A Yarn Story

So I finished one handwarmer yesterday.

Knowing I could possibly finish a whole pair out here depending I brought a back-up project. The original nemesis lacey stole. I packed some green pima cotton that I didn't have time to wind in the pre-holiday/travel momentum.

Well, I thought I forgot my yarn for the handwarmers in the airport. (It had rolled past my lap) so I started rolling the beautiful shiny hank of green. However my husband made us line-up early. Which is fine. So I had to shove it back in my project bag.

Needless to say, I've spent a day and a half untangling and rolling it.

I'm less than excited about it now. I still had to knit 2 rows to try and get over it.

I think I could've used a smaller needle ...

Arizona Time

The header is lame. Sounds like badly designed iced tea cans, but honestly, Arizona time has been really nice. We were excited about just seeing everyone and hanging out, but we were surprised that Uncle Eee took so much time off with his family. There was no obligation or anything, but just to hang out.

I went shopping in the morning on Monday with my SIL and her Sis and baby R. It is true what they say about the sale racks in Arizona. My SIL gave me the thumbs up on an impulse shirt for $5. ha! We met the boys back at the house where The Kid was reveling in the loot from a local candy store they visited and watching cartoons with his Uncle and Aunts other kids The Boxer Dog Boys. Just cozy family time.

Lunch at the Tata's house was tasty and fun. Everyone was there for that all generations, all brothers. There are oranges and pools in every one's backyards. The Arizonians think it's cold enough for sweaters, and outdoor heat lamps. Recycling rules seem ... very different than San Francisco. My son's love for dogs is insane.

Yesterday we went to Lee Lee's Oriental Market. I am kicking myself for not taking pictures.  However they probably wouldn't have made it up here anyhow. This place was giant like 99 Ranch.

Asian prepared food take away stall? (Mese bahn mi?) check.
Chinese restaurant with cooked hanging fowl in the windows? check.
Aisles upon aisles of cans, jars, and odd and familiar fresh and frozen produce? check

Things that set it aside? All the Asian Countries were segregated. An aisle for Japanese, An aisle for Korean etc. It was awesome. Asian foods included Middle Eastern and Indian. They had bins of bulk fresh bamboo, a serious selection of frozen dumplings. (They had Shanghai dumplings!)

So we went back to the house and made a bunch of food for lunch. We made chicken wings on the grill, sausage rolls, a berry puff pastry tarte, (mainly for the kids), pork belly, two kinds of gyoza, and sizzling rice soup. The kids were okay however the family doesn't really eat chicken wings. I understand, but it is so different than the way I grew up eating. "We don't eat a lot of chicken wings (boys), it's the skin and a lot of work." It's true! I also think that's what I learned to prefer about it. Better for their health! Better for my taste buds.

I worry the leftovers are cluttering their fridge, but they are too sweet to say anything.

My BIL was going to take The Man Friend his littlest brother to the hockey game last night. It sounded fun and my SIL loves Coyote hockey as well, which I knew, but we were chatting about it. Next thing I knew, she got us ALL tickets! I was excited I had never been to a professional game before. Wow! they got us seats from their very kind friends who have a box. The Kid and I and SIL and Baby were up there while the boys were down RIGHT by the ice in their season ticket holding spot. Whoa. Blood on ice. So weird to see Refs allow them to fight without stopping it! I felt like I was at the school yard and wondering where the "Supervision" was. ha! Obviously I don't really know hockey eh?

The Kid was pretty wowed in the beginning but then restless, which embarrassed me. I know he's a kid. But no feet on chairs, don't act bored, when someone was kind enough to bring you with them. Your being here represents someone else's effort on your behalf. I don't know how to explain that. He is so sick of me nagging everything right now. I am too! I am sick of the sound of my own voice and his name!

I know Man-friend's family want to make this a fun and special time (hence the potato gun) which they have, so generously so. However "de-programming" his ass is may be special but it will not be a fun time. heh. I see his sense of fun has become entitlement. I had to give him the Read for 15 minutes thing before he could do anything electronic today. See? Evil Mom again.

Today we see Reecey and her Minion for breakfast/coffee. I will try to run the boys to Barnes and Nobles at some point to get them some reading material for the flight home. (Manly the husband) Our flight is already delayed and I sense some airport downtime.  Lunch with the grandparents and we are off.

Back to California, but real life and real work are at bay for a few more days since we have the rest of the week off. There will be chores but the pace will be relaxed.

Knitting Catalogs

I admit I like to peruse online Yarn/Knitting stores. I like to see what kind of nifty gadgets they are offering. I like to see what other yarns are out there that I haven't "discovered" yet at my own local yarn store and of course ... I like to see if there are any better deals on certain things I did see and loved beyond my budget at the local yarn store.

I like to think that this little habit of mine is supporting the Fiber Arts community.

I am happy to know at least 2 friends at work in the Craftastic Club keep their catalogs in the bathroom too. I'm not as shameless in losing time as The Kid with the LEGO catalog at least.

Knitting catalogs build my hopes and dreams, they let me relax, they allow me to give (to others via online purchasing or 1-800 calls.

Ahhh.

Boxing Day

The Man-friend said he wanted to fly out the day after Christmas to Arizona. We both thought I at the very least would be working Christmas Eve (which by the luck of Supervisor I didn't have to) and that we'd probably be having some sort of makeshift family over between Xmas and Xmas eve.


The British call it Boxing Day. I heard it's when you give your servants a tip. I heard it's when you box up your leftovers for the needy. I heard it's when you box up your excess hoard for the needy. It all appears to be untrue. I'm not ready to find out via Wikipedia and just see if I learn the truth -- kind of like when I heard Sausages and Potatoes got the name Bangers & Mash during the meat rationing of  the War. Which War ... ugh I am not sure. I'll go with WWI. bah I don't know.

Anyhow we fly out Boxing Day. We go to the airport, but he makes no Sky Park reservation.Why no reservation? Because he forgot it was the holidays. Hmm. They were full. Hmm. So they sent us to the Long Term SFO Parking, but guess what, they were full. But hey, they were cool, sent us with a voucher with bad accented directions to the International Parking lot where there were no parking spaces for 4 floors. We felt like we were in a video game. Whatever we were doing what we needed...

EXCEPT MY INNER CONTROL FREAK WAS FREAKING OUT ABOUT TIME.

I was cool ...

We stalked a spot. We got in the elevator. It wouldn't work. The lights flashed, the doors wouldn't close, the button outside wouldn't hail another elevator. I swore.

Elevator goes away. Non-possessed elevator comes. We are in the wrong terminal. Tick Tock you don't stop, Mr. Clock.

We take the Tram. It's okay, I'm playing it cool-ish. But my eyes shoot venom.

We are doing fine. We only need boarding passes. We are doing fine. We go to the bathroom and make it through security and have plenty of time. We are ... you get me.

We get food, we get on the plane, I start knitting. We sit on the runway for 50 minutes. Other people's children are disgruntled, so am I, but I'm an old grumperella and can cope better. Who can one blame? Why
blame when one can knit?
We are on the loudest flight ever. Really? It hasn't been that long since I've flown. But it's really loud, makes us nervous. There is turbulence. It's okay. The Kid is antsy but that is okay, he's got my iPod, but he can't really hear it. He eats chips, he holds his hands over his headphoned ears. He is better he says when he lays down in The Man-Friend's lap. Then Man-friend spills an entire airplane cup of ginger ale on my bathing suit region.

I'm sticky in my bathing suit region and imagine bizarre explanations regarding UTI medication requests and I'm resigned. Man-friend apologizes profusely, knowing it's not his fault, I cannot say anything at least know I have good story coming. Frustration is hot and bothered like a pair of ginger ale panties.

Plane lands safely! BIL is there ready for us. He had checked flight times and was not waiting too long. I go to the bathroom ... I take a "Trip" in the ladies room, bruised knees and a stranger picking me up. I thought that was very kind.

My husbands family, my in-laws, my son's appropriate excitement, and an excellent meal with excellent wine (Dutton Ranch & Cote Rotie) were fantastic.

My BIL & SIL have a tv that they let me stay up and knit to like my own private AMC theater. The Kid has not asked to play Club Penguin once. Between my father and My BIL/SIL he is in NERF blasting heaven.

Have showered and fresh clothing self since ginger ale incident, unfortunately In Laws washing machine is possessed. I feel for them. We can wash stuff when we get home. They have one more chore to deal with, on top of 2 kids in house, a business, 2 dogs and US in the house. Thankfully they are kind and patient.
Tomorrow's update: Shopping AZ sales avec SIL. Ry's introduction to Chowder and TaTa's luncheon.

Cookie Crazy: Cookies Greatest Hits

Lots of people are into some serious Baking Business right now. I won't lie, I'm right there with them. This year my MIL suggested I bake cookies for the families out in Arizona. So it got me to thinking, why don't I bake a few tins for people out here.

HM took one look at my tin sizes and said I was insane. I have decided on smaller tins for local/work friends, and saved 3 larger ones for the Arizona Families. These must be filled by Thursday morning so my BIL and his wife and daughter can drive them out in their RV Thursday night. Seriously. They are driving to Arizona in an RV during Christmas time.

I love their bold and beautiful crazy.

I have been prepping myself for this moment. I have been doing my best to identify recipes in and out of my repertoire that will not make me crazy trying to replicate but won't be super boringo to eat either.

I have been perusing the blogs. And shocker! Knit and Craft bloggers are kind of cookie obsessed too. But it makes sense, it's methodical, there is an exactitude and of course an opportunity for personal spin. Lemme show you some examples.

Panopticon, who I will check twice a weekday to see if he's updated his blog. (He's really smart and funny and creative smart) had a fantastic nostalgic cookie post.

A friend to knit with not only had some photos that made baking look pretty and fun, she had a link to a cookie recipe. I think I will try to recreate these, chilling the dough for refrigerator slices.

Yarnharlot  gave me some hope that I will come out of the Cookie Extravaganza of  the winter of 2010 A-Okay. Not only did she have festive cookie photos, but photos of knitting and happy family too. Dang man. These people and their Martha-ness ... it's enough to give one a complex. (Thankfully I have too many to be bothered with acquiring another this holiday season.)

