle's helping her stay warm and fed. Good boys!

Crocheting and knitting away on too many projects to update here. I'm thinking of using crap yarn for the capelet thing as I was checking out the knitalong on craftser and they looked pretty sweet. Only spending $10 could be tempting...I've become such a yarn snob lately, it's sad.

I'm tired of being a slug, when I sit down now my belly sits on top of my thighs. crap almighty. As SOON as I get paid, I'm signing my butt (and belly) up for jazzercise...here I come ladies...look out! I just don't keep up well on my own, I'm a total peer pressure kind of girl.

Later gators,

let it snow let it snow let it snow

Well, we got a dusting of snow yesterday, and the kids were in heaven. My grandparents both are snowed in out in western kansas with no power. My 97 yr old Grandma S. (mom's side) lives on her own on a farm in the middle of nowhere (20 miles to the nearest grocery store--the local "town" has a church. period. That's all that's left). She has a lady come over to help her out during the week, but thank goodness one of my uncles stayed over an extra day and is snowed in with her and can run the little gas heater downstairs for her. She's a tough smart neat lady. My dad's folks are also snowed in their home, and about 4 miles from a town, but no one can get to them. I guess the snowplows were working 3 hours just on one little part of the highway to clear a path. It's like the blizzards of "the good ol' days" out there. Their kids are all freaking out, but Gma and Gpa are staying in bed with lots of blankets on them and seem to be doing fine. No heat and 2 old people in their 90's. unreal. We think someone from the nearest town should get out today and bring them home where there's a wood stove or something. I come from a long line of long-living good people. It's amazing to think of the history they've lived through. Grandma said the only problem is her hands are too cold to do any crocheting so they're just reading books and sleeping a lot.

OK, I found the COOLEST cutest little capelet/shrug/thing that someone created a pattern for one found on Anthropologie that I MUST HAVE....

Anthropologie-inspired-capelet tutorial

I know it's almost Christmas, I know I have MORE items on needles than I had when I began my naked sticks in 2006 campaign, I know I have more items to make for presents than I can possibly complete. I know that. I also know that I must make this. How good would it look over a snazzy tank top for a Christmas party? It's kind of a larger version of the one-skein wonder I made before. must. buy. yarn. Yes, we now have $1.35 left until tomorrow, but it's on the list of stuff I must have. I mean, come on, it's the holiday season. I know no one ever gets me the "oh it's just what i wanted" present, so I should really treat myself, right? Giving to me should help me get inspired to give to others, right? Isn't there a cartoon special about that out there? Where's the love for a spoiled, selfish girl? I know I know I KNOW but I'm still gonna make it anyway! I'll grow up later.

gettin kinda nervous around here....

Work, well, let's just say it's a bit skittish right now. I'll sure be glad when Jan 1st gets here and I find out if I'm still employed or not. cripes. No real details, but everything's getting "uncertain" and there's a serious push for that good ol' Dec. 31 end of the year date for EVERYTHING to be completed.... I know, I know, don't worry, be happy. Yeah, right. Well, I've at least got a few people who can help me with the KS unemployment thing if I need it. It's so strange. For so long I was trying to get let go and now I'm holding on with my teeth and nails. (really bad on the cuticles you know.) Ah well. I'm going to go ahead and sign up for FULL TIME classes to get that teaching degree and we'll just see what happens.

Why is the REM song "It's the end of the world as we know it.......It's the end of the world as we know it.....and I feel fine." running through my head? Headbanging to music no one can hear. Why is this wasted on an office with no one in it but bossman? I could be totally freaking out entire cubicles of people. "duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh LEONARD BERNSTEIN!" (ok so I always thought that was LAND EARTH BERNSTEIN" live and learn. lyricosis, you know.)

I finished TWO projects this weekend, so I've got 2 pair of nekkid sticks for 2006! The purse with the never ending handles in DONE, FELTED and drying and the pair of wrist warmers that is now my very favorite knit EVER! Actually I even did another pair as well and completed them too! They're fast and CUTE as heck and quite warm to boot. I'm wearing them as I type right now in the cold basement office.

Totally broke and payday's not until Wednesday. damn. I totally thought it was Tuesday, and that extra day's a bitch. $8 in my pocket and $3.50 in the bank. So much for that whole 6 month's savings in case something happens to your job or finances thing. I hate being poor. It does force one to dig into the stash, though. Koigu shopping for mom's wrist warmer xmas presents put off until next week. I'm ebaying my little heart out, but have nothing of any worth to sell. Oh, there's yarn, but I'm gonna have to get pretty damn hungry before I start selling that!

Lost tooth update, Joey gets to be put on the WALL OF TOOTH at his afternoon care room (kindergarten's only a half day around here). The wall of tooth is apparently a very big deal. He was so excited he couldn't stand it.

OK, that Natalie Dee is just too freaking funny.

The first lost tooth!

What excitement! This afternoon the nasty-hanging-by-a-thread first tooth FINALLY came out with the help of pancakes ala Jeff. Joey quickly learned to spit water through the hole in his teeth and we were all so proud.

Thanksgiving was great, good thing I didn't make any damn pies as everyone was MUCH more impressed with my panera's $7.99 coffee-cakes I brought than the damn Tippin's pie anyway. Jeff's grandma wrote out a much better crocheted shell baby blanket pattern for me and got me started. Tell me I'm not liked in this family now, boy. Crocheting with grandma's is ALWAYS good for the girlfriend. yup yup yup.

