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'.....

whew, now I'm tired.

OK, it's only 1:30pm. Normally I am the queen of lazytown. Today, I've gotten children up and dressed, fed and dropped at school. Worked, had a morning booty call from boyfriend, worked, picked up sickly child from school, went to grocery store, more work, followed brown ups truck back home and got Joey's first dose of inhaled antibiotics in him (yeah!), PEELED potatoes, browned meat and put it along with washed and peeled and chopped carrots into a crock pot, more work, phone calls, checked email, listed 8 books for sale on amazon, worked another inch on a pair of socks and now sat down.

How do women do this stuff on a daily basis? I'm feeling like supermom today, and it's all in a day's work for most of the moms out there. I realized I do NOT like peeling potatoes. I also realized it is best to get the biggest potatoes instead of cute little ones, as they take a lot more freaking time with the knife for not a lot of progress. Yes, I'm crock-potting a roast for my honey. I have never in my life made a roast, so this should be interesting. God, I must be in love. I've even got myself a little recipe box with actual recipes inside it I've compiled from various easy cookbooks and magazines. I've tried 4 so far and they've all been edible. I am truly scaring myself. I think I like cooking. shhhhh. don't let that get out.

On the knitting sock front, I decided maybe it isn't smart to start a difficult 2 socks at once technique with the 2 circs when I've never used 2 circs to knit a sock before. I am saving the mangled remains of sockie and his brother ball of sockotta for later. I've found a "simple sock" pattern for the 2 circs. It's actually going ok so far. I've got 4 inches of cuff and it's quite cute. Keep your fingers crossed as later tonight I am going to start the heel. I think I like the 2 circ's thing, it goes faster than the dpns and I'm not always poking myself. (I'm not a graceful woman, and surrounding myself with 5 pointed objects at once is just asking for trouble).

The clappy, she is FAHHHHHHbulous

OH how did I ever live without my clapotis? This is the mother of all wonderful knits. This lovely thing is wrapped around my neck as I type. It is either the fattest softest scarf imaginable or a gorgeous wrap, depending upon how I feel. I feel wrapped in lusciousness. seriously. It's almost as good as eating chocolate. Oh hell, who'm I kidding, it's not that good, but it's close. Go ahead, make yourself one. I promise to get pics up soon. I'm surrounded by people not able to take photographs. I may have to learn how to use the timer feature on the old camera.

SO, last night I got to choose a project. How exciting is that? Ms. Startitis was all aflutter trying to decide. I pulled out sockie, and thought I should make the match to my one first sock. Sockie was not actually completed, he still needed the ribbed cuff. I started to finish it and realized that sockie is about 2" too long between heel and toe, so I probably wouldn't wear it anyway. You know what's coming, right? I felt so bad. I committed a sockicide. Watching Law & Order SVU, I felt like a total psychopath that would end up on the show. Poor little sockie is now a pile of very wavy kinked yarn. I felt like there should have been a white chalk line around the shape of a sock or something. so sad.

ANYWAY the reason I butchered my little first sock attempt was I had a pattern (from my sp, LOVE HER) for toe-up socks knit on 2 circs at the same time. What a great idea! You get TWO socks at the SAME TIME. No worries about will one ever have a mate. How cool could that be? Let's just say I started the damn thing FOUR times. FOUR FREAKING TIMES. First of all, I gotta keep each ball of yarn separate. Ok, I can do that. I get the whole concept of knitting with one needle while the other hangs behind, but I couldn't actually make it work. I used the recommended half-hitch cast-on (harder to say than to do) but I think I'm gonna try the figure 8 caston I learned from Teri. We'll see. There was some serious cursing going on last night, let me tell you. I'm not giving up on this one yet, I may have to wander into one of the LYS's looking pitiful and hold my little needles and yarn out and pout. Pouting's always good.

Little man Joey is a sickee again, dangit. He's getting a flare-up of his cf (he's got a genetic lung & digestive disease called Cystic Fibrosis) and sinus crap and is just laying around like a puny little thing. We've got some inhaled antibiotics on their way from the pharmacy, but the stuff is sent frozen in vials and is only available at one or two places on the coasts and they ship ups, so he's basically just sitting sick & infected for 2 to 3 days while waiting for the brown truck to arrive with the little dry-ice-packed goods. He went to the morning Kindergarten class today, but was just coughing and pitiful. He wanted to go and the teacher and school nurse are great about it and said to try it out. (he's not contagious to other kids when he's like this) Hope the damn stuff gets here tomorrow.

halloween highlights

Oh we had so much fun! BEAUTIFUL night, hooray for the weather forecasters getting it right! Nice, clear, cool, evening, LOTS of freaking candy. We made it around blocks with my 2 kids, Jeff's little niece who all of 2 years old had the biggest bag of candy and wouldn't let anyone help her lug the thing around, and a couple of other little cousins. Joey had so much candy the bottom of his bag broke out and he had to use Beth's witches hat and come and dump it into my tote bag. Jeff was doing his impression of Jack Nicholson from the Shining. When we got to his house, he had the chainsaw going, screaming and was acting completely nuts. Then, he had this cool little thing set up for my kids that they could choose a little bag of cookies or what was in box #1 or box #2... they ended up with stinky old shoes, so he traded them in for MORE candy. It sounds weird here, but it was very sweet. He never gets his boys on Halloween the way the divorce was drawn up and he really enjoys the holiday. We went to his sister's house where anyone of the extended families of all involved, cousins, their folks, etc. were invited. Lots of good food and a nice neighborhood to trick or treat in. It reminds me of my own family, where people love to get together and they always make me feel so welcome. very sweet.

I decided I wasn't going to do the whole "super 80's valley girl" thing this year as I didn't feel comfortable enough with his family and Jeff said he wasn't dressing up but then decided at the last minute he had to do his Jack. "Daddy's hoooooommmmmeee." wow, that movie scared the crap out of me years ago and I won't watch it to this day.

I FINISHED MY CLAPOTIS LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! NO pics yet, I'll sew in ends and take pics tonight. I was so close and it was getting later and later, but the rows get shorter and shorter with fewer stitches, so I just couldn't stop. At 1:30am, I put the needles down and finished my last stitch. WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO. It is about six feet long and wide enough to cover me from shoulders to my waist. It is not quite a scarf, but I'm LOVING it, so freaking cool!

Just read an email from the girl scout leader that she sent out yesterday. CRAP I forgot to send the permission slip for my daughter to go rock climbing. AND she's wearing the new go-go looking black boots we got for her costume today. nice. I've got to go run around, sign forms, send tennies to school and all the rest. oooops. Later!