A little of this, a little of that....

I've been knitting, but it's been slow going. I am still not feeling good. The doctor gave me some medicine, so hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

I'm stringing beads. For a sock. I need 140 for each sock, and am cutting it really close. But I want to use these matt gold beads. I'm just not sure I have enough. The socks are going up tonight. One sock yarn ball already has 140 beads, hopefully this one will too.

I bought yarn today. I stopped by a Knitted Peace on the way home. The yarn is for a summer sweater out of this book. It's a surprise. Can you guess which one it is?

And I was given some yarn today by Leanne www.purpleprincessknits.blogspot.com. It's in Gator colors - yes orange and blue. I took a picture of it, but for some reason, it's not loading.

That's all for today. The brain is slow today, all it can handle right now is counting beads.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled knitting.....

Okay, it's Memorial Day Weekend, and my beautiful first born's birthday was Saturday. And I had plans. But there was something else in store.

The youngest and I woke up sick Saturday morning. I felt like I had the flu, hurt everywhere, including the hands so knitting was not much of an option. The youngest's temperature went up to 103.5, and he lost his cookies numerous times during the day. Oh, it was not fun.

I felt so bad for my oldest. Two of us sick, on his special day. So the other half spent the day with him. I guess they played catch and hit balls at the park, went to lunch, played miniature golf, and did other assorted boy things. I was told it was fun, so I felt a little better for my boy.

So, yesterday - Sunday, I went in the yarn room to take a nap because mom was still sick (it really is the guest room - but I dare anyone to find room to let a guest stay in it). Instead of napping, I started looking at yarn, and projects, reading Maggie Sefton's new book (already finished it) and getting distracted.

So I pulled out some lovely, purple, Mongolian cashmere that I had put up for a shawl over a year or so ago (probably more). Started knitting (I am supposed to be sleeping, I still feel like crud) and then stopped and looked at the shawl which was about a foot long at this point, 175 stitches per row on size 2s and thought something's not right. I checked the pattern - yep 175 stitches per row. This baby was supposed to be 23 inches wide. I thought there is no way, this is looking huge. But it had been so long since I had started this.

So now I knew I wasn't going to get any sleeping done. I pulled out a tape measure and measured it. It was 32 inches wide! What in the world was I thinking? I sure couldn't remember. So ripppppppppppppppppppp! And cast back on. This time, 139 stitches. I am on row 9 of much more to go. No nap, but we have progress.

Okay, so I didn't rest. Then I decided to garden, in the heat. I'm an idiot. I had two new rose bushes to get in (I lost 3 during the heavy snows we had). I also had a cherry tomato and beefsteak tomato to get in. So I planted and weeded, and found aphids on the Aspen trees. I have a neighbor who has taken Master Gardener classes - she is such a great resource for whatever crap decides to come live in my little garden. So she gave me the name of a guy who treats trees with natural defenses not chemicals - so aphids beware! Your days are numbered.

And I did cast on a pair of socks this weekend. Actually, I cast them on in honor of Laura, http://knitalife-laura.blogspot.com/ a fellow Sea Sock cruise traveler who lost things on the ship WHICH WERE NEVER FOUND!!!!! Okay - so a little of my irritation is showing through. She lost a knitting bag. How could you not find that? So the cast on socks are Monkey socks, for the monkey business they call lost and found with Royal Caribbean.

Progress reports - 3 inches on the Dale sleeve. Garter bottom, base triangles, and the beginning of tier one on the Forest Path Stole. Not bad for feeling like crap.

It's Memorial Day - get out your flag, be glad we live in the country we live in, have a great day, I'm planning to (after I go to the grocery store!)

Rip and re-knit

Okay, so this week has been a rip and re-knit week. I was off gauge after I finished the brown pattern work on the Dale and moved into the navy solid area. What was a beautiful 6 inches to the inch jumped to 5 stitches to the inch. So 4 inches of sleeve were ripped back. More than 1/2 a skein of knitting. But I'm back past the rip point so there is progress.

And there is progress on the Forest Path Shawl. The 20 rows of garter are done (20 rows of 141 stitches each) and I am now working on the base entrelac triangles. There is progress, slow progress. But I am moving on. Time to get to the pretty part.