I'm slowly ebay-ing again...I do have a bunch of 2004-2005 knitting mags and a pack of plastic canvas mags on there too. I'm hoping to add a bunch of stuff to clear out room and make some $$ for some stash enhancement.
My ebay crap

My cooking's all done

Thanks to Hen House Grocery Store and Tippin's pies. mmmmmmm. I even WAS going around picking up apples, non-salted butter sticks, and then thought WTF am I doing? Nope. $9.99 buys a lot of heaven mister.

Got the kids today, HELPING me work from home. Let's say I am going to be getting more done TONIGHT after everyone's in bed. I must say I am thankful for a job that allows that flexibility.

Happy Turkey day to all and to all a good night!

naked sticks 2006 & my boyfriend's an idiot & Hallelujah Hair Cut

Here's the pile... The goal is to FINISH or frog items. I'm actually heading over to the Studio later today to get some Koigu to make some wrist warmers for mom's Xmas present and some superwash yarn for a hat for Joey and maybe some heavier weight sock yarn for socks for the kids. I'm starting with 8 projects but soon am casting on for more....xmas is coming xmas is coming.....aaaaauuuuggggghhhhhh


#1...Market Bag from knitty using yarn from my sp.


#2...The bag with the handles that will. not. end. Should've been mailed off 3 weeks ago, GOT to get it done


#3...poncho/wrap thing for my daughter. Just needs the finishing rows of the dreaded fun fur....can't IMAGINE WHY I've put this puppy off. Xmas present


#4...baby christening blanket for my new nephew. It WILL be frogged and I found a better faster cuter pattern to do in its place.


#5...wrist warmer from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Cast on and completed first wrister last night instead of knitting what I was SUPPOSED to be knitting. I love this pattern, but am not loving the slightly itchiness of the noro silk yarn. So sad. I'm making more in koigu for mom and maybe a few more xmas presents.


#6...My sock. I stole the needles out of it to make Joey's first sock.


#7...Schaeffer bumpy garter stitch scarf. Finished and bound off last night, need to do fringe then COMPLETE!!! Xmas present for friend.


#8...two baby groove purses waiting patiently for their long-ass boring icord handles to be knit and felted. Xmas presents


#9...Joey's first sock, still in the ribbed cuff rounds

Though the idea was a good one for me, clear your stash of in-progress works, it's somehow kicked my startitis into HIGH GEAR!!! That or the fact that it's almost Thanksgiving and all of a sudden everyone wants something hand knit by me. cripes.

MY BOYFRIEND IS A FREAKING IDIOT.....ARRRRGHGHGHGHGH!!!! A sweet, lovely idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. The kids and I have been invited to his family's thanksgiving meal extravaganza. We asked what could we bring. they said pop. ok. I guess he was talking with his aunt (hostess) yesterday and said I'm sure Christine would want to make something to bring also. He VOLUNTEERED me to BAKE AN APPLE FREAKING PIE. I just found out today. I said very nicely, "are you out of your everloving mind?" and he replied "but I thought you liked to bake stuff" I said "COOKIES, BROWNIES, NOT PIES.....NEVER EVER EVER PIES" Poor man. He said, "well, they have lots of other desserts, so just don't make anything." yeah freaking right. That'd impress the family. Showing up with 3 big mouths and NO food. I'm gonna go buy a damn tippins pie and find something else to make. crap crap crap.

On better news, I'm gettting my hair cut today!!! WOO HOO!!! Allegra the magnificent is going to do her magic. It's always an adventure for me. (my state of my hair determines much of my mood and also gives me superpowers. Haircuts are not taken lightly around my household). I don't ever quite know what she's going to do, you see she's an artist. (said ar-TEEEST). I sit down, we gossip and laugh and gossip some more. She cuts like a maniac. I go home, hate it for about 3 days and then love it more than life itself for about 3 months. Rinse, wash and repeat. It's been a few months and I've been spending too much time in baseball hats, so here we go. Here's the before (ignore the goiter on my chin, it's the last remnant of the birthday night spent with my face in the toilet.) Wish me luck!

*** I know, I know it LOOKS like the same damn haircut just shorter, but I'm feeling totally nekkid over here with no hair. I was doing my normal getting misty-eyed thinking WTF on the long drive home from my stylist's house, but now looking at the pic, it's not any different than it was before! I may actually like the new do.***

Christine baking an apple freaking pie. Not in this lifetime. I'd love to try, but somehow I'm betting the FIRST attempt should probably not be when I'm trying to make a good impression on a family full of amazing cooks. Maybe he's not an idiot, maybe I just did too good of a job on the whole "martha" homemaker thing. I have been cooking and cleaning and crafting a lot lately. One would probably assume I could actually bake an apple pie while doing 13 other things at once. One would be wrong. Dead Ass Wrong.

the Halloween Candy Debate

As any over-protective mother did, the night of Halloween the children each got to pick out a few pieces of well wrapped and "mommy approved" candies to eat that night. The next day, I went through and anything that was even slightly iffy (accessible wrapping, etc) and tossed them. Then I separated the candy into two bags, one with chocolate and one without (my Joey needs pills for chocolate, but can eat fat free but calorie dense candy without pills, so that's a bonus). Then, the bags were on the counter and each child could have one or two pieces a day for about a week. Then the bags went on top of the fridge. Out of sight, out of mind. Once in a while, the kids would ask for a piece, but now they have pretty much forgotten about the major stash. SO the dilemma is this... At first, this momma was eating the candies I knew the kids didn't like...baby ruths, almond joy's, etc. NOW that they've forgotten and let's face it, the crappy candies are all gone... Do I get to eat the good stuff? the m&m's? the reese's pnut butter cups? the HERSHEY'S????? mmmmmmmm the hershey's mmmmmmmmmm