Well drawing from examples I have my strategy:
Monday: Bake Milk chocolate & dried cherry cookies for co-workers and friends. (batch 1)
Tuesday: Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookie dough. Make sliced cookie dough. Chill both over night. if time Bake one batch of semi-sweet and cherry.
Wednesday: Bake Chocolate Crinkles and Sliced sugar cookies - pack Arizona cookie tins
Thursday: Chocolate Kisses Thumbprints and Nutella and Jam sandwich cookies

Thursday may remove one batch and Tuesday may switch-up the semi-sweet and cherry for thumbprints. Not that you care about details. But I do damn it, this is cookie logic we're talkin' about.

Disclaimer of the Day

I realize if I were a true blogger there would be pictures to accompany most of these written reports. However I'm cheap. Cheap with my time, and since I lost my card reader USB which minimizes photo upload. I just haven't had it in me to spend that amount of time with the photo thing.

I regret it, I will regret it when looking back I want to a visual reminder. Oh well.

By the way, I take craptastic photos. I'm no Little Snoopy. However I'm thinking maybe by hanging out with a cool person, I could learn by osmosis. Then again, I could try reading a camera manual as well ...

Reflections -- Not the PTA Art Contest - but the bad jr. college creative writing kind.

He likes when I watch Star Wars Clone Wars and knit with him. Sometimes he legos ... sometimes he doesn't.

When he spends the night at a friend's house Friday night, on Saturday mornings I'll often still make myself a cup of tea and knit at 9:30 when it's on. I do not start playing legos.

We had a nice apartment party last night. With the parents of 3 other kids from school. The "Only Child Club" though we are still cool enough to be seen with the Sibling Crews too ;) We hung out in the kitchen and the kids ate mini sausages and drummettes with carrots and cucumbers and of course Lego'd and watched Harry Potter. So much for our Arts and Crafts idea, but they were happy and good to each other.

And now still playing catch-up with a small set of odd dishes, there is really not much else to do but knit and organize and prep out for Christmas. However the thing I ask myself to do the most, is relax and sleep. I really think I owe it to myself.

I will take better care of myself. I will rest my weariness so I can spend more time like last night. So I can knit more, so I can read more with The Kid, so I can enjoy things, so I can enjoy taking care of things.

Mother, mothering herself. "You worry too much Mom."

Has somehow my warped brain confused worrying with caring? Have I somehow misdirected energy I obviously have ... again? Well even so. I will not flog myself. I will still try to share and channel the happy but without inducing wrinkles and stomachaches and insomnia. Most importantly I don't want to raise a worrier. He's already pretty cautious and that would be really bad parenting. Risk assessment, okay. Negative Nelly, Bad.

Knitting Kindling

I must knit everyday.

Sometimes just a few quick rows between bus or streetcar stops does me a world of good. My shoulders drop, my face softens, and something slightly warm within me spreads. I think they call it optimism.

Phone-Free Organic Me

If you know me in the real world you will have to stay in touch via email until I get a replacement phone. The Man Friend and I had a less than successful trip to AT&T last Sunday. Our crazy notions at getting smarter with a Smart Phone together in a reconciled family upgrade and plan was blown to smithereens. For various timing reasons our upgrades are completely due at different times. Because we both want iPhones, the conditionals for early upgrade are even more specific. Honestly I don't need a fancy phone. I sit in front of a computer. But The Man Friend checks his email so rarely, I know before he knows his mother's travel plans etc.

Truth be told being phone free has been liberating. Plans are made, plans are kept, an effort to be punctual is even stronger.

The HM of course has embraced this fully. She has chucked her phone (which is barely on anyways) and figures, she can make contact before and after leaving critical points like home, work, friend's house via landline there or another person's cell. She has no kids, she has no pets, her immediate response to emergencies are tempered by having other people as fall-backs (siblings), her own response if needed shouldn't be too far behind.
I sent an email to The Kid's school and after school program to let them know, the cellphone number is pretty useless at this point. I'm usually at work, I may have only stepped away. I'm never gone for very long, and well ... there's always his Dad.

The best thing, is things feel more concise. There is no more negotiating, "Call me when you get there, call me when you're near... Call me if you're going to the store."

It's, "Hey I'm leaving work am I meeting you at dinner or at home?" or "I have to stay late at work. You have to get The Kid."

Easy Peasy.

Does it mean I have forsaken my desires for the iPhone and noting cellular service availability and live the life of HM's cellular celebacy? Hmm, no. I'm just not panicked to replace it. In fact I might enjoy it a little longer.

CommonTators Commenting

I have crossed over from internet blog gawker to personal blog poster. Now I have gone to the true dark side, posting comments on other people's blogs.

I suppose I should clarify and say that it's not the TRUE dark side. After all, I'm not leaving comments of acid and vinegar. In fact I posted a few times to show support to other bloggers I don't know. I entered a contest or two (and I won! Randomly Generated ... That's Me!) I also like to comment on my friend's blog, it's really interesting to watch her explore her interest in photography, and just see her artistic talent on display. The best is by knowing the blogger, the voice is even stronger to me when I read.

It's amazing what people share, and though there are many sides of a person that may stay hidden, it's nifty to see at least one.

As far as my comments go, I think it's okay, there are only nice things to say. I haven't become one of the angry regulars on SFGate. In fact I highly doubt I'll ever post there, all my indignation still prevents me. Nice things to say in nice places. It may seem really superficial, but honestly, I don't see how it's wrong.

Mom Jeans the Saga Continues

I know that I don't REALLY need another pair of Jeans. However it could be argued that I need the "right" pair of jeans.

I am familiar with the idea that I choose comfort over flattering style probably more than I should. And without the self-deprecation that it sounds like, it's mainly because right now, there is not much that I find flattering on me. In fact tried and true items. Look snug and rumply and out of proportion.

I took in a pair of jeans to be hemmed last week. Because I had two pairs. One I figure I will continue to roll w/that summer feel, and even works with my rainboots. And one that I wouldn't roll, b/c rolling actually shortens the look of my legs. ( I watch what not to wear ocassionally). I found a pair of jeans that used to be too big on me that are true Momish old Gap jeans, but I had them in my imaginary disaster kit. I took them out washed and wore them and washed again. They are very comfortable, but I look like I should be working on a farm. My Levis ... one pair too tight to me in the waist. The other is a little to saggy booty especaily according to the HM.

So when we go to the Gap to get The Kid a pair of black plain front khakis for his singing performance on Tuesday and they are having a buy one get one 60% off. I sucker in, and I buy two pairs of my favorite style there, and run back b/c I got the wrong size. Or so I thought. I put on the pants this morning, before taking off the tags, and they were really comfortable. I should've noticed that in the beginning. They are already beginning to stretch out. They look okay, a little long. (should've noticed that.) So, I guess I will have to go back and try the smaller size on and if they fit better exchange the one other pair I have.

Like Mom used to say, always REALLY try things on, and not when you're in a hurry to get your kid to school.

Knitting Nothing

Knitting Nothing. That's me. or Ellen 0 for Knitting. Okay that statistic only kind of makes sense even to me.

I knit a handwarmer for The Shell. But I'm worried the bind off is too tight. So I started working a second one figuring I'll compare, and I can alwyas fix the first one. Well, almost finishing the ribbed cuff, I note a purl where a knit should be. Hmm. Well forget that. I frogged it. I will try again, later.

These handwarmers, the angry yarn that seems to fight and break in my hands is beginning to make this knit job feel like a chore. And, I said that I would knit 2 pairs of them. Sheesh! I was so fed up with the yarn, (Crystal Palace Taos) seeing how I still had 2 more balls left, I even offered the Quiet D one. She said she'd take it for a hat (the color combinations are quite lovely) but at this rate, I'll have broken and frogged so much I'll need it!

In times of project frustration, knitters usually turn to another project, but because I have a self-imposed deadline, I'm not really knitting much else.
The Scowl is languishing in the bedroom, but I have been trying to focus on sleeping a little. A girl can survive on 6 hours, but that doesn't mean she should.

December Days

The December days are severely marked. The Kid has one week and 1 1/2 days of school left till break. His parents are going to play the "fly by the seat of your childcare pants" game which probably involves a day bussing tables for dad (He is cute as long as he doesn't drop jam on any of the hipster child haters) and a day plugged into an iPod and comic book in my cubicle.

Holiday Cards are not designed, and therefore cannot be printed, shipped, signed and mailed. These may be New Year's cards ...

I am behind, I am always behind. However I feel some relief now. Maybe I'm still riding the high of having a craft tower (I could really use 2). Maybe it's the success of replacing Henry's bookshelf -- though the old one is still sitting in the hallway. Maybe it was the Oysters and white wine I treated myself on the way home from turning in school art projects that took me longer than I anticipated ... especially with procrastination. Then again, I needed to do a lot of it at work, that is um not during work hours so I should remember that for next year.

Quick shout out to home-slice Little Snoopy ... sorry you often get my scattered, recap of where's my head madness. You're like the first grown-up I talk to in the morning. Not my best side, but I do shower for you ;)

Anyways where was I discussing relief? Yes, but now, some holiday cards and wrapping and gift boxing, I think I can do this. My weekend balancing act is getting better. So this Saturday I shall strike again! I must fight the urge to dwell on what isn't getting done, and focus more on the doing and the enjoying and ho ho hoing of it all. For as I was sadly reminded this week. Not only are December Days numbered, but all of them.

Should always be the season to be merry! Oh and to say, "Falalalala!" Right???

Friday Perspective

Friday's perspective is no lie, kind of messed up. I don't know, maybe it was the slow slow start I had. I still feel the weight of sleep in my eyes. Maybe I simply am a moody beast and need a laugh.

• My underwear is moving in ways it shouldn't underneath these pants.
• I'm typing with handwarmers on, because I'm so cold. Thank goodness for Earl Grey and Malabrigo.
• I don't think I have a single top that can hide my chubby anymore.
• HM says my favorite pair of jeans are Mom jeans. It's too unsettling for her to be right, but she has the knowing sisterly look. drat. The pants I'm contemplating getting rid of, because I think they are unflattering and possibly a too young cut, she says ... are fine, if not better than my MOM jeans. wtf. How has this happened. I mean I know I've given up a bit ... but ... sigh.
• My husband is threatening to pick up my Crate and Barrel tower of Craft love. Must manage my expectations, because everything won't fit in there.
• If I want to make a potroast ... the el dorado of cooking attempts as HM calls it, I should get the groceries for it on Saturday. I can do this, but do I want to is the question ... is the thrill going?
• If I don't get to knit for a sufficient amount of time for the next three days I might strangle someone.
• HM said I deserve to knit this weekend. I would knit myself into a momentary coma if I could.
• Riding the Peaks of manic depression right now. HM said that my house wasn't the hoarding cluttering disaster she expected. (I didn't show her the pit of dispair)
• Would my chakras misalign if I used a camping mat for a yoga mat?
• I will have to watch my son's Club Penguin intake. This stuff is bizarre. Watch for a future analysis post.
• I can feel my husband's grumpy from here. Going downtown during rush hour to pick up a heavy piece of furniture really has got him sunshiney. hehe
• Maybe I can suggest pizza to keep them each calm.