On a sad note, there is no hope of getting the back of my jacket back from the ship. Royal Caribbean said no luck, never found. How can you not find a beautiful piece of knitting that took at least 45 hours to knit? With 11 different colors of Koigu? I don't know if I can knit it again....It's just so sad.

It's late, time for bed.

It was a tough week.

I'm not unhappy to see the back end of last week. It was a tough week for me emotionally. First - I'm not sure I want to teach knitting anymore. I like interacting with the students, and think I have a lot of knowledge. But, there are other things which are making me seriously evaluate whether I want to continue.


Then, the other half did some things which hurt me to my very core. And we had a major blow out about them yesterday. The first issue was is that there are certain things that I think you should make a person feel important about, certain days in their life. I am not saying you have to buy them expensive things, but you just make a big deal about them on that day. Now outside the immediate four of us, I will admit that I have dropped the ball, been late to honor an occasion, even with my family, but I have never not made sure the boys (including my husband) have felt special on days which I consider their days.


But I am not afforded the same, and there is always the excuse, you were out of town, how could I have done anything? Well, I am so tired of it. On days that reoccur every year I think there is plenty of time to do something, because you have 365 days to do it. And it's not the same if you don't make a big deal on the day the occasion happens.


Then I found out that he deeply resented me going on the cruise from hell. In my anger I told him that he should have been very happy that I was sick the whole time. He told me that I am not single. You know what, this was a reward to me for all the studying I did, and I knew for sure he wasn't going to do anything as a reward for my efforts - as indicated above. For goodness sake, what does he think we do on knitting trips? I told him about some husbands who follow their wives around on these things and are bored to tears. Let me tell you, he's going on one, and I'm going to make sure there are classes from morning until evening, fashion shows, and anything else to bore him crazy!



Enough of my ranting and irritation, it's out in the open now. So I am back to knitting. I am working on items I never should have pushed to the back of the line. The one on the left is a Dale man's pullover. I want it done. The other is the Forest Path shawl. Cast on for the 3rd time this morning. I was never happy with the 2nd cast on, so here we go again girls. I am on row five. And both of these will be FOs. I am promising myself.


I had a May FO to show, but I forgot to take pictures. They were cute little beaded booties for Cassidy. But I gave them to her on Saturday - so no pictures.

Tag - You are it!

I've been tagged by Leanne! Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write on their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog.

Okay – seven random facts about me, let’s see….

1. I took ballet for over 15 years. When I was in either 5th or 6th grade, I had the lead in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The funniest thing about it, I pretended to sleep during most of my time on stage, because Goldilocks had a dream while she was sleeping in one of the bear’s bed.

2. I used to work at a flight school in Fort Lauderdale. I rented small planes to pilots and was working on getting my pilot’s license. I never finished getting that license. I did date several of the pilots though, and flew over to the Bahamas when I could.

3. I was a sub machine gun operator (the third female in my agency) and was a firearms instructor for thirteen years.

4. I can whistle (ear-splitting loud) by putting my two pinkies in my mouth.

5. When I entered college I was going to be the first “female” Jacques Cousteau. I was a marine biology major. I was then told that after breaking my nose (3 times) that scuba diving was not a good choice. Heck, what I am doing today is miles away from that isn't it? Who would have thought?

6. My favorite color is yellow.

7. I cannot roll my tongue. I could never say that commercial - “Ruffles Have Ridges” with a tongue roll. My attempts are rather pitiful.

I am tagging Joanne and Diane. If there are five others that want to do this, leave me a comment.

It’s a beautiful day outside. Wish I was out in it. Enjoy your day!

I can never knit all of my stash in my lifetime, so girls I'm having a Stash Reduction Sale!

The first yarn up for grabs is Bonnie Chase Merino Wool. 5 stitches to one inch on #7. This is a hand paint in shades of blues and purples. 4 skeins of 550 yards each (I wound 3 of them). Originally $24.95/skein. $70 for all four.



2. This beautiful 100% cotton yarn with a sheen is Filatura Di Crose Millefili. 19 stitches to 10 cm on 3.5 to 4.5 needles. 87 yards per skein. I have 17, perfect for that summer sweater. I think this sold for $7.00/ball. I will sell it for $5.00/ball, $85.00 for all of it.