What's a good mom to do? In this day and age of too much sugar and candy, shouldn't I really make that sacrifice to save my children the extra calories? huh? I think I'd better just bite the bullet, or the chocolate, and do my duty as a mom. yup. Sounds good. How wrong is that? wrong, wrong, wrong. A word of caution, though, when living on the slim-fast drinks, adding too much chocolate is just asking for some serious tummy troubles. Save it for the weekends when you eat normal food or you WILL regret it.

I LOVE this idea....Naked Stix in 2006. It doesn't matter if you frog things or complete them, the goal is getting those sticks nekkid again. Lisa, at Continue in Kind, is sweetly chairing this great project. I don't think she knows what she's in for, but it's got me motivated at least! I started with EIGHT projects on the needles. I actually frogged a baby blanket started for my little baby nephew's baptism, but then I cast on another one in its place AND I cast on for the wrist warmers this weekend as well. I'm thinking I may have to do the cop out on the cable-pattern I wanted and start with a MUCH easier version from the Knitted Gifts (or something like that) book I've got at home. It's a diagonal rib thing. I'm not sure, I'm gonna keep going on the current project until it scares me and then we'll see. All you "oh, cabling is easy....cabling is fun..." people had better not be lying.

Jazzercise question for those of you out there...If I sign up for this stuff, can I use my card at any Jazzercise location or does it have to be the one I sign up at? I want to take my classes out in Olathe, but when weather gets bad and our office goes virtual, I'll not want to drive across town if I don't have to. I guess I could get my lazy butt to CALL MYSELF and ask, so I'll probably do that when I get around to it.

Ever feel like you're losing your mind????

So I've been doing that run until I'm ragged thing again....clean the house, pick up kids from school, work work work all the minutes of the day in between everything else, baths, cook dinner, put kids to bed, laundry, knit in the car while waiting to pick up kids here and there, on and on and on. I was feeling a bit nutty yesterday and thought, holy crap, how will I handle the holidays like this? No freaking way. I sat there and made myself do NOTHING for like 2 minutes while waiting in my car in line for my daughter after girl scouts. I was looking at the lovely leaves on the trees, kids jumping in piles of leaves, squirrels gathering acorns, beautiful and peaceful. Then I noticed this guy walking his 2 little shitzu's. As the first one did his duty on someone's lawn, the guy reached into his pocket. I thought, what a good man, he's gonna pick up some poo. Nope, he pulls out a notebook and a pencil and writes something in it. Puts it back in his pocket, walks to the next yard. The other doggie does his thing on this yard. Back out comes the notebook and pencil and is recorded. The guy even looked at the numbers of the house and looked to be writing down the address. Can you imagine? Recording the places your dogs go poo? Suddenly I had an amazing sense of zen-like calm come over me. I'm not crazy, he is. I'm all better now.

I'm on a mission to FINISH something. I don't care what it is, it could be ANYTHING. I have SUCH startitis and it's about killing me. I wanna start SO MANY freaking projects but have started to find little LYS bags full of items shoved in different areas of the house. (when someone comes over, things get shoved like you wouldn't believe) Just yesterday while putting away some laundry, I came across Joey's first sock (which is still a cuff) a purse that only needs the FOREVER FREAKING LONG handle stitched that should have been mailed off about 2 weeks ago but I forgot about it, two hats and another felted purse. I purposely didn't look into the drawer in my cedar dresser (stash holder) that is FOR in-progress items. I think if I just finish ONE thing, I can start another. I should be knitting for Xmas now, shouldn't I???? I know, but then I think, no sane woman could finish ANYTHING in time for Xmas NOW, so I wanna start those wrist warmers from Knitty and do them in 2 skeins of noro silk garden I got the other day..... for me. How selfish is that? Ah well. I did finish my daughter's felted bucket hat in time for her bday, maybe I'd better finish Joey's socks before HIS birthday coming up right before Xmas. That'd only be fair. maybe I could start the wrist warmers, and work on the socks at the same time..... a few rows of one, a few rows of the other, sure. that could work. yeah right....

Have a great weekend people!!! I'm going SHOPPING with KNITTERS on Sat. afternoon as a reward for surviving my daughter's sleepover bday party with 2 of her friends Sat. night and my son who will probably be whining as the girls will most likely drive him nuts. I think I'm going to surrender most of the house and shut myself, Joey and the dog in a room with yarn, the tv and chocolate chip cookies. Why even TRY to control 3 nine-year old girls? Can't you just hear the squeals and screams and giggles already?

OK, NOW I'm CRAZY. It wasn't the Knitty wrist warmers, but on SOMEONE's blog that I of course reached through following SOMEONE ELSE'S notes about SOMEONE ELSE's cool wristlet things made of noro and now I can't find the damn pattern!!!!! Does anyone know of a cool pattern for wrist warmer/gauntlet looking things made from noro? I think it may have had a simple cable pattern and had the start of fingers. cripes.