Time to do some heavy lifting.

December already

As one of the nice Social Worker's said to me the other day after asking about my Thanksgiving Weekend, "Now it's 'All Hands' and 'Pedal to the Metal' from here on out."

True, I think that New Year's Day is beginning to look like some convoluted finish line. I think I am getting better at minimizing my rehashing of the year and my ineptitude at completion. It's still an issue, just an improvement.

Honestly I have more loose ends than I'd like to have, but the one that I'm obsessing about the most, is not being able to knit as much as I'd like. I mean really, I can't have it too bad right? Besides part of the reason I haven't been knititng as much is because I've been doing things during my half hour lunch like walking, and I've been going out to dinner with my family and friends in the early evening and ... I've been reading in the later evening. Sooooo knitting and cleaning have been shoved to the side.

I have been gently toiling away at the Tuesday Night "Scowl" - (based on a cowl but is now a scarf) trying to figure out what my next steps are, since the Harry Potter sweater seems intimidating and another shawl feels very ... L O N G.

Then I remembered I want to make a few handwarmers with nice yarn for some friends in England, and that is exactly what I'm going to do...

This weekend, I will do my best to appease the knitting & cleaning gods, while obeying the rules of filial duty and I'll be damn festive about it as well! Fa ... la freaking LA!

Post Turkey Day Deconstruction

These are just a combination of partial realizations and happenings of the last 4.5 days...

• You know you have a problem when you are lying to your husband about leaving work early and buying your son an undeserved comic book to justify going to the yarnstore.
• Feel better about self, seeing friend from work sneaking out with her own bag of loot.
• Feel bad because even though LYS is having an excellent sale you are unable to find the yarn you want for your project and you buy extra recreational yarn that is not on sale.
• Avoid making eye contact with anyone at Safeway the night before Thanksgiving. Come out alive and sane and with Cranberry Jelly. Gross to some, beloved by all in my family, except for baby big head nephew.
• Convince yourself that you don't need to bake pies that evening because the day has you spent. Bake pies the next morning along with all other food prep with husband's help on schedule. Commence the happy.
• Day After Turkey: Decide children get ill to give me high blood pressure and there is not enough tissue in the world for my son's nose. But this is after a playdate with Mr. Sweetheart. The entire house exploded with toys, costumes and goldfish crumbs, later snot rags.
• Saturday: The Kid wakes me up to tell me he feels much better and he's sure he'll be fine to have his other Bud over to play. I say, let's watch you. Small cough, but nothing frightful, just working it out every now and again. I make him pick up his own snot rags and it is apparent if the child doesn't have some sort of energy outlet my world will explode. So I walk him in the rain to Walgreens (more tissue) and another playdate ensues. This time, it is a much controlled War arrangement with Hot Wheels and specifically built Lego Minifigures. Things go well until it's time to take The Bud home. I let them watch soul sucking t.v. and peeling them away brought out the wrath.
• At his friend's house we have a nice dinner party with parents of The Bud and another classmate's parents. We talk a bunch, I'm probably the least smart in the group, but they are all very kind and funny telling great stories. It really made you think, I love this non obligatory, easy breezy, social holiday gathering. This is what I think of as ideal when you say Holiday Season.
• Sunday: I knit for two blissful hours in the morning with cold cup of coffee and Star Wars on the t.v. with The Kid lounging, Man friend goes to farmer's market and returns with yay! not turkey tacos! We lose time and scramble to get out of the house to go to Oakland. Lovely neice birthday, she allows me to channel my inner puppeteer with her hamster puppet and shows off her room and favorite things to me. Boy children don't want to eat, just play video games. My boy child coughs and needs an attitude adjustment.
• Guess what, it's Monday and I still just want to knit!

The Cake Story: A Report

Monday morning, bright-eyed and bushy haired, I say good morning to some friends that work in a unit in it's own alley of low-walled cubicles. Everyone smiling and kind, a square heavily foil wrapped parcel on the edge of a file cabinet on a pink plastic plate. Ahh, someone made a cake. How nice.

9ish am. Only been in the office for a little over a half an hour and it is quite clear I'm going to require another cup of coffee. I return down the aisle and ask if anyone would like any. Everyone is good. Ahh, look the cake has come out of it's wrapper and is on display. An old school yellow cake with chocolate frosting 2-layer square cake. Aww. I can smell third grade slumber parties ... They say it is for Lindita's birthday. (Duh of course! I had been debating whether or not I'd bring in her gift on the Day or wait until Dinner Night. I opted for private festivites)

She wants to eat cake later. So we will eat cake after lunch when she returns from her Dr.'s appointment.

Hmm now it is somewhere between 9:30 and 10:15 and I get pinged online."I have to tell you something funny about the cake." My friend nervous about appearing gossipy, when really it's a "STORY" starts off says, "Did you see the cake."

I hustle over and cake is removed. Cake is on her desk, squirrelled away from ... the SAVAGES that cut into a corner of the cake without asking.

But wait it gets better. Apparently, known co-worker easy breazies himself over with ... a spoon and a bowl (seeing how there were no serving, eating utencils etc. around the cake.)

1:30sih Lo walks by my aisle of cubes, where Cake Cutter sits as well and playfully asks, "Hey is there anymore of that cake left? It was delicious."

Lo says, "What wait, did you cut into that cake? Was that you? That was Lindita's birthday cake!"

Oh so the shame and the horrors continue. The incredulous voices strain for hush. Lo' is a gracious person and tells him, "No, it's fine, no-one is angry. It's funny." (He was fearful that Shingly would hold a grudge. Silly man, doesn't he know I'm the one that holds grudges around here? ;)

Now the truth is, this Cake Cutter is known for not being my favorite person, for not necessary reasonable reasons. I try to remind myself of this lest I judge too hard. I try to remind myself how bad it is to be an "open-minded hypocrite" and so I reel myself in. I can see how misunderstandings happen.

And then I hear him say, "She shouldn't have left it out."

And then I remember why he puts the vinegar in my milk. I think to myself, "You should've asked O' Entitled One."

There was one slice of cake left at the end of the day, and I won't lie more than one of us was tempted to leave it on his desk. hahahaha. mwahahaaha.

But Momma said, "If you're petty and you know it ... don't show it." Ha! I wish my Momma said that!

Knitting on the Inside

I write this post to alleviate a VERY strong desire to knit.

I am trying to focus, write lists, be practical and somehow things get really jumbled. The inside of my head is kinda like this ...

"Okay yay, only 3 days of work this week, I'm sure to finish one Ad Hoc report and ...

Geez I wonder why my drop-stitch attempt w/that novelty yarn from France went so wrong? Why does it look like a clusterf*ck instead of a nice long drape that features the fluffs and puffs?

Hmm, I wonder if I should buy a back-up pumpkin pie for my "From the Freezer and the Can Pie"attempt this week.

Geez, maybe I should just make the knitting needles size 10 and Yarn Over twice to get the desired length in my drop? Or maybe I should just stick with my size 8s and Yarn Over thrice -- since the 10s might be too loosey goosey on the garter stitch with this yarn? Or maybe a combination the Yarn Over thrice and smaller needle size? Oh I don't know. Maybe I'll swatch one option tonight. Maybe I'll just ask the Sweater Guru DA tomorrow.

Sweaters oh that reminds me, I took The Kid to see HP7P1 (Harry Potter 7 Part I) and since the main characters spent a lot of time "camping", there was a lot of interesting knitwear in the costuming. Hermione sporting longish wrist warmers convinced me I need to try and make some with self-striping yarn.

I really should start on the Harry Potter Sweater for The Kid. But I would much rather work on this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moody-kerchief . Besides, I never said he was going to get it for Christmas. His birthday is 2 months later in February so I could put it off a little longer.

The boys are going to the basketball game. I could just swing by Imagiknit...

I really should spend an hour decluttering. Maybe half an hour.

If I try to bake pies, I'm not going to try to bake bread.

I really don't like that Taylor Swift girl for no good annoying reason. And geez did you see that Miley Cyrus dress from some awards show? It looked like swathed toilet paper. Kids these days.

I'm not baking bread.

Can I go to the yarn store now?"

Turkey Day is Fast Approaching

I have been thinking about Thanksgiving now for more than a few weeks, coordinating with the other heads of household to determine, who wanted to do what and where. Really trying to reduce the amount of obligation our family felt. My sister RSVP'd earlier to confirm they would be spending "Thanksforgiving me food and forgiving my annoying familial/familiar behavior" Day. Kind of obnoxious wordplay is a problem I have sorry.

Well, The Kid determined the traditional dinner and everyone got on board. Okay, I succumbed. But now I realize why I didn't want a traditional dinner, I have the nervous knees about trying to make one. Regardless I planned. I set out the menu with the boys, and gathered "easy" recipes from friends and consulted family members ...

The Man-friend has taken over the Turkey. He will brine with what he wants for how long he wants, and though I am relieved kind of, the control freak in me is more nervous. He's feeling a little mad scientist and crazy I can sense it ... and that's well, that's a nice organic turkey to dork around on. I also warned him ... not to make a sweet turkey by adding sugar to the brine, like he did with that batch of fried chicken. Years ago, cruel to recall, I know. I'm sorry. To add insult to injury, The Kid hears my comments and comes racing back up the hallway where he was prepping for school and says, "Oh please! No Sweet Turkey No Way!"

The Man-friend controlled his hurt.

Much better than I would (or do).