3. The yarn on the left is Madil Kid Seta. This color is called Shade, it's more of a goldy mocha. I have 10 balls of this. 70% kid mohair/30% silk. 230 yards per ball. Perfect for that shawl you wanted to make. Retails for $12.00/ball. I'll sell it for $8.00/ball.

4. The yarn on the right is Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace, colorway Mountain Creek. This is some of the last of the yarn dyed by Lorna before she sold the company. 50% silk/50% wool. Retails for $56. I'll sell it for $40.



5. Yarn on the left is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport. Colorway Aslan. I have 12 skeins, 200 yards per skein, perfect for a light weight cardi. 6 inches/inch on size 4 needles. This was also dyed by Lorna. Retails for $10/skein, I'll sell it for $7.50/skein.

6. Yarn on the right is 10 skeins of black Noro Cash Iroha. 40%silk/30% lambs wool, 20%cashmere and 10% nylon. 91 meters per skein. Retails for $11/skein. I'll sell it for $7.50/skein.



7. More Noro. This is 10 skeins of Akogare, colorway 16. 45%wool/40%silk/10%angora/5%nylon. 94 meters per skein. Retails for $10.95, I'll sell it for $8.00. The yarn on the right is one skein of colorway 9.

8. This yarn on the left is handpainted merino/cotton. A 50/50 blend. Two skeins, one 455 yards, the other 517 yards. Perfect for a child's outfit or blanket. I paid $38 for both, I'll sell it for $30.

9. The yarn on the right is more Noro. This is 15 skeins of Silk Country. 88% Silk/12% Alpaca. 60 meters/skein. Originally $10.95/skein, I bought it on sale. I'll sell if for $4.00 skein.

10. Socks that Rock, lightweight, colorway Beryl. Was $19, I'll sell it for $15.

11. Socks that Rock, lightweight, colorway Rocktober, was $19, I'll sell it for $15.

12. Two skeins of Koigu, bright pinks and purple. I'll sell it for $7/skein.

13. Mama-E's C*EYE*BER Fiber, 80% superwash/20% nylon, 435 yards. Retails for $24, I'll sell it for $18.00.

14. Sweet Socks 75% superwash/25% Nylon, colorway The Comforts of home. $18.00.

The Celestrial Merino is not for sale. It's a gift for someone.

Send me an email, leave a comment on the blog or call me.

I'm done.....I just want to sleep.

Today was Muffins for Mommy at the boys' school. We had fun. The little guy did not want me to go. He wanted me to stay and play with the rest of the four year olds. Not today. But we will have an adventure on Monday I promised.
The girl is tired. I have circles under my eyes. I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Pure system overload. It must be everything. The pent up stress of waiting for the bar exam results. Traveling almost every week. Being sick on the cruise. Trying not to be a mad, screaming mom, and throw in there - allergy season. And to top it off, leaving my Mandarin jacket back on the cruise ship. I'm exhausted. All I want to do is sleep. No late night knitting, except of course Tuesday night when I threw something up on needles for Cassidy, and am still working at how this will turn out. (I am not posting what this is).
But I am so tired. This is a new stole I am working on. The picture does not do the yarn justice. We are talking beautiful Mexican fiesta colors of yellow, orange, teal and red. Fleece artist handpaint.






Me, Joanne, Sherry and Sharon on the first day of the cruise. In the bar. Getting drinks. I am not sick. Yet. Where's the yarn?




Here is a picture from Butchart Gardens, one of the most beautiful places in Canada. Did you know this was once a rock quarry? What a labor of love for Mrs. Butchart. She hung off of the walls of the quarry in a bucket type device, planting the many plants you see. Just gorgeous. I've seen this garden in the Summer (the roses are unbelievable) and now the Spring. Go to Victoria and see this garden.



Here is another new little something, the shawlette from Interweave Spring. Isn't this yarn pretty? It has a slight halo to it, there must be mohair in it, I'd tell you but if I go upstairs to get the label, I'm taking a nap, so either way, I guess we won't know until later.

It's going to be eighty degrees outside today. Wow. And the sky is such a clear, clear blue. My lilacs are blooming. Oh how I wish you could smell them. I'm taking a nap. I know it's only 10AM, but I'm going back to bed.

Sea Socks? No - SEASICK CRUISE!