NOW I got it. It's the Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from the Stitch N Bitch Nation book! If anyone is knitting from the original Stitch N Bitch or the SNB Nation, go here for pattern corrections. You all probably already knew that, didn't you? But I'm glad I googled and found the link so I wouldn't be on here cursing as I type and crying as I knit. Did I mention I've never cabled before? Wish me luck!

Have you seen this yet? NEW knitting online mag (and other craft stuff too) called the Anticraft.

Too freaking cool.

back in my good graces again

OK, so the boy is no longer in trouble for making a stupid comment. He actually wasn't AWARE that he was in trouble. You know how it is. Jeez. Ah well. He came over last night, we had a nice family dinner with my kids and he and I and then we played UNO and did puzzles (very Americana of us, isn't it?) and just had a lovely evening. Later in the night he was VERY complimentary of me AND gave me a monster backrub as well as the "light touch" backrub. OH HOLY HELL I would probably sell part of my soul for light touch backrubs. It's that not quite touching your skin light caress.....OHHHHHHHHHH that's serious relaxation. AND he ate my dinner (me being a new cook at 37 yrs old). All in all, it was happy happy happy.

More bird flu stuff....From Miss Amanda, Seattle Times article asks Is sauerkraut a new weapon against bird flu? Oh dog crap on a stick! First I'm sucking down slimfast through gritted teeth and NOW I've got to go buy cans of sauerkraut to help fight the bird flu. Apparently there's been quite a run on the stinky stuff in the northwest after the articles came out. Why isn't CHOCOLATE the cure? THAT I could eat until it oozed from my pores. Who knows? Not proven, but the South Koreans are eating lots of kimchi as there's some link to the lactic acid bacteria in that and sauerkraut.

I'm going to try to join the Lawrence knit group this Sat. when they come to the kc knitting shops! Should be fun! Holler at me (or email works too) if you want to join me too!

I'm off to the book fair to shop with Joey and his Kindergarten class. I volunteered Tues. and shopped with Beth. I freaking LOVE the book fair. PLUS our volunteers get an amazingly FABULOSO catered breakfast and all the diet coke or coffee you can drink. mmmmmm. PLUS I got a gift certificate for $6 too! I found my way to volunteer for the PTA. Signed up for next year already!

Just in case you were wondering.....

I'M QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bwa ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Yes, yes, it's true. You may have THOUGHT you were the queen, but nope. It's me. My knitting lessons went freaking GREAT last night! It was SO SO SO cool! I was sitting there thinking "damn, I hope those ladies don't show up, what the FUXX am I doing thinking I can teach people to knit, not only people but people who PAID MONEY to my kids' school auction for these damn lessons....please don't come, please don't come..." and on and on. Well, first of all, I got to see Miss Amanda! She was sitting in the Panera's with a few friends and she looked CUTE AS HECK! Snappy little hair cut and just trendy as usual. I was sporting the morning after the morning after ballcap and though the hair WAS washed, the body was not up to dealing with blow dryers or curlers and it just went with the hangover mood.... Anyway, we DO have to get together soon!

Back to the lessons....they showed up WITH A FRIEND with a bag from a LYS. I was like ok, here we go.... and somehow, they LOVED it. I've spread my little knitting obsession on to three other women. I'm so proud. They both learned to knit, then we ripped it out, and cast on again and knit again and they both were very proud of their nice even garter stitch scarves on their way. The friend had learned to knit continental (holding yarn in left hand) and I EVEN helped her too (though the concept of continental vs english method actually blew my mind). I even taught her to unknit and she left with a big ball of yarn and is off to get some 13s as well. I do believe it's best to learn with 10 1/2 wooden needles and some worsted weight, but cripes almighty you end up with this sad looking little not-even-a-potholder thing and it's quite frustrating. I found some nice slightly bulky yarn and 13's and the ladies were feeling real accomplishment seeing the scarf take shape right under their needles.

I gave helpful tips, hints, and was just the little guru. No, I can't actually make a sweater or tank top that fits me, no, I can't actually make a pair of socks without serious ladder spaces where the needles join, no I don't even WANT to learn intarsia or anything involving multiple yarns or little bobbins, but I'm still queen of the world. yup. that's me.

Anyone catch McCain on the Daily Show the other night? I do love that man! Intelligent, funny, serious... Although, if there's any serious hope of my dream ticket of McCain/Clinton the man has to work on that neck fat problem. You can't vote for a man with flappy extra neck fat. ick. I'm sorry Senator, I love your ideas, I love your sense of country, I love your sense of right and wrong and bipartisanship nature, but the neck flap's got to go. I know you've got medical issues and are trying to save our country and all, but there's got to be time to do some headrolls, or find some exercises for that. I'll check into it and let you know.

Anyone else starting to hoard cans of food for the bird flu pandemic? Any of you starting to add to your stash to help you survive months of isolation? What a great excuse to buy more yarn! I'm seriously freaking out here. It's moved to China. Bush is touring Asia. Let's just leave him over there and just call it a pre-emptive quarantine or something. Sounds good to me!

still hungover cripes

SO, still barely eating and not feeling too whippy. Serves me right, huh? Jeff ticked me of seriously until I remembered the boy took care of me while I was barfing and thought I'd better give him the benefit of ONE free get-out-of-trouble pass. Apparently I was quite a sight popping the "$50 boob jobs" (Victoria's Secret Shapers aka silicone boobs to put in your bra to give you serious cleavage) out of my top at the end of the night. He then retold the funny story to his whole freaking family..."Christine got so drunk her boobs popped out". OK, that part was funny, I'll give him that. He made an additional comment that isn't appropriate for knitting blogs (no matter HOW far away from knitting this blog may ramble). grrrrrrrrrr. I bit back a big ol' response in deference for him being such a great guy. But, I swear the next time Jeffy boy mouths off, he's in for a true scorpio red-headed pissy woman rant. You'll probably hear it from there.