In the excitement I have not relinquished fretting. And this year I have not taken the day off before Thanksgiving or Christmas, and we are so busy between and before each, we'll be lucky, if we keep the floor picked up. So I have decided to play shortcut. I told him, pie filling from a can, crust from the freezer. Breadcrumbs pre-dried/bought and seasoned lightly. Add butter, stock and celery ... etc. Honestly I think this is the best route for me. I read all these blogs and have some amazingly efficient and talented friends (*cough HM) but I have to be realistic about my own comfort level. I am not up to par with everything for the holidays where I would like them to be, but I want to check myself so I at least enjoy them. This is my recipe for reduced fretting.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi Freakout Moment

I was perusing the local SFGate. Because I like to know what's going on in the area -- crazy talk I know. I try really hard to stay away from the comment sections and some of the very badly written articles (where it's not written with a slant, but a veritcal grade). I usually try to avoid The Mommy Files, just because I feel like they represent such a homogenized group of parents and the comments section cannot be avoided as hard as I try. However I have my own hang-ups that I may be projecting as well.

However I was thankful to see her feature this today:

Thanks Mommy. Just the level of humor and fantasy/sci-fi allusion I needed this a.m.

Nope, I don't like mittens either ...

Okay add mittens to the list. I don't want to wear them. I don't want to make them. If I "had to" wear them, I would wear gloves.

HM says they are kinda fun to make for little kids. She's weird. She doesn't even like little kids. (On a slightly related note -- since HM is Martha Mese -- I remember being very surprised when I found out that Martha Stewart had daughters. Like whoa, what kind of bill was that therapy? Not that HM's kids would need more therapy than say, mine.)

Fun mitten knitting?I beg to differ, though without the experience I realize, of a mitten knitter.

I have decided that mittens are the socks of hands. (don't be so astonished by my brilliance! really!)

And at the end of the day, why not just make some handwarmers. Heck, we're in the Bay Area after all ;)

Followin' up

I found my glasses! They were in the pocket of my rain jacket. I was so excited to read the lunch menu on Sunday.

I ordered a new camera battery charger so I stop fretting about where the original one is. If I find it, it can't hurt me to have two the way I operate and organize. crap.

I made the man-friend visit bookshelves with me on Sunday while we went around doing some errands. I think we decided on one and he understands that not all furniture can be managed by shuttling a handcart to the backseat of a child-free car. He was not as impressed with the array bookshelf, but I told him it would be a space saver. I am getting one this week. I want to win back some space.

I finished the Nemesis stole this weekend! It's a little on the short side, but it is still cozy looking. I have no picture because my camera has no battery power! I also finished the golden shawl, which I managed to take a few snaps of, not very good. However I'm hoping I can get a picture of Crazy Soccer Mom wearing it later. The color and sparkle is just right for her. I'm pleased. Though the acrylic blocking thing didn't go as well as I'd like. And of course I was rushed, so I didn't have time to write up nice gift card for her with it. Drat.

I saw a scarf, and I decided that I could come up with my own inspired pattern. I tried to keep it simple and account for the stockinette curled edges (which actually is needed here).  However I think I need to frog it and make it even wider. It's funny, because it's sort of a step-child of Mlouis' "three legged scarf" with a twist. The yarn is a welcome change from what I've been working with so, I feel this desire to keep knitting. though I know it's going to curl too much. I'm wasting time. I need to chuck the prototype and start again. Let it go. I think I might try a 60 st. cast on this time, which makes it feel much more labor intensive than I'd like. However I dont have enough bulky yarn in my stash to mix it up just yet.

I started a the last skein in my stash for The Kid's gigantic camo tent blanket. I made an inch. So over that blanket. It's just hogging up my time with the endlessly wide stockinette. I could be knitting something else At least it keeps me toasty while I'm knitting it.


I can't wait to organize my yarn better ... again.

Rinse & Repeat

I am really amazing at making the same mistakes over and over again.

 

Things happen, I over analyze, or I analyze too late, whatever and I feel shame at not doing something better, and vow to correct these things in the future.

 

And then. I repeat.

• I know you are all crying for examples, and I'm here to provide:
• It seems I have misplaced my camera battery charger ... again.
• My glasses case is empty. I carry around the case in hopes the case and the glasses are soon reunited, again.
• It seems I went home to take care of a few items and totally got distracted and visited with my yarn. I love my yarn. But I don't want to be late back at work because of my yarn. Thankfully I wasn't, but it was VERY close. I was distracted, hmm surprised that happened?
• I couldn't remember which bag I left the car keys in, so I had to dig through all of them. I found it, but still, it's pathetic right? I reason it out, this happens because I only drive once a month, possibly.

These are all pretty mild compared to people mistakes. Because I can blame myself and I can logic for myself and I can get over myself. You can only ask that of other people of your mistakes. You can't expect. Sometimes I wonder if I psyche myself out -- that I am so worried about making mistakes, that in itself ... helps me create them, again. Man-friend calls it self-fulfilling prophesy. Greek, tragic, chockful of wailing togas and stoic choruses.

Self awareness, the ongoing DIY project.

Knitters: Common Threads

I'm a blog slut. I love rubber necking people's thoughts online. You know that "next blog" button at the top of most blogger sites? Yeah, I'm the lady that uses that, and loses like dog years in productivity.

 

I find blogs so much more intimate than things like Facebook (which I've wavered between haterade and bewitched). The lurking and the sharing on Facebook feels so much more suspicious to me than just blogs. I wish I could explain it better with a thoughtful analysis, but I'd be bullsh*tting you if I said I had that in me just yet. Everytime I try, phew, I'm exhausted, and I've got some other crap I really should be focusing on.

 

Anyways back to my blog appreciation. I have my favorites, and believe it or not, they are all not knitters. But the majority of the blogs I return to are Knitters, with a Knit-centric perspective of life. Yet I find the topics and themes that I appreciate transcend the knitting. For example:

• Cooking/Baking
• Obsessive desires to organize
• Home Improvement -- basically ANYTHING DIY
• Fiction Reading
• Mysteries/Cop t.v. shows
• Animals/Cats in particular
• Photography
• Gadgets and links to cool impulse buys
• Rants on misplaced items, bad shopping manners and bad oublic displays of behavior.

I know there are other things, but those are my fun favorites.
Knitting blog turn-offs. Taste my jealousy.(Obviously positive and negative tastes are all personal, and reflect my issues.)

• Sock knitting, multiple pictures of sock knitting in progress -- I know this doesn't make sense since I like knitting blogs like the Yarn Harlot and Crazy Aunt Purl, but it's true. Those are the post that not only does my mouse gloss over, so do my eyeballs.
• Healthy eating - OMG just, no, I don't care how fantastic your photo skills are, you can't make your Quinoa and roasted squash with balsamic woo me. NON! I'm still cow chewing just thinking about it!
• Angelic children. Bah boringo! Give your weirdos, your goofballs, your nose-picking, butt scratching, crayon wall tatooing artists. The ones that have learned sarcasm and the side-eye by pre-school. And please enjoy knitting for them as toddlers, because they won't wear it much longer, what YOU want I mean.I don't prefer demon spawn or rebels, but no need for stepford children that look like they walked out of a east coast children's catalog (I'm lookin' at YOU J.Crew. eww I mean ... crewcuts. ick. nast) But this all stems from my firm suspicion of angelic children. My kid is a good kid, but he is NO angel, and as documented here, I get plenty of appropriate side-eye.
• People with photos of their neat organized homes that look like show rooms. I swear the complex they give me is hideous. I see the "new" items they've used to improve things and I feel a hives outbreak coming on. so jealous

Best thing about blogs is seeing people improve their lives and I think, I want to try that! I want to make an effort! I want to Knit!

Knittin' Weather

Yes, yes, I know we talk about Knittin' Weather all the time. But I mean it I really do! The air is fuzzy gray with drizzle and it smells colder and fresher like fall. I feel like I should make something homemade and do old timey activities, play board games and sip tea.

I frogged part of a handwarmer last night, b/c I had a case of the dry drunk stitch count. wtf. Anyways, I didn't have to frog the entire thing, so that is good. I'll take another stab this weekend and if I yuck it up again I will just put it away and do something else ... enjoyable, like cream coloured self-striping yarn. ahhhh.

The weather is supposed to remain gray and wet for the weekend. I'd love to do nothing but watch movies and knit, and walk in the drizzle with The Kid. However there are chores, and nephews to attend to, which will bring it's own homey fall feeling with a little voice in a big head in the house and the smell of clean.

Baby big head's visit usually means I can persuade The Kid to relive some Disney glory days ... which will give me some knitting time while their innocence basks in the corrupting glow of the t.v. light.

:) Giant's games cause me too much grief, I don't even bother trying to pick up the needles half the time. I realize I use my "Mom" voice on the t.v. If only those boys would live up to their EVERYDAY potential ... I wouldn't have to nag and I wouldn't have an ulcer.

Bronze Medal: The Traditional 8th Anniversary Gift

I love it. It's like an A for effort. You got past the itch, not just suck it up for a few more years till you hit double digits. You can brag then. For now, here's something heavy, kinda dirty looking that really is not so decorative as much an excellent potential bludgeoning tool.

We used to try to find each other something small, tokenish made from the suggested Traditional "Hallmark" anniversary item. (Modern gift would be pottery, alternative to both Traditional and Modern I think is Linen. zzzzzzz) No wonder we don't really bother trying anymore.

This year I will create for him, his own bronze medal. He's kind of an Olympian for enduring me through the years eh?

Bronze ... really? I mean who really needs another Degas ballerina right? There's enough to dust!

Damn you Canon!

So yes, everyone knows I have been coveting the Canon S90 for a year. Everyone knows that I have not purchased it because there are other more responsible things to purchase when I am not some photo-good-interested person. I will never learn or use half the features I suppose that are in built in there.

Oooo but they are there.

Oooo. I keep it in my Amazon "save it for later" cart and watch the price. Hoping ... it would squeak below $350. It hasn't.

Guess what? Canon came out with the sister Canon S95. And guess the F what? I like her too. Honestly I don't need the HD video stuff -- esp. since I spent money on an HD flip we never use ... (argh) But I like some of the other overcompensating feature for shakey camera family.

See pretty sister here: Canon S90

October is closing shortly ...

I'm dragging like a 2 yr old without crackers or a nap.

Someone send in the clowns. Never mind, they are scary. Send in the Clouds.

The weather has changed quickly, the days are growing darker at the beginning and end of the day much faster. There is a haste that feels required, and inevitably I am beginning to feel that I will never keep up, or catch up.

I'm prone to crank-up the old "woe is me" machine. I will endeavor to stay positive and stay on track for the sake of the family, the job and yeah, the sanity.