I am back. And oh so glad to be on terra firma.

I am not a sailor. Which is surprising, because I used to sail sailboats. I used to do teak work on yachts and make good money doing it. All of this when I lived in South Florida. Something happened when I moved away. I have gotten seasick on one day cruises, I got seasick on a whale watching trip. Now to top it off, I managed to be seasick on the entire Sea Sock Cruise, or should I call it the Sea Sick Cruise or Sea Suck Cruise?

Now I had the seasick patch on. What’s the deal? I ended up going to the ship’s doctor later in the week, couldn’t understand him through his accent, but he was easy on the eyes, and ended up getting a shot in the butt. So I missed the chocolate buffet and the midnight buffet, and ripped out horrible knitting that I did through the worst of it. It will be a cold day in hell, before this girl gets her hiney on a cruise ship again.

I did love the land though. Marin Fiber Arts was our first yarn crawl after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge out of San Francisco. And I bought yarn. Gifts for friends and gifts for me. Did I say I was still seasick and swaying back and forth in the store? And was there an immigration march outside the store going on? (Don’t ask me why they picked San Rafael to do their march). That must be why I bought lots of sock and shawl yarn. By the way pictures will come later in the week.

We got back on the ship, which I wanted off of, and cruised up to Victoria. The seas were 10 to 12 feet. Okay, yep the girl is getting more seasick. Get me to land please. We docked in Victoria and went to Butchart Gardens. GORGEOUS!!!!! Tulips everywhere. Wait until you see pictures! Oh and this was the day I found out I passed the bar exam. YAY!! That’s over. I get sworn in on May 16th.

After the gardens we did another yarn crawl at the Bee Hive Yarn Shop. Of course more yarn was purchased. Sea silk – wait until you see this. Fleece artist. Hand Maiden. Is there room in the suitcases? Back to the ship, crap!

On to Vancouver. Someone please kill me now! I hate cruising! Get me the hell off of this boat! Bus tour through Vancouver. What was the driver thinking? I saw a hooker get into a car. I saw druggies, I saw homeless, all in the first 20 minutes. Then to Stanley Park, a large urban park bordering Vancouver. Pretty, but with many downed trees from a major winter storm that hit Vancouver. Then lunch and another yarn store. I didn’t buy anything. Can you believe it? Me neither. It was very tiny, and geared more to spinners.

We spent Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver. We hit 2 more yarn store – 3 Bags Full (Isn’t that a cute name?) and Urban yarns. I have more shawl and sock yarn. Ideas for classes, and full suitcases. And have you been to LUSH? Oh girls, stuff to pamper you. Bath products and cosmetics. Bath balls that release rose petals and butterflies. What a store!

We took the train down to Seattle from Vancouver. I didn’t get motion sickness on that. IT’S SHIPS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM!!! I enjoyed it very much. Had great laughs with Ana from Venice. (I’ve got my eyes on you!) She sells used English cars in Venice, CA and of course knits.

Then the last thing. I left the back of my Mandolin jacket on the ship. Eleven colors of Koigu. 90 mitered squares. I’m numb right now. In my mind it’s gone forever. CRAP.

Not a great ten days. Great company though. Great yarn stores. Good food. Just wasn’t what I thought would happen.

Pictures later this week. Someone please find my knitting and send it to me. Please.

San Franciso

Our ship sailed into the San Francisco Bay this morning, right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Joanne and I were out on the balcony watching. We sailed past Alcatraz and then docked by the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Today we are going over to Marin Fiber Arts, and then we can explore San Francisco before the ship leaves at 6. There is supposed to a lot of hand dyed yarns for us to lust over, dyed by locals

Lot of sock knitting going on around the ship. Enjoy your day.

Day One of Our Adventure

Yesterday was the first day of our trip. Joanne and I met at the Park and Ride and caught the Sky Ride to the Denver Airport. Just $10 and you can knit all the way, not bad.

We met up with Sharon at the airport and caught our Frontier flight to LAX (we had Flip the Dolphin on the tail). Not a bad flight, though as hard as we hit the runway in LA, I was wondering if the pilot had left some parts of the plane on the runway.

We took a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, with an Iranian driver who just loved to talk. Luckily for us, some guy had to sit in the passenger seat, and got stuck listening to this guy and responded to his continual chatter, much to our delight.