Tonight I've got to go teach two ladies to knit. I'm a titch nervous, but have goodie bags for both including nice multicolored yarn and size 13 needles so they can work on their first scarves. I got talked into auctioning off two sets of 3 nights of knitting lessons for my kids' elementary school auction. I got 2 gift certificates to the Yarn Shop & More for them also. We're heading to Panera's so I can have some iced green tea and smell bread while we knit. Should be fun! Hope they get it ok, I made some copies of knitting directions off a printable website and now can't find the damn things. cripes.

I'm off, OH it snowed today! It was so pretty, big ol' white flakes swirling down. It's all gone (ground's too warm) but it was a great sight anyway. I listened to Christmas music on all my driving around in the car today. ho ho ho!

ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

SO, I celebrated in style with my honey Sat. night. Oh LORDY LORDY LORDY. The boy and I decided (at my suggestion since he's hard to shop for being one of those damn men who lives simply and already has whatever he needs or wants) to not exchange presents for our bdays, but just spend a nice evening out. Mine was the 12th and his is the 24th. Yes, two scorpions. I know, we're just asking for it, aren't we? Ah well. ANYWAY, I got all dressed up, went to the boy's house and dropped off the kids with my super-sitter cousin. Jeff was looking very handsome and we went to dinner at Garrozo's (sp?) Italian restaurant where I consumed enough calorie-rich-dense amazingly wonderful food to count for a week's worth of body fuel. mmmmmm. Let me say I also consumed a margarita and 3/4 of a bottle of wine. (anyone else hear the foreboding music kicking in here? I didn't hear a damn thing as I was getting loopy as hell). Now, I USED to be able to drink all night, take a couple of tylenol and go to bed and still be ok the next morning. That was PRE-37. This is now.

We hang around the restaurant while Jeff has an after-dinner coffee I have an after-dinner glass of wine (since I finished off the bottle, you see). We decide to go out to one of Jeff's friends' (mother of a kid in his son's school) big ol' Mexican restaurant/bar. She loves Jeff, we go in and soon become the ONLY white people in a sea of hispanic MEN. I think not counting the waitresses, there were maybe 12 women in there amidst literally 300 people. It was insane. At first the guys waited until Jeff went to the bathroom or to the bar to come and ask me to dance, but after about half an hour, they asked while he was still sitting right there. I think that was the only reason my boy (who doesn't dance) took me out on the floor and did some serious salsa dancing. Through the evening's adventures I consumed at least 6 shots of tequila and 2 more margaritas. yup.

Now that I'm older and wiser, I've learned a few things....
#1. I can no longer do tequila shots. Nope, not ever again. 36 yr old Christine could still throw a few back. 37 yr old Christine would drop dead upon the toss/salt/lime series. Never ever ever again. Jose Quervo is no longer a friend of mine.

#2. This boy of mine will take care of me through thick and thin. I am NOT a pretty after-drinker. I can hurl until the cows come home, leave and come home again. I spent some serious time with my face in the toilet. ick ick ick. Jeff put up my hair, wiped my face with a washcloth and when I was past the point of no return, made me drink some alka seltzer and put me to bed. Good man.

#3. The good part of the evening is that I don't think any single calorie made it into my system. Not one calorie could have lived through that night. Plus I danced the night away, burning calories and am STILL not on solid food. I was able to down a diet coke and some green tea yesterday with chicken soup for dinner. Today even the thought of cereal makes me queezy so I'm sticking with soup. Serious dehydration can always help jumpstart a fitness program. plateau? what plateau? I dropped 5 lbs in one day. (I know it comes back, let me feel good for a minute here.)

#4. Eye creams really do work. I looked like holy hell (hard to imagine, huh?) this morning when I woke up (the morning after the morning after) and have always wondered, do these expensive creams we put around our eyes really do anything? I saw the most amazing thing in the mirror. It was like the monster in the mirror actually transformed in front of me once I put the layer of cream on. Keep doing it daily.

#5. I can't knit while hung over. I tried, since I was couch-bound most of yesterday. Nope, it made me queezy all over again. I woke up today with my fingers itching to knit. I truly have an addiction here. This one only gives me cramped fingers and an empty wallet, where as an addiction to good ol' Jose Cuervo would give me the same empty wallet but with hangovers from hell. I'll stick with a yarn hangover every time.