The knitting seems to be the thing that is progressing. I am hoping to do some good organizing this weekend. I managed to get part of the Kid's costume going and measure the cabinets for curtains and the Man-friend replaced the shower curtains ... so we are chipping away.

One of the doors broke on our little kitchen cart. I will have to replace the whole old thing. I found a replacement online, so that is good. The truth is, it's not the piece of "furniture" cheap or not that I want to be focusing on.

Our Anniversary is around the corner. Usually I don't fuss too much, but I do like to celebrate it. However The Man-friend is usually slow on committing to an idea. He's so laid back, everything is like, hmm ... sure.

Which doesn't feel like celebrating does it? Does that sparkle with the glow of a unicorn or a rainbow? Does that smell like strawberry shortcake or lemon meringue? ha. I think not.

So I got pouty and decided it wasn't worth me doing a bunch of planning to make something specialesque, if it was just "sure" to everyone else involved. (Yes I was wearing my martyr pantyhose ... tight fit, but supportive).

Now I will try for something not special, but acknowledged and some-what celebratory for us.

The holidays glare around the corner. I can see the sparkle shiny things, feel the heat of the overused oven, and hear the sound of crinkling wrapping paper and doorbells. It is a busy time of year, and friends and family alike tell each other, "We should really try to do that before the holidays."

I hope so.

Shh. They're Listening ... in the stalls

I got busted for "thinking outloud" in the Women's room at the office. I thought outloud, "Oh god, I'm insane."

I suppose that's not so unusual, but I do aim for a sense of decorum at work, kinda, since you know, they pay me and stuff.

Freakin' Weekend ...

So here we are Friday. I am not as jazzed as I'd like to be. I'll blame Man-friend that correctly pointed out that even if it was Saturday I'd have to wake up butt early for a Sunset District soccer match.

DRAT.

But since I've been piss and vinegar this week, I think I need to focus on a quick list of HAPPY that without a doubt fits in a weekend.

* Ate a chicken cheesesteak for lunch.
* Gonna knit like a mo-fo this weekend.
* True belief in kitchen cupboard curtains.
* Impulse buying an Etsy Kitchen Conversion Chart Poster. Lovely No?
* I get to cheer loudly at soccer this week. No more "Silent Saturday" game yay!
* I get to see my Niece Ms.M. aka Madame Purple.
* I get to see old friends from out of State.
* I get a chance to clean my house a little.
* Making BIG LISTS of more to do ...
* I feel completion around the corner. I SWEAR it!

Can't Talk Must Knit ...

Somewhere again I have found the zone. I have found the progress last night for a few hours of counting, and double-checking on a golden shawl of shame, and shushing my Man-Friend.

I managed to not carry my yarn in my bag all day, so when I came home last night from dinner w/the Kid (who was a very bad date and ignored me for his reading material, so I had to listen to an annoying snobby high maintenance lady whittle down her dining friend's patience) I was ready to knit.

When I put my purse down this morning and prepped for a day of documentation. Ack. I saw my In progress work project and feel ready to knit.

I looked at the lack of pictures in my ravelry.com list and feel ready to knit. In between fits of writer's block I visited some wonderful knitting sites/blogs from what sound like nice and intelligent people and feel ready to knit.

Guess what I'm doing at lunch? Not fixing my grammar. HA!

The Yarn Harlot Has My Envy Again

Seriously, I like that she has a sense of humour and loves green. I like how in her most recent post she picked out a blue fibre to spin, for a hat, for a daughter, because the color looked like cold frost. I like her even though it is obvious she has an unhealthy sock obsession.

So it is really no surprise that I practically swooned when I saw her "after" picture of a small "stash" room organized and transformed into this

Now I AM so green. Really I must start getting things done.

Knit it up Knitty

Okay I just need to blow off some more knitting steam. sorry for the 2 of yous that read this.

1) What up with Knitty.com's fugalicious patterns? It's so Hippie Heavy.

2) Why are all the needles in my life abandoning me? I feel ... lonely. Like a girl with all kinds of 10, 10.5 and size 7 needles, but not a 4 or 5 in sight!
US 8 Mr. & Mrs. Tapestry where did you go?

3) Damnit all these fancy knitter bloggers are like, "Ohhhh, fall is a comin' I must cast on a new sweater! Oooooo! Look at all these gorgeous colored yarns." Jerks. I might have to bribe the quiet DA to cast on a sweater for me, and then I'll be seen with it. Give it back to her and she can make progress and I'll tote it around again, and repeat pattern until I "make" my hand-knit sweater. ha! hmmmmm...

The Quiet DA recommended I stick to simple sweater patterns. However I can't stop eyeing this. I think my sausage rolls might actually be able to wear it. Madelinetosh. mmm. delish.

4) I keep meaning to bring in some mini-fig yarn for Snoopy, but it just sits in it's ziplock in my room. I wonder if I'll ever get around to making one. I feel so knitting intimidated now.

5) Which leads me to... Originally I wanted to make Henry a Harry Potter "H" Sweater for Christmas this year. Am I crazy? (Technically it should be a Mrs. Weasley sweater)

It needs to cool down a bit here in SF. It's actually too hot to knit before bedtime. On the other hand I'm actually getting around to walking during the lunch hr.

Unfinished Knitting Business

I refuse to describe them as objects, because it sounds so souless, and honestly even if I am on auto-pilot on the same damn projects, I need to find my fake love.

I was feeling a little forlorn yesterday. I couldn't find my tapestry needles, I had to back out the golden shawl again. (Why is it so hard for me to stop knitting that thing when I'm tired? Why? for the love of yarn WHY?)I'm still backing out the shawl. I hope to get back to a good place tonight.

My pretty yarn called to me last night. But I left it in the bin to multi-task iTunes and knitting ... hmm maybe that's where things went wrong.

However this morning The Man-Friend got The Kid to school and I REALLY should've utilized that time to get to work early and catch up on the firestorm of backlogged work I've acquired while in training ... but ... I decided to visit my yarn. I saw this fun brown novelty yarn that would make a FUN winter scarf. I will allow myself to swatch it. I shoved everything back in the bin with a healthy dose of longing and regret.

No fears, yarn my love, I bought lotto tickets, one day, some day we will roll around in the smell of wool and silk together, laughing at our prior days of estrangement.

Crap I am so over "have to" work right now. I have to dangle the knitting carrot over my head. Do your chores and then you can knit ... CRAP. boringo eh?

I have so much to do! My friend K-Step and I decided to pick our charity for this year: http://www.knit-a-square.com/ It's a good cause, something realistic to do during the holiday season and it's a good stash buster. I think Martha Mese will throw down a few squares as well.

I ran into Sweater Guru, "The Quiet DA" yesterday. I barely got a chance to give her a hug and ask her how she has been doing after a bit of a hiatus, and she was whipping out all kinds of Brooklyn Tweed patterns and telling me what yarn she was going to match. Lady has an eye for a pattern if I might say.

Mlouis has been shopping for a new scarf pattern ... and I was thinking I really want to do cables, and I miss chunky yarn ...

Eye on the prize ... eye on the prize.

Why technology plagues me ...

1) Not only one must take the time to plug into the computer all the right parts but to download things responsiblity one must:
* update appropriate software
* organize appropriate directories
* upload to a responsible and secure system
* back-up above data.

2) Computer functions such as installations (that often require restarts on cranky computers) and backups take ... TIME.

3) Any functions that could be considered errors, take time to back out.

4) Resizing ANY images.

5) I'm lazy.

6) I could be knitting.

7) I'm lazy, AND ... I hate waiting.

The No Shame Vegas Trip

I never really went to Vegas when I was younger without my parents or my boyfriend ... who now has become legally bound to me. So when I did go it was always pretty wholesome. Even with the BF. We like to people watch, eat, drink and play. But we didn't like to play big tables, and we really didn't go to clubs or want to interact too much with others. Hahaha. We sound so boring!

Well I just got back from a trip with my sister. We flew out for 2 nights to visit with my Mother and her BFF who were having their annual girl's vegas fun time trip. BFF "C" flew out to Hawaii first to see Moms and the Colonel. He leaves for a business trip and they leave for Sin City.

I called to check on them earlier last week right when they got there. The phone call was like talking to giddy girls on Spring Break:

Mom: Hello? giggle. Hello? Is that you honey?

Me: Yes Mom it's me, how are you guys doing?

Mom: Giggle. OMG C! We are having a great time. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You HAVE to talk to "C"!

Me: Mom I can barely hear you! What about this weekend are we ....

Mom: Honey the Casino is too loud! "C" can't talk she's talking to her machine. We have to go now bye!

Sister and I had a great time. Our flights were delayed there and back, but aside from small ants in our pants prepared girls used the time productively. I knit, she studied (Chemistry) and in Vegas we gambled some allowance money.

We really had a good time, and we didn't get into any trouble at all. The worst thing we did was take a long time to get ready and go to bed really late (4:50 / 5amish)

Highlights & Happy Moments:
* O show! Duhs I love synchronized swimming, fancy dives even mish mashed with Cirque Du Soleil's french Canadian McCreepy clowns, death, dancing animal spirit things and spooky music.

* Drinking my much needed vegetable servings in Las Vegas via Bloody Mary with "C" playing Community Monopoly.

* Getting over my card table fears and having another go at Twenty One at 1:30 in the morning.

* Walking down the Strip gawking at everyone. Posing for pictures with BumbleBee and Michael Jackson -- for our boys.

* Drinking Sancerre with my sister outside on a perfect weather evening.

* Listening to the world's most polite doucherella in the taxi queue at The Venetian. He was wearing horrible sports jersey with baggy jeans and a Louis Vuitton weekend bag. He was bragging about his expensive drink (that he was drinking out of a plastic cup ... to go), he was bragging about the thousands of dollars he dropped the night before and his friend (on the phone) should know he's "good for it" to have a good time. He also told same friend (girlfriend? escort?) that he was going to spend some money tonight, they were going to have a good time, and not to wear her white house shorts (or something like this) and put on a dress.

Then he turned to me and told me I reminded him of his mother, because I had pulled out a tangerine from my bag (thank you Bellagio Buffet) and ate a half of it. He was waiting for me to finish it. ha. "My Mom always had healthy snacks like that when we were kids. Always had them on her." And then proceeded to ask us all polite like where we were from and if we were having a nice time.

HA!