Our hotel is at the Cabrillo Marina in San Pedro, where there are hundreds of sail boats and yachts. We walked over to a restaurant on the other side of the marina, enjoying the scenery and reading the names on the boats. I think our favorite was "Yachta Yachta Yachta" though Sharon's friend Sherry (from Florida - met up with us at the hotel), liked "Twisted Sister." We had a nice dinner at the restaurant with a gorgeous view of the water from our table, blacked swordfish, lobster bisque, steamed asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes and some cheese bread to die for, and of course some nice white wine.

We met up with Patricia, our cruise planner and knitter from Northern California. We met some knitters from Baltimore, Connecticut, California and the Carolinas. Some of our group which we hear numbers 100, are flying in today. We still have not seen the ladies from Oregon.

Almost everyone had socks up on needles. I am working hard on Mandarin. I also saw a square for an afghan, and the bag from the last Interweave Knits. Joanne finished the first sock of the cruise, kitchnering it in the bar last night. No socks up yet for me.

Lots of humidity in the air. I was up as usual at 4:30AM, and couldn't get in the workout room until 6AM, so I walked around the hotel for 50 minutes to get some exercise because I am NOT GAINING WEIGHT THIS WEEK! Needless to say, my hair is getting curlier by the minute in this humidity, so I didn't even bother to straighten it. If I can find a computer that will let me upload pictures you may see me with enormous hair.

We get on the ship at 1PM. Can't wait. Enjoy your day!

What do you think?

I have looked and looked for a picture of the Colorado Rockies to put on the blog and I think I finally found the one. It captures some of the beauty we are lucky to see living in God's Country, a mile up.

I need to pack. I went through the yarn looking for worsted weight. I did not find much. But I did find an assortment of yarn from a Vivian Hoxboro class I took, so that is going along for the color class I'm taking. There's some Lorna's laces sock yarn in lavender that's going along, with a ball of socks that rock in blues and purples. Some sort of theme here?

The bag is a new Maruca bag along with a notions holder that I picked up over at Colorful Yarns. I blame Kris for this. She loves these bags, so of course I had to look them over and buy one.

I have my supplies box, though I need to remember to put some more double points in it for the worsted weight. Sock knitting in worsted, sorry but Yuck!

I have to finally choose the clothes. The shoes will be picked first, then clothes to follow. I'm not that organized a packer and tend to really over pack. Let's see what happens today.

The Mandarin Jacket is coming along nicely. People stop and admire the colors, always a good sign. I think a completed jacket may be in May's future.

Enjoy the day!

I'm starting to get excited!

This is where I'll be this Sunday, along with knitters from all over the country as we set sail on the Sea Socks Cruise. It's almost here! Joanne and I along with Sharon and her friend from Florida will be flying to LA this Saturday. We will be meeting up with Nancy, Dawn and Willie from Oregon, great ladies Joanne and I met at Madrona in February 2006.

Here's the route:

I haven't packed yet. I had my own private fashion show last night, because I have too many darned shoes. I'm trying to pack the least amount of shoes which will go with the most outfits. Decisions, decisions.

The bring along knitting is already decided. I'm bringing the Koigu Mandarin jacket, which I really want to make headway on and get this gorgeous thing done. An easy shawl in Lorna's Laces Helen's lace, for the idiot knitting time (2 or more glasses of wine), and since it is a socks cruise, something is going up on needles, just not sure what. I want to make Eunny's knee highs from Interweave Knits, and since Eunny is going to be on the cruise, I want her suggestions to make them in a smaller size. I also need to put yarn aside for classes. That's right, there's plenty of classes, along with yarn crawls in San Francisco, Victoria and Vancouver. Knitting, yarn, away from all stresses, YIPPEE!!!!!!

Got to get back to work. I need to clear my desk before the week is out.

Did I mention, I find out my Colorado bar results while on the cruise? Either way, bar results = bar presence on the ship. Time to break out the idiot knitting.

Itsy Bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dots on that bikini

I could have crocheted this. But are you kidding me? Maybe Tim over at String could have whipped this out for me, or Cassidy or Kate for our cruises. But mine would have had to allow for the many additional areas of skin that are on an almost 50 year old body.