Happy Birthday to my daughter! and me! and BOOOOOOOO to the Olathe police department

We had a lovely family party last night for Elizabeth! 9 years old. unbefreakinglieavable. I'm feeling very very very old today. MY birthday is tomorrow, so I'll officially be older as well. Last night was great! We had a house full of family, Jeff and the boys came as well as my brother and his wife and new baby, aunts, cousins and my folks. OH and a whole bunch-a chicken! mmmmmmmmm. Stroud's fried chicken. I got a few cards with $$ from the folks that WILL be spent on something special. My kids gave me some beautiful hand-made cards and Jeff gave me a card with a coupon for one dinner and an evening out on the town with no children. Babysitting $$ for my kids is included in the deal. We're heading out somewhere tomorrow night, so I'm going SHOPPING to get a new cute top to wear with my black skirt. Beth got TONS of craft crap, plus a small weaving loom and yarn from Jeff and the boys, SAND ART from my brother (which I WILL remember this when his little baby is older, maybe that little guy will need a drum set? bwa ha ha haaaaa), a cool diary with keys and stickers and the like, and the felted hat from me, as well as toys and more crap. She was in heaven!

You know my cute little stories about getting out of tickets occasionally? I really really REALLY shouldn't complain as they always say payback's a biotch, but I'm gonna pout anyway as THIS time it sucked. I GOT TOTALLY SCREWED yesterday afternoon! I was taking Mur-Len from 151st up to 119th. I'd gotten my "toes did" so I was driving carefully ANYWAY. I was going 44 in what I believed to be a 40 mph zone. BUT the city of Olathe police apparently had to make some extra $$ and had a speed trap set up. I get flagged down and sent to the curb. I'm like WTF? I pull up right under the 40mph sign and park. I ask the nice policeman what the heck is going on? Why was I pulled over for 4 miles over? OH, apparently the 10 orange cones they had set up to pull the road into 1 lane from 2 were not just a speed trap. There was "clear signage" stating it was a construction zone and 30mph. I said, "what signage?" and was told it was "clearly marked". There was not one sign of construction other than the 10 cones in the road. No trucks, no people wearing orange vests, no torn-up roads, only the 10 cones and a few policemen. I was ULTRA polite and explained that I may have been going 4 miles over the limit at the top of the hill, but am a good little single mother who abides by the laws and would NEVER speed in a construction zone. He asked for my license & registration and told me "happy birthday" when he saw my license and everything. He went back to the car, ran his little reports, and came back with a FREAKING TICKET for me to sign. I sign it, he tells me thank you for being so "cordial". I look at the ticket and see it's $180, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FREAKING DOLLARS. That's my entire Christmas shopping budget this year. WTF? Seriously. I started crying. I get out of the car, tap the guy now radar-gunning other poor souls and ask him if this is a mistake, and he is snotty at me and says, "you break the law in a construction zone and put people's lives at risk and you pay the price." OH MY GOD. I'm in shock. IT WAS NOT A CONSTRUCTION ZONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were NO lives at stake except mine as I was contemplating trying out a karate move on the guy but thought I'd not make it in the county jail plus the whole "set a good example for the kids" thing.... Mommy can't volunteer at the book fair because she's doing hard time.... yeah. So I just cried. cried, cried, cried. Then I got pissed. "that motherfuxxer said happy birthday and thanked me for being cordial and THEN accused me of putting lives in danger?" OH no no no no NO

I drove back, took a picture of the "clear signage" which of course there was a damn sign, I just didn't see it. I then contemplated going back and parking before the trap and waving to people to slow down until the police removed me but I had to go pick up the kids from school. I'm going back today and if if they're doing their thing, I've got a sign on posterboard that says "SPEED TRAP" and I'm gonna go hold it up dammit. (I do realize that if I added up the FEW times I've been pulled over without a ticket they would probably add up to $180, but it's the principle of the matter. THIS time I was INNOCENT.)

OH and my secret pal is a freaking GENIUS! A few packages back, she sent me a dentist's tool with the rest of the goodies. I thought what the heck would I ever use this for? and now I know. OH MY HOLY HECK, get yourself one if you don't have it yet. It is the BEST thing EVER for lighter weight yarns for picking up stitches, doing the slip over and through join for making a smoother join on circ or dp needles, and I UNBELIEVABLY helpful with making socks. Now that I'm branching off on lighter weight yarns occasionally, it's a godsend. Thank you sp! I also cast on some of the beautiful arcadia yarn for the bottom of Knitty's french market bag. Starting the bottom was a bit like trying to knit with a porcupine with the needles still attached to the fighting creature, but once I got a few stitches on there, it was totally worth it as it's looking very cool.

Way to go Kansas...Here we go again plus PICTURE TIME!!!

SO, we've been a quiet little state lately. The big buzz of BTK Witchita serial killer's trial calmed down, Jon Stewart wasn't making fun of us lately with the evolution schmevolution series, no tornados wreaking havoc. All in all, it was pretty quiet. Good ol' Kansas State Board of Education strikes again....Intelligent design is now a part of our science curriculum and we're back on headline news. cripes. It's bad enough that science teachers were already in demand in our state, but now NO ONE wants to come here and teach. Scientific companies are moving to MO or other nearby states as well. Let's not even get to stemn cell research restrictions being stronger in our state than even in the national government.

I made some progress on the whole slimfast thing. I am avoiding the protein loaded ones and going for the milk chocolate. I heard the french vanilla is tolerable, but I'm not much on french vanilla. (even before the rioting) I'm going to try to almost freeze them and see if that helps, but I'm thinking no. I mostly get them "chilled" and then take a deep breath, slug down about 10 swallows, breathe, grit my teeth together, and try again until the thing's gone. It also helps to put it in a glass rather than right from the can. I'm telling you the stuff works, though, as I wasn't hungry at ALL today and was stuffed after only one small burrito at Jeff's place. One negative (besides the lovely taste) is that the thing must be crammed with fiber. (I think all these fad diet things are 99% fiber to fill you up and clear you out). I swear I turned into my grandma as I was walked across a parking lot this afternoon I farted with every step. OH MY GOD I was so glad it was a windy day or I'd have died with embarrassment.