* Watching my mother wreath balloons together with some thread she happened to have on her person, in her jammies and drinking Duncan Donuts iced (no sugar) coffee. hehe.

* Duncan Donuts

* Knowing that God created the following grown-up video games for me: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Monopoly, Pompeii, Triple Diamonds SLOT MACHINES

* A group of Jersey boys on their way back to New York in the airport recapping their trip. They might've experienced a "little more" shame than us.

* My sister. My mother. A grown up moment appreciating things close and afar.

** Regardless of the fact that when the boys picked me up from the airport my son was unable to pick his head up out of Tintin to say more than a french hand wave of, "Hi" I was happy to see them.

Quick Pick Me Ups for the Superficial

Below is a list of go to make it better items that may or may not have redeeming qualities or may on the other hand display the full-range of my shallow sinful existance. However these items, help prevent the pity party and remind me that lots of things can make you smile, if you do something about it instead of fret.

* Buy a $1 scratcher lottery ticket. hehe. love the sense of reveal. even when nothing matches on the card, the fact it could've or might maybe next time is comforting.

* Soup. Seriously, I can eat it for breakfast and it will make the say seem more promising. I feel satiated, but not overwhelmed.

* Knitting a few rows. Provided I don't screw them up, instant gratification. Productivity and meditation all in one.

* Lipgloss/Chapstick/Lipbalm. Because it reminds me to take care of something small that makes me appear I care without all the self-consciousness of lipstick during the day.

* Earl Grey Tea with Milk & Sugar. Better than any chocolate chip cookie for me when I need something sweet and feels like a hug. (Granted I am not a sweet tooth)

* Fishing for Affection. I am lucky I have a very nice man-friend and a fairly compassionate child. So ... I can call (at an appropriate time) during the day and say hi to Man-friend, and ask him something mundane about dinner plans. Or I can be 15 year old cheezy, "just wanted to say hi." and I'll get my "have a nice day dear, love you". I can fluff The Kid's eternal bed-head and get a squishy hug or say, "Hey! I love you, you know." "i knoooooooow. love you too Mom."

I'll take it!

Honorable Mentions & Gold Stars

I had some personal improvements that I've been working on that made some progress this week, but nothing that will get me a blue ribbon. On the otherhand, also did some fun things that definitely merit Gold Stars ...

Honorable Mentions
Bagged up clothes and shoes. Kid began a bag in the hallway. Recycle Queen! Can't be gold star with so much more to do!

Scrubbed the private hell out of my fridge. Inside I wiped it down two more times to make up for neglect.

Dented paperwork for various kid functions. No gold star because it's not done.

Went with Man-friend to get The Kid his first bicycle. No Gold Star, because we still need to teach him how to ride it, and my father thinks we should've given him one that he has.

I hit tennis balls against a wall. No Gold Star, because I should've hit with a friend or hit for longer.

Gold Stars
Pioneer Tree Trail Hike at Samuel P. Taylor State Park with the kids. Lame - I forgot my shoes and had to do it in wedge flip flops.

Brunch in San Anselmomomo at L'Apart. Mizuna salad happiness and lemonade with Kennebec fries. Who knew I would like the flavor of pear in my Moules?

Hanging with Madam B. She's so witty and observant and hospitable. Our kids play nice and her husband is nice too. Dangerous when I feel that relaxed at someone else's house I don't know so well. Hope to find some time for an afterschool date.

Going into Michael's craft store and only coming out with the knitting needles I needed.

Shaking off the bad knitting vibe and reknitting the All Day Beret. It still looks like funky. Like I won't gift it to the Good Girl at this point, but I am enjoying the way the pattern feels. I can knit it fast and I will finish it. I won't lie. I'm secretly hoping that it all works out in the end, worn by someone.

Somehow making it to work despite not sleeping well for days. Hmm, maybe this should be an honorable mention.

Knot Again. Knot Now. No.

I went to get D-LUX pedicure with Lu last night after work. She wasn't even at work in the afternoon, and she still was willing to come down to meet me. What a gal! What a pal!

The salon was packed, but we had our chatter and our yarn. Really mellow relaxing time, and she had me laughing. The one that has stuck w/me ...

On her committment issues, "So I say to my sister after she announces her engagement, 'Really? Why would you want to do that? That's like volunteering to eat only vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life. Everytime you walk into the ice cream store, you're surrounded by all these flavors. But now, you only order vanilla."

HAHAHAHHAA.

Okay see -- I didn't get straight to the complaining.

I waited to mention how despite, being soaked, massaged, rubbed, exfoliated and parafin waxed I still can't get a little splinter out my heel.

I waited to mention how when we got our feet waxed we both yelped at how hot it is. And before that as we waited for our polish to dry a little we were admiring my progress on the sweater, when we realized ... I put the hand pouch ... on the back side instead of the front side of the sweater.

We realized I had knit approximately 3 inches ... to frog or backout.

I can't think about it now.

No.

To make matters worse, I'm missing a pair of knitting needles, US 5 16". I discovered this when I tried to salvage the evening knitting with some work on my hat for the good girl. Yes the All Day Beret that needs to be frogged because I knit the yarnovers in a way that did not create a holey effect. Damnit.

Damnit.

No.

Yeah laborday weekend is coming. I must say ... I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to knitting for once. I feel scarred today.

Laborious Days

My self absorbed teenage self is flopping around upside down on the couch, telephone glued to my ear, television on and homework scattered all over the living room floor.

I am complaining about how I never get to do what I want to do.

I can't stand this homework assignment, it's not "interesting".

I'm kind of bored, I need to do something different.

I wish I had some french fries.

WOW -- so much has changed. ha! Okay only maybe the french fries didn't "stick" like they do now. Such a kid I was/am!

This is kind of how I've been feeling. There is plenty of work spread in front of me. It's getting done, bits at a time. But I keep day dreaming about going back on vacation or just fun things on days off.

But then there is this grown up part of me that feels ... guilt. So I think what would the grown up in me tell The Kid. Not just my inner kid, but The Kid. And I think.

Geez, just get it done and stop whining. You would have more time to enjoy yourself, if you just stopped all the fretting. Yeah maybe your idea won't work, but might as well try. If you try and get something done, it will make you feel better. If you just work, you won't waste so much time.

So, this Labor day weekend, we are going to lay low after a great and busy weekend full of School stuff, friend's stuff and another one layer of grime cleaning.

We are going to focus on 2.5 areas each to clean. And then we are going to collectively purge. Only social obligation we'd like to have is seeing my dad and/or sister.

This is great, except I think it might be too sedate for The Kid. Hmm. I should see what I can drum up. Oh well there's soccer practice and ... uh oh ... here we go again.

Knot so Successful

When I was a kid my mother used to have this plaque up in her kitchen it read:

I'm not a slow cook.
I'm not a fast cook.
I'm a half-fast cook.

I think it wasn't until I was 11 till I got the play on words.

I think I am half-fast at everything.

Examples:
Clutter/Housework (which unfortunately is one and the same for me and my "lifestyle")
Knitting - Cant focus on one project have to have not 2 or 3, usually 4. I excuse myself for this, b/c I think all but 2 projects have become FOs, it just takes longer and!! I am improving and like it! just ... painfull slow.
Office Work - ugh, my documentation and organization has got to get stronger! No work talk. Sorry.
Family - Love them all. Never feel like I am doing the best for them. I feel like I am constantly letting them down.

If I am such a good family person why is it so hard for me to do things that will be better for EVERYONE? Why am I so selfish? Why can't I practice what I preach? The Kid is going to be taught bad habits by me. Being messy, lazy. The Kid is going to be so overwhelmed by his mother the hypocrite he will be writing sad novels until he's 45!

The Man-friend works very hard is very patient and treats me like an equal, however I am pretty bratty and entitled, and can't seem to shake my old "Only Child" behavior. (Hey! what can I say! I was alone 8 yrs before Sister came along!)

Anyways, Knot so Successful Girl is trying to learn things. I know, I am inspired, I am self-aware. I just fail on execution which is why I'm also "Half-Fast" Girl.

Whirlwind Weekend

Amazed at how capable I am of packing so much into a weekend, especially when I moan all the time that I'm tired, spread thin or just disorganized.

You know what would have me complaining even more? Missing out on fabulous things with fabulous people that also have VERY busy lives and weekends.

This weekend was a whirlwind and it was full of specialness and some awkward moments. However if there weren't some awkward moments in there, the weekend/experiences probably wouldn't have been mine ...

HIGHLIGHTS
* Dinner for Man-friend's birthday, sitting at the Bar at Salt House slurping down tastes like the sea oysters, and foie gras cured/sauteed with these crunchy bits of peaches and tea smoked duck. the plate was displayed as a lovely trio of flavorful goodness. Man-friend was unimpressed with my crispy shrimp with crispy (not fried, just blanched right) haricot verts with mesclun, serrano ham, almonds and harissa vinaigrette. However he is a snob. He wasn't very hungry, so I may have to return to investigate the pork belly.

*Visiting with SIL at Le Central for a glass of wine and meeting an interesting lady. We had ANOTHER glass of wine, some steak tartare and talked about weird kids, wine and Asia. It became a little muddled towards the end.

*Sleeping in my bed alone.

*Walking the city streets with my husband at night downtown, my kid during the day in the sunset and on my own, anywhere.

*Girls Night with the OK Club. Snoopy made a lovely pound cake with a fresh strawberry coulis, served with champers. The Good Girl brought a lovely selection of cheeses with an excellent description of each of them. She had me at "ice cream of cheeses." Hands down the favorite, triple cream of course! There was some thought we might knit. We just went for old fashioned chatter as it was, and it was lovely. Yosh with her pal would come out and parade or entertain us every now and again, with a story or a twirl.

*Fantastico Birthday Luncheon with the In-Laws. Sometimes it's almost too easy with good and close family. My Brother in Law was the Uncle who fell asleep on the couch while the kids watched Scooby Doo. My sister in law and I chattered on with their mother drinking wine, while the birthday boy scooted around and did Laundry. Hmm. That wasn't very nice of me was it. Anyhow, I guess I got an extra girl time in there. The kids played nice, and the food was as always tasty: Clean Seasoned Tri-tip, Grilled Chicken, Mashed creamy potatoes, heirloom tomato salad, cucumber salad, beet salad, Big GREEN salad mmm. plum tarte with creme fraiche. ahhh.