Instead, this went home with me yesterday. Boy, I don't know. I may have lost the weight, but I still have baby belly. And I don't know if a million sit ups could fix it. My husband picked out this suit. I think I need to take him to the eye doctor. He must think I'm still in my 20s.

The cruise is this Saturday. How did it get here so fast? I need to figure out what I'm bringing. There's requirements for the classes, but they list worsted weight yarn. I really don't use worsted that much. I need to go through my class yarn bag and see what is in there. I have plenty of DK. Oh well, what are they going to do if I bring the wrong yarn - kick me off the ship? Make me walk the plank? Send me to the bar? Yeah - send me to the bar.

Thought I would get the pink shawl done last week, but not much knitting was done. It's not that I didn't have some time, I'm still in that funk. I need something that I just have to work on. Is it just lack of Spring Fever? I didn't even hit a yarn store in LA. I could just be on system overload. My husband said, why don't you design something last night, when I said I should go knit, but nothing has my attention. I have some ideas in my head. Who knows?

I'm thinking of going back to school to get an LLM in Tax (Master of Laws in Taxation). I don't know. I went to college for 13 years already and have enough degrees to paper the bath room. I received a letter from an attorney who teaches at DU, so I need to talk to him to see if it is feasible that I could practice in this area and do it part time. Decisions, decisions.

Enjoy the day, it sure is pretty outside.

Not much knitting today

Today was a blur. Grocery shopping, laundry, bills and taxes. No time to knit though I did finish reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club." Have you read it? If so, who are you in the book? Cat? Georgia? Anita? Peri?

I'm off on a plane again tomorrow. Wheels up to Pasadena. Three shawls are coming along for the ride. Enjoy your week.

Looks like a boa to me...

There's the 4 boas, googly eyes is in the back, green hair to the right, snake shirt to the left, and the "ridiculous one" in the middle. I think he looks darn good, but I'm the seamstress.

I'm knitting bored. I don't know what I want to knit. I will finish a shawl this weekend and want to work on something new. Haven't got a clue what to do. Like others out there in blogland, I'm missing the knitting mojo at present. Send me some good vibes.

Top 10 Reasons

Not much time for a post, but I read this on the Knitter's Review and thought I'd share it with you:

Top ten reasons to buy yarn:

10. Doesn’t have to be watered, fed, repotted or pruned.

9. Doesn’t have a shelf date.

8. Doesn’t need to be walked, groomed or fed. And it doesn’t shed. Usually.

7. Doesn’t need a sitter when you go out. Or someone to watch it while you’re on vacation.

6. Doesn’t need its litter box changed.

5. Doesn’t raise your blood pressure. Or your bad cholesterol.

4. Never talks back or asks to use the car and then returns it with the tank on empty or borrows your handpainted yarn socks and washes them in the machine on hot.

3. Makes a great interior design color splash even if you never use it.

2. Never changes the channel to a sports program. (It's okay if I do!)

And number 1: isn’t fattening.

There is a chair under there...

Amazing what you find when you start to put away crap. There's the knitting chair with only 2 projects on it. Now, I'm not a miracle worker, there's things that are in staging areas to be "put away in the yarn room" but I have my chair back. Did I knit in it though? Nope - sat on the bed as usual.

But in the mess, I found two shawls that just need to be worked on. So, it's a shawl week. I'm on row 95 of 200 plus rows on one of them. I wonder how much progress can be made this week?

Time to wake up the boys, I'm single mom for a couple of days. Enjoy!

A mess and a dress..

That is my knitting chair in the bedroom, which is dark, because the other half is sleeping. Pretty bad don't you think? The house is a disaster, alot of which is due to me. Let me think, which rooms have yarn in them at this moment? Answer - the kitchen, the desk in the eating area next to the kitchen, the dining room, the front room, my bedroom, the yarn room, the bathroom in the yarn room, and the basement. This is bad, very bad. Oh my. Crap. "Lucy you've got some xplaining to do."

Okay, okay, I will never win house keeper of the year, nor will I win mother of the year. I am content to do what I can, be happy or a bitch, like every normal woman on this earth, and go on. As long as I can buy yarn and knit. Oh - and buy books and shoes of course!