Loverboy gets extra points tonight as I wore my clapotis over to his house for "taco night" where he goes crazy and truly makes a great spread of food. He complimented me on my wrap. ding ding ding. winner! He then asked if this was the thing I was working on when I went nuts and about dismantled his house trying to kill the moth I saw fluttering by the bag. yes, yes it was. This is my twice-cooked (microwaved) wrap and I love it.

Beth's felted bucket hat is still felting along in the wash. I forgot it was in there and it's only had one round. I've got one of those "nice" washing machines that don't felt well so I needlessly waste a lot of hot water and energy during felting time. At least I also have a sophie bag and a bunch of felted crocheted flowers in there too.

Apparently I've made strong impressions on the children as Joey found a moth in Jeff's garage and came in to find me and help me kill it. Good boy! His kindergarten class had to read that damn book "be nice to spiders" all about helping our fellow critters and not squishing spiders. This is after taking a field trip to a play of Charlotte's Web (remember the pig becomes friends with the mommy spider who saves his life...)! Damn kindergartener-brainwashing tree-hugging hippies! Ok, sorry about that, I have been known to hug a tree or two. I try not to harm animals and do not squish spiders that live outside and encourage my children to avoid stepping near anthills to not kill needlessly. But, in my home (and any home that may house my yarn even temporarily) moths are dead meat. Spiders and crickets don't last long inside either. Of course, Joey shared the fact that his mother is a "super spider squisher" and "kills all moths because they lay eggs and moth babies can eat mommy's yarn." The boy apparently had organized a little kindergarten death squad that was going around the playground squishing anything that resembled a moth (moths, dried leaves, spiders, etc.) That little note from school about how the children are studying "tolerance for others" was almost as cute as the one I got when Elizabeth was 3 in preschool put her hands on her hips, stomped one foot and said "crap! crap! crap!" when she spilled the box of crayons. I have to give REALLY good presents to my chilren's teachers. I've learned it works best if I start out the year with a few "just because" gifts. I say it's "just because they're such great teachers" but I really mean "just because my children will need these to get back on your good graces soon" or "just because their mother is a raving lunatic most of the time."

PICTURE TIME!!! Just got this first set out of the washer tonight! I love my sophie bags, the best blocking tool I own is a stock of chef boyardee ravioli cans. Works every time. I think that felted bucket hat is the cutest thing I've ever knit. I'm making one for myself, but I'll have to go find some earthy greens and add a crocheted flower. TOO FREAKING CUTE! My daughter should LOVE hers, don't you think? Then since no one around here can take a pic worth a dang, I'm modeling & photographing MYSELF showing the versatility of my lovely clapotis. I wish the photos showed how creamy soft it is against your skin....buttah isn't this lovely. I think I'll wear her every day. Finally is my start on Joey's first sock. He's all excited and tried on the cuff at least 3 times until I made him stop.

PS--> Democratic Governors that just got elected all over in blue AND red states, YOU ROCK!!!! GO CRAZY!!!! The people have spoken. Too damn bad it isn't presidential election time. There's still THREE freaking years left. wow. damn. (spoken daaaaayaaaaammmmmmm).

slimfast.....strawberry flavored puke in a can?

Is there ANY WAY on GOD'S SLIGHTLY GREEN BUT MOSTLY BROWN AND DEAD EARTH to drink that stuff without retching??? Comments would be appreciated. I'm off to another fad diet. woo hoo! None of that eating sensibly and exercising more and waiting for the 1 lb a week weight loss for me, nope. I couldn't make it past half a can of "extra creamy" strawberry high protein slimfast. My teeth would not unclench enough to pour another drop in. HORRIBLE stuff. I think it was the protein crap that made it so bad. I picked up some rich fudge crap and made it through a can for lunch yesterday and today's breakfast. ick ick ick. Not as bad, but still pretty rough stuff. Any ideas on the best tasting? I'm turning 37 soon and having a bit of a mid-life crisis.

My job may or may not be here after Dec. 31. I also would appreciate any information on how much Kansas unemployment is if anyone out there knows. I am crossing my fingers as this job is PERFECT for me now. We'll see.

I am starting a teaching program through Avila college in kc. It's the best around, but also FREAKING EXPENSIVE and of course I've used up all my undergraduate financial aid. great. non-subsidized college loans ahead. woo hoo. I'm going to try to take as many classes at good ol' JCCC as I can and transfer them over so I can afford to eat and buy yarn. Hey, if I can learn to live on slim fast, I won't need much $$ for food, I can just buy yarn. Oh, and clothes and food for the kids, right. can't forget that.