AWKWARD
*grumpy commentary after too much wine

*unable to sleep after girls night, we actually didn't drink very much, I think I was just wired from socializing. I stayed up till 2:30 to finish A Handful of Dust, by Evelyn Waugh.

*repeating oneself.

*shamed by restaurant owner because my child wasted so much Pho. He refused to share a bowl, and there was a lot leftover. He politely told The Kid that there were children and people starving and less fortunate. He then told me the story that he took his Kids to Vietnam and they cried at the poverty. They do not waste now. (Arent so greedy).

*shamed that Kid did not listen to me like 4 times when I said it was time to go after slumber party. I hate being ignored. (Isn't that obvious?) People tell me he's good at their house. But I wonder. I don't trust you know? Besides these are people that know how to play politely.

*overtired and sleepy at social functions. acting like overtired sleepy, chatty, brat child.

Pig Birds, Pig Bellies and Star Belly

Pig Birds are what the Colonel and the Kid call morning doves in Hawaii. They chase away the chickadees and woodpeckers and gobble up the bread and seeds. They are fearless, they let cars and people get really close to them. They are always hungry and they are just annoying pigeons in disguise.

Last night I was like one of those pig birds out to dinner with El Diablo who is getting a new moniker SS as in (sh*t starter) and Mlouis. They tried to eat the Burrata and the Pate, but I weaseled my way in. I commandeered the cutting up of the salad, and I suggested 2 pizzas instead of one. Well ... I KNOW I like the one w/bacon and jalapenos and arugula. Come on REALLY! But I wanted to try the Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and Lemon Zest. It was fun flavors, but I like my comfort.

The conversation was funny and fun, yet real. They both have an amazing ability to talk about real things and real people in their lives and analyze it with humor, but without judgement. We make fun of each other and our own personality hiccups or "interesting moments/life choices" and laugh. It's supportive and it's not overwhelming. I'm so pleased they are willing to share with me, and tolerate my "theatricality".

I love the fact that as SS drove me home, he agreed with my shock factor at people who say they have no regrets.

Dinner was long over, and I dragged out my vino and my coffee for their conversation. I was a Pig bird and Pig Belly at Star Belly with my pals.

The Knitting Scene

The Knitting Scene has been VERY busy.

In Hawaii, I stockinette on the plane and fishing. I did not stockinette as much as I'd like to to finish that Shrug. I was so sad, when I measured and I was only a little more than half way to stitching things up. I will measure again tonight ...

I also finished the second skein of The Kid's camoflauge blanket. This thing is A MONSTER I tell you. I sort of made up my own width when casting on, forgetting how it will stretch out as you knit. So, it's been growing like a sci-fi science experiment. (not a very good analogy i know. i'm tired.) I began the third skein, but decided that I deserved a break. It barely fits into the hot pink Ikea project pail that I keep it in, under my chair.

Instead I worked on the shrug ... again. And I barely stayed awake. I think I will need to swap out the shrug in the livingroom with the Golden Shawl in the bedroom. I think I will make less mistakes ... awake with the Shawl and asleep with the Stockinette Shrug.

The Denise Guru Sweater is on hold, until I can figure out (I think it may be math) where the marker is supposed to go for the beginning of the round -- it's not at the join this time, it's at the armpit. Yeah, sweatering is weird.

So all my projects are "growing" to the point that they are a pain to haul around. What's a girl to do? Well, start another project. I have decided to pick up the All Day Beret since I already picked up all the needles I need (and more. crap I really need to track my needles better). I will try to cast on at lunch after a midday testing project.

Lastly, sadly, sledbetter's baby blanket that I slaved over got a hole in it when she washed and dried it, which she should be able to do easily with no worries. I was fretting about it.

1) Embarassed that my craftsmanship was so shoddy
2) Pissed that I wouldn't be able to salvage it.

Sledbetter was pretty good about it though. She's like, I like it, just don't want it to unravel any further. J-crochet sits near Sledbetter's unit and was like, oh yeah, we can fix that. So tomorrow I bring some extra yarn to help repair my hopeful yarnies.

I'm thinking if the stitchup is ugly I can make a few small stockinette patches to cover it. hehe.

Wish I was knitting.

Unnecessary Preparation

I will not let second grade defeat me.

I had my game face on. I decided to go straight home from work instead of doing some bathroom supply shopping. I was going to address the homework and good habits after school issue. I was going to support the Man-friend as he executed yet another lovely family dinner.

However they didn't really need me. The Kid bounced his way to the kitchen table to do his homework after putting away his lunchbox and his shoes and backpack, with just an "Okay Mom."

Man-friend just asked me to lower the heat on the beans and rice when it boiled while he put away some laundry or something. ???

I was getting ready to ask the kid if he wanted to read or play a game, but he just wanted to play legos so I got to knit some stockinette.

My guard is down today, but I'm cooking ... what family will I be feeding tonight, the mellow one or the maintenance one?

The Crazy Is Showing Again!

My husband thinks I am crazy right now. With school starting, I am bringing the hammer. Everybody must be a moving gear to make the machine that is the household work. But they just think I'm crazy. And I am, but I am crazy for them, on their behalf. See what a martyr I am?

Why am I hammering? Why am I pushy, clipped and insensitive to big soft eyes, pouting, scoffing and franco-american hand gestures that wave me away like an insignificant bug?

BECAUSE THE CHILD IS LAZY.

He will do homework, messy, and wait for me to complain and make him fix it. I don't expect things to be perfect. I have gotten on that great cruise ship in life called, "I know he's not even close to his potential." I know what he's capable of.

HE HAS GROWN-UP LAZY IN A LITTLE BOY BODY!!

SAVE ME!!

You know what the problem is? He has no FIRE. He has expectations and he wants to be served.

I HAVE CREATED AN ENTITLED MONSTER.

Well, I'm Mom and I will nip this crap in the bud now, I don't care if it costs me cool points and therapy hours.

I'm irritated.

ha! I have to laugh. Because I wonder if anyone will read this hitting the "Next Blog" button. Everytime I click through for fun ... I get a a TON of these blogs where everybody's kids are just so golden and fanfreakingtastic and never do anything irritating. Who are these people? Oh the same people with the outdoor studio professional studio portraits in matching outfits and champagne colored SUVs.

I feel ill. I'm a horrible mother.

Back at Home

So I mentioned yesterday was cranky day. it was ... REALLY cranky.

Today was the first day back to work and THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

Getting The Kid out of Bed was a chore that took 3 attempts. I will remind both him and his father of this mercilessly this evening when I get the sad face for bedtime. I managed to brush his hair, but he didn't wash his face and he had toothpaste on it, I didn't see until we were at Market street hailing a cab.

That's right first day of school and we are hailing a cab.

Even better we're still late. I thought we had a chance when we first got there, because I saw the 4th and 5th grade classes filing into the building. However Henry is in the bungalow this year, and so essentially they walk 30 yards from line-up to their room. Teacher was not pleased with us. Can you blame her, parents that are tardy the first day ... this is supposed to be your shining best fresh start ... what does she have to look forward to from us?

There was the back to school breakfast for parents, which is basically recess for grown-ups. I couldn't make it to the coffee or to a few of my friends to say hello because I was totally caught up in the sea of other people and conversations. More reason to come early ...

Tomorrow, I will go with Man-friend he cracks the whip in the morning time. I need to get there early so I can build my confidence that it can be done.

First day of school lunch: Triscuts, Salami, Muenster, Strawberries, heirloom cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes, whole foods lemonade and organic cheese squares for the afternoon.

First day of school breakfast: boulange bun sliced in half, one with butter and Ama Pt. Reyes Blackberry Jam the other with butter and lavendar honey, 2 gummy vitamins and water. Mom: Half a cup of milk & sugar coffee

First day back at work: Angry that I was late for school. Happy b/c R-man bought me a cup of tea, when he ran into me at the cafe. How kind of a return is that? Lots of work. Sad the knitting group didn't meet w/o me last week. I will have to whip them into shape. Amazed at how much work I have to do.

First day back at work distractions:
1) Clams, I keep thinking about clams with white wine, parsely and LOTS of butter and garlic. Damn that sounds good.

2) An email that I wasn't expecting. I dont have to work on it's contents till the end of the week, but I keep thinking what it's going to take to work on it.

3) How boringo my lunch seems today, compared to how excited I was last night packing it up. I really think I'm not a back to back meal leftover person.

4) How cute Pearlcream looks, but I dare not tell her, because I don't want her cute to give me the evil eye. hehe.

The second half ... Oahu

So, I didn't post the second half of the trip, mainly because my Mother was irritated with computer use and also because our Elementary school was filling my inbox in a way that was just Too TOO overwhelming while being on vacation.

So I figure I'll sum it up again ...

* Fishing is hot and stinky work. Fishing is overrated. Untangling little people's fishing line really sucks. Tropical fish in buckets make me sad, I set them free, despite everyone's talk of their tastiness. I was accused of turning PETA. We fished in Kailua and on base. I liked Kailua b/c I didn't fish, I went to McDonald's for an iced tea with Dad and then went to the hobby store, where I did NOT buy any yarn. Thank you very much!

* I really like Japanese tourists. I don't think that is very PC of me to say, but I do. The young newlyweds, the cute families, with their cute and polite kids. Oh and I know this isn't very PC either, but I really noticed A LOT of little cute girl children.
Possible reasons for me noticing:
a) Was I having envy? possibly.
b) They were only children or just two children?
c) Super cute and stylish

* Man-friend cannot handle large crowds well. He was totally overstimulated at Waikiki at night. He wanted to know why people were out so late with their children, when he wanted to go to bed. We saw many kids sleeping in arms or strollers or at the dinner table while their parents ate. Everyone was okay though.

* Favorite t-shirt: Golddigger - Like a Hooker, but smarter. Man-friend would not let me buy it, b/c of racist t-shirts in the window: "Speak Engrish" for example.

* Drinks at the Moana Loa Surfrider outside bar totally reasonable, tropical and very relaxing.

* Japanese Ramen at Nakamura (like the building in Die Hard) very good. He got the local favorite, "Ox Tail" where they give you an extra bowl to rest and dip the bone you gnaw on with light soy and ginger. I got Miso Kim-chee, despite the hesitancy of my stomach that night, b/c that is what the lady next to me ate. It was delightful. The bar was in a U-shape and everyone drinks water. The sign says, "Cash or Yen Only". We really enjoyed our meal there.

*Morning Walk to feed the fish in the estuary and eat diner breakfast with the family was really nice and a good little two mile walk to help ease the guilt of the salty greasy breakfast. Cornbeef hash and hashbrowns. hehe.

* Mom's cooking. So happy to eat her rice porridge and omlette, her beef barley soup and thai pork salad. She roasted Turkey Wings for my "afternoon snack" the day we flew in.

*Snorkeling in Hanumua bay with the kid. Little windy and we should've gone to the left side which was less rocky, but the fish were amazing, and the Kid couldn't have been happier. My parents were able to come and see him in action, and that made everyone squishy all the way around.

* Learning I am a tenative snorkeler. Yeah I know I'm surprised too. I love water, swimming and yes even nature. However, I have bad depth perception and peripheral vision so I cut myself a lot on the coral, and also, the mask and breathing snorkel thing, felt more awkward than I think it would. Having said that, if I were a real Island girl, I think I would get over it faster, getting lots of chance to practice.

* Red Eye Flights. The Kid was a wreck, trying to stay awake for the 10:30 boarding. He fell asleep with the gum in his mouth while we were taxing. Man-friend had to dig it out. Kid slept well, not so good for the two of us, switching the middle for the kid to snuggle on us, awkward where do I put my arm feelings. Shorter flight 4.5 hrs? So the limited sleep was even more limited. Yesterday was family cranky day, I was so exhausted even after napping in the morning I couldn't really even knit until after lunch. Not sure if I would do a red eye again. Maybe international? hmm.

* Work dreams. Body seems to kick in a day or two before vacation ends, reminding you, don't get too comfortable girl. Those lotto numbers haven't come in yet.

Vacation is good.

Big Time Summer Vacation: Big Island Hawaii

So we are into day 4 of our family summer vacation. This is a basic recap of Sunday through Wednesday midday ... big island Hawaii ...

* MIL (Mother In Law) and husband made a great decision in The Marriott Resort. Beautiful grounds, comforting rooms, Three pools, a water slide, a beach with free half day snorkel gear with lots of fish and sea turtles.

*Snorkeling with the kid. Did you know he is so chatty and incessant that he even can talk and sing underwater with a snorkel? Yeah! I didn't know either ... He was in an inflatable inner tube with his gear, and The Man-friend held his hand while they looked over the coral. Apparently he freaked out over the Ray. I got startled this morning when I looked up and saw a Sea turtle out of no-where 2 feet away from me. The boys are enjoying taunting me about it. What can I say, I'm a little shifty and scary like that. Anything pops up out of no-where 2 feet close to me, vegetarian sea turtle, Santa clause or scooby doo -- I'm creeped out.

*Water slide. Seriously, I don't think I went down that thing once without a big sh*t-eating grin. Also double points for pulling my knees up, upon landing for cannon balling dorks hanging out below.

*Hotel buffet. Dooode. Fried rice, crispy bacon, miso soup, salad fixin's best pineapple and papaya.

*Volcano Park -- Watching the boys climb over the lava rock that poured over the road, climbing myself. Steaming craters, a million different microclimates and types of geography, not to mention the whacky friendly rangers.

*SUNBURN CITY. Sweet Jesus, we went through 4 oz of SPF 50 in less than 4 days and we still could basically swim in Aloe Vera. All of us look ... red and aloe shiny.

*Injuries: The Kid has tender feet ... cut down one toe, pebble stuck in heel on the other foot, dug out w/wine opener and over-priced revlon tweezers from the hotel gift store and Mom's convenient pain-free neosporin. Coral scrapes on me ... one leg has an ankle and knee. The other leg the ankle. Swollen left angle. Angry toes that ask for an anti-inflammatory.

*No knitting -- finished the second book in the Millenium series ... The Girl Who Played With Fire. It was fun and engaging, the question is can I wait to read the last one in paperback ... doubt it.

Fan-freaking-tastic

Really does this need an intro?

* Today my Kid looked at me through the plate glass windows of Summer Camp and gave me the "wtf?" shrug pose. You know, where you put your arms out to the side more straight than bent and shrug. I came back in and he walked over to me and gave me a big hug. In front of all the other kids, including the big bad 4th and 5th graders.

*Man-friend's summer tomato pomodoro sauce with Angel Hair Pasta. So FRESH n'GOOD! Bonus points that an hour after cooking when I finally deemed myself hungry (He cooked for The Kid first), I requested a little protein and he fried me up an Italian Sausage. The Kid got one too. After he almost finished frying mine, and he didn't complain (Like I probably would've.) he actually was quite sweet about it, "no problem guys."

Aww shucks. I feel squishy.

*Sleeping 8 hours is AWESOME. I wake up and even though I'm still really tired and feel like I could sleep another hour, by the time I make it to the kettle, I feel like a singing Disney princess, flowy pajama pants and all ...

*Fixing Mistakes Yay! -- Knowing that thanks to the experience, support and kindness of my Knitting friends like Kappy, HM, Shingly and DA the Sweater Guru, I can overcome bad increases and not have to frog a week's worth of work. Knowing that when I pick up the Golden Shimmery Shawl of Shame and my Purple Sweater ... I can progress is FAN FREAKING TASTIC.

*Deluxe Mani-Pedis. Cause that's what I'm doing after work. I should really go and buy some grown woman supportive over the shoulder boulder holders, but like I told mlouis & badette. Momma needs a new pair of feet. And guess what ... it's a great time to knit. I'm going crazy today. Bring on the wax!

WHOOO HOOO!

Uncomfortable List

These may double for awkward as well. It depends.

* Worrying you might have lice. It makes you feel itchy. Really Itchy.

* Swearing in a meeting, and they know you don't have tourettes.

* Chatty people in public restrooms, that aren't really your friends.

* People who want to hang out, but your kids don't get along.

* Telling the truth

* Death

* Eating someone else's food you really don't want to at a sitdown dinner.

* Being at a small social gathering with someone that

a) you know doesn't like you

b) you don't like

c) smells bad

* Talking about someone who is within hearing distance and someone in your party doesn't know or won't stop -- worse if the person you're talking about thinks you're saying something negative but you're not.

* Knowing someone is going to ask you for something that you could do, could give but you don't want to.

Two Worlds Collide...

Now I'm going to have that damn Bakugan cartoon theme song stuck in my head. Thanks Kid! Your toy tastes have tainted all of my thought processing ...

Anyhow I got a glimpse of this little gem on Socialitelife.com. And I don't really want to discuss my problem with reading celebrity smut. I'm not proud okay?

Ellen's TV List: AKA Knitting Accompaniment

So I feel like I watch a lot of t.v. Unlike a lot of people I know, it doesn't really bother me all that much. Mind you these other people are probably a lot smarter and more productive than me, but still ... it does not bother me. My Dad told me not to be like other people to be me so HA!

But see, just because the t.v. is on, I'm not really watching it, if it's someone else's show. I'll read. Even if it is something I chose, and am watching, I'm usually doing something else; folding mountains of laundry, making shopping lists, doing lice checks, reviewing homework, and if I'm really happy knitting.

Anyways, most of the time, I don't like prime time, I watch the Netflix stuff. But lately this has been changing. This season ... I have been following (in no particular order):

1) Hell's Kitchen.

Why: 'Cause even though I prefer his Kitchen Nightmares where it's more constructive and less about personal issues between people on a CONTEST show ... I love hearing him say Donkey. And I kind of love how oblivious everyone is to their own hypocrisy. It makes me feel better about me. Schadenfreude Ja?

2) Sports (Pretty much baseball right now) but I tell you I can zone out or groan out loud to Golf, Football, Basketball (Warriors) and yes, I have been known to fall asleep to the World Series of Poker. Though right now I'm angry with the Giants. 0/8 w/Men in scoring position last night. Jesus ... Zito pitched a good game too. I was angry on his behalf. He's too pretty for that kind of crappy offense.

Why: Because I grew up in a household of sports and I find it relaxing. I'm not married to it that I have to watch everything or anything in particular. I am okay turning off a game that is going sour. (Like Last night but Man-friend had to see the final bitter nail go in the coffee)

3) Top Chef DC.

Why: You know ... I'm not sure why. I missed most of this season, and one day when we were flipping through the channels after The Kid went to bed, looking for something to watch along with our periodical reading and knitting, we started watching. Come on, love the whole creativity of it. I love Tom Colicchio's smirks. The Man friend enjoys Padme's post baby body despite her still monotone voice. She is charming in an elegant, "no I don't want to be your friend" way. a "Don't touch me ... by accident" way. HA! Yeah, I like watching them try. It reminds me how "safe" I am in my own tastes and kitchen, but doesn't mean you can't learn something. I'm fascinated w/their flavor combinations and textures. Busy Plates! Oh and ... Schadenfreude

4) Last Comic Standing

Why: Because I like to laugh, and I think it's so cool these people want to make people laugh and get paid for it. That in itself makes me want to laugh. I like the different styles, techniques, characters. I like that we get to see them as a work in progress, opposed to the professionals that have had writers or have had practice with particular routines etc. over and over again. I realize some are using polished material, but it still seems less polished, and more interesting for it. Like I get to learn WHY something didn't work for someone, based on my own opinion or one of the judges.

5) Sandals - Big Break

Why: Because it's a game show in golf set up to look like "a reality show". But it's really minimal cat-rat female behavior. In fact the girls are really nice, and focused on golf. Sure they prance around in their bikini's, but I understand ratings. They actually cheer each other on in competition. The women actually are golfers, played in college, and are trying to break into the LGPA. Their prizes compromised of entrance fees and golf equipment. Oh and I was really excited that everyone wasn't white initially, and that the blondes were smart and strong and competitive. I look forward to it every week.

6) Masterpiece Mystery!

Why: Duh. Because it's the best thing ever. We saw some new Miss Marple and are in the middle of some new productions of Poirot. They are darker, and he seems more mournful, but as I was telling Ice Princess, I'll take it. I have been rereading a lot of Agatha Christie just to determine how much mucking around w/the screen plays they've been doing. I don't care too much. Two versions of a good story. Inspector Lewis comes next and I LOVE HIM. Perhaps more than Morse. Man Friend concurrs.

A Caffeinated Yarn likes it too. I squealed when I read her post http://caffeinatedyarn.blogspot.com/2010/07/socratic.html

Well, time for lunchtime knits ...