You know, I work full time, and try like an idiot to do everything else. So when the oldest son told me he was in a play, I said okay, let's do the mom thing and make an outrageous costume for the boy. And I can sew anything - right? So I trotted off to Joann's, bought snake skin fake fur, did I say I had to turn him into a boa constrictor? And worked on the thing for a couple of days. I made a hood, attached a 10 foot snake tail, and proudly showed it to the family. I thought it was pretty cool myself, and thought won't his friends and teacher be so impressed? Well, J came home and told me his friends thought he looked ridiculous. The other boa had a visor with googly eyes for his costume which was so cool. So again, no mother of the year, I just made my kid look ridiculous!

It's Easter, the kids are up, but haven't realized yet that their Easter baskets are hidden in the house. Good for me, since I need to jump in the shower. Oh - and it's snowing again. Oh please - let the lilacs bloom. I will be so sad if they don't.

There's a dress on needles pictured in the above mess, or should I say, there's a 4 inch portion of the bottom lace edging on needles in that mess. I have looked at that dress ever since I saw that Rowan book. I have no idea what I will wear under it, but I have yarn, needles and beads.

Went to String yesterday, where I got the yarn and the book. Cassidy looks great, her baby is due in August. Some people just look so pretty when pregnant, I just felt like a blob.

The other half has to go to Ohio to testify in a trial for a case he worked on three years ago. I don't have the heart to tell him that I just did a preliminary job on the taxes and we owe again. He gets so pissed off. I can't wait to hear the screaming. Maybe I'll tell him when he gets into the truck to leave. He can scream by himself, yep, that's the plan.... "Bye honey, and by the way we owe big bucks, have a good trip....."

Enjoy your Easter, eat that chocolate, and have a great day.

It's a Koigu Day

It's April. I have leaves on the rose bushes that made it through the winter. There's purple buds on 2 of the 3 lilac bushes. We mowed and fertilized the yard. So of course it is snowing.

Yes Colorado, you got us again. We thought it was spring and you said oh no you don't. Let's have some more of the white stuff.

A friend called me up last night, and we left our kids with the other halves and went out for drinks. I think we laughed ourselves silly. (So did people in the place that saw me land on my backside after slipping on something on the floor!) It sure is nice to be able to go out with a bud, when things haven't been that great and they make you laugh.

So, it's a Koigu day. 12 different, cheerful colors to play with while I watch the boys at swimming, and watch whatever mindless TV I want - though maybe it's a Food Network day.

The Sea Socks cruise is in three weeks. I can't believe it. I am so ready to go. Ten days away with friends and knitting- yippee!

Oh, and last but not least - THE GATORS ARE THE NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!!!!!!

Enjoy your day!

It's been a long week.

This week has not been fun.

A lot of crap went on at work this week, nothing that had to do with what I do or how I do it, but rather it concerned people, their own agendas and their true natures coming out.

We had people working at an off site location that were told that they were to move in to the building I'm at. One of these people was determined to get me moved out of what he said was the corner window office. So through a thinly disguised rationale designed to advance his own agenda, he succeeded in convincing the powers that be that I should move, since I am not a division employee, rather a headquarters employee assigned to the field. So through his lies and whining I am again moving to another office, without the new carpet I fought for, and with less space. And to top it off, I have known this guy for probably more than 10 years. When he needed help to get promoted I helped him and also gave a good recommendation. Amazing. I have no desire to even look at him. His behaviour along with several others this week has been quite revealing as to people's true colors. Oh - and this all happened when I was working in Phoenix and wasn't around to present arguments in person and expose his true nature.

So today, when I looked down at the needles I was using I noticed that I had bent the heck out of one. It must have been when I was knitting pissed, thinking about some of the crap going on. Too hard on the Addi I'm afraid. I didn't get much knitting done, except for Thursday night when the plane home was delayed and didn't get in until almost midnight.

Sorry about the tone of this. It's my only way to express my frustration without coming across as a person who is not a team player at work. I wish I could have retired, I would have walked out this week.

Speaking of teams, Gators are in the Final 4 tonight. Probably will be another heart attack game. I listened to the last one on the radio so I didn't have to watch and worry about a choke. I'm looking forward to getting some good knitting done today, though I have to make one of the boys a costume for a play.

Sun is out, I'm not at work, it is looking like a good day!