I feel crappy

My body is shaky, I'm sick to my stomach (on & off) and I have the headache from Hell. My nose is stuffy, my throat it scratchy, I have a crappy cough AND I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in a couple of nights. Had to stay home from work (after being cancelled on Monday and probably having to call off for tomorrow- crap we need the $$) and did NOT step foot out of the house for a single thing today AND it didn't drive me crazy! (Normally I would at least have to walk out on the deck or in the yard at some point.

BUT. . . . .

I DID start on the first sock for my pal's HP sock for Hogwarts Sock Swap 2. I would show you a picture of them except that this time around we KNOW who are pals are (we are doing a direct swap - she knits for me and I knit for her). Therefore, if I post a picture, there's a good likelihood that she'll see them and that would be no fun. . . . .

I can say that I knit the cuff and about 1 1/2 inches of the leg (so about 2 1/2 inches) which doesn't seem like a lot but I WAS after all sick and everything. . . .

I won't go too much into detail except to say that the beautiful Rio de la Plata in my last post will be the body of the socks and there is an alternate yarn for the cuff, heel and toe. Is it bronze? Is it silver? Is it variegated? I can't say. SOMETHING has to be a surprise, right?

I am surprised that I went cuff down. But, I found THE pattern and feeling