Beth's ninth birthday is on Thursday, she's so excited. I have a tween now. it's official. The phone does not ring without this little chic FLYING through the air and pouncing on it. You hear "ring....IGOTITIGOTITIGOTITIGOTIT!.....BAM hellooooo" cripes. We're doing the big fam dinner for both of our bdays (Beth was born 2 days before my bday and Joey was born 3 days before Xmas so I always told them they were my best presents ever....awwwwwwww. I know, I'm sweet) on Thursday and we're picking up STROUD'S CHICKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would eat a week of slimfast strawberry puke in order to eat 2 of those heavenly "we choke our own chickens" fried chicken breasts and cottage fries and gravy and sweet rolls......mmmmmmmmm.......Stroud's chicken........If you ever get to Kansas City, you NEED to eat there. mmmmmmmmmmm

Sunday night I went over to Jeff's to hang out after the kids were all in bed (my cousin Michael the super baby sitter came by) and while snuggling on the couch, I ended up having a major freak out crying breakdown. great. Now the boy KNOWS I'm crazy. He'd been alternately pissing me off about little things and confusing me, my job was stressing me, my kids were stressing me, my school future and possible career change was stressing me, I'd gained 4 pounds AND I was having a bad hair day. The poor boy set me off and it was a 2 hour cry fest. Now all is better, and, get this...he thought it was a big step in our relationship. He thinks he loves me even more now that I "allowed him" to see that other side of me. Ah well. whatever works. We got some stuff cleared out and of course it was silly misunderstandings and now he's all lovey dovey, which is always good.

I knit Beth the felted bucket hat from chicknits. I've just thrown it in the washing machine, so we'll see how it turns out. As I was knitting along this weekend while the kids were swimming in the pool at the hotel, I knit it a little too long in one part, but I figure I'll just felt the crap out of it and stretch it to fit. I used some pretty marbley-looking cascade in a red/pink mixture, it went FAST. I'll hopefully have pics up tomorrow.

Joey's feeling better, thanks for all your good thoughts! He's still pretty worn down, but can breathe pretty clearly again and just takes lots of drugs and gets lots of rest when he's not at school. We go in tomorrow to Children's Mercy for his CF (cystic fibrosis--genetic lung & digestive disease) check-up. Xrays, blood work, lung function tests, and lots of spoiling. He RULES the cf department. He walks around doing Dr. Black impressions and gets the staff rolling on the floor. Last time Dr. Black found out and went around doing Joey impressions and I almost wet myself. too funny, good people.

I'm off to drink my can of sludge. mmmmmm. sluuuuuuuudge. Too bad they don't make slimfast in extra crispy fried chicken skin format. Ok, that just sounds horrible, nevermind.

Helllloooooooooooooooooooo Monday

There once was a girl named Christine
with too many knitting magazines.
Went to a new yarn store
just had to buy more,
found buried alive, such a dreadful scene.
This weekend we went on a little adventure with Jeff and his boys. He switched vehicles with his father, so we got to ride in style in a big ol' cadillac. Having 6 people in our little group makes taking trips difficult. This big ol' car worked GREAT! Jeff's boys are in the chess club at their little private school and had a tournament in Columbia, MO. OH HOLY HELL I'm glad my kids are not chess kids. The chess matches, while I'm sure they're quite exciting and I'm sure great on the resume, would KILL ME as a parent. Soccer mom I can handle. Chess mom I would stab myself with the nearest knitting needle. OH MY GOD. These parents are nuts. Basically, you travel around, pay for hotel bills, food, etc. Go to the hotel where the match is hosted by 7:30am, SIT THERE for hours on end until it's over, go home. The parents don't even get to watch the matches. The kids go into a big room, close the door and the parents wait outside in the hall. You can't leave, as your kid could be done in 10 min's or it may take an hour and a half. Then you wait around until the next match, entertain your kids in the hall until their next time starts, repeat for 5 matches or so and you're done at about 6:30pm. I know, I know, think of the knitting you could accomplish. Wouldn't help me. I'd freaking go insane.

Friday night was spent at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, swimming, playing and having a blast. Sat. Jeff did the chess dad thing and I got to drive around town in the big ol' caddy. We spent 2 1/2 hours in the hotel pool, mall walked, visited the boys and then Jeff suggested I visit the yarn stores there in town. I had a LOVELY time at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, this GREAT store right off I-70. The kids and I spent about an hour in there wandering around and both kids ended up choosing some yummy yarn and now each wants a pair of socks. Actually, Joey wants 3 socks as one is for a sock puppet to sew button eyes on. I thought a sock puppet would be better made out of a wal-mart sweatsock, but apparently I was wrong. Joey got to do the winding of the balls and thought he was hot stuff. They have a really nice weaving and spinning section and good stuff online as well. If you're around MU, GO THERE and shop! I got out only spending $50, but MAN it was tough. I kept putting things back and telling myself "online shop, online shop, I can get it later...".

Jeff's boys did great at the tournament, his 3rd grade boy was 7th in his grade and his younger son was Kindergarten Champion and they were both so proud. We drove through hail, hail, hail and lightning storms to his lake house and spent Sat. night and part of Sunday building fires with wet wood (lots of smoke) and throwing big rocks into the lake. good times.

I'm back, I'm tired, I'm happy. OH and I did not actually buy ANY knitting books or magazines on Sat. I know that SOUNDS like an accomplishment for me, doesn't it? Actually I already had all the mags except the winter vogue knitting, and let me just say, ICK! I didn't see ONE pattern in there that didn't make me think "friends don't let friends knit drunk". Maybe there was something cute hidden deep in there, but I sure wasn't even tempted.

I actually was happy to go to work this morning. I expect the world to end at any moment or some other freaky cosmic disaster as that's just wrong.

Teensie bit of political ranting....Mr. President, if "we do not torture" as you say, then why would you be against a congressional drive to outlaw torture? I'm just sayin'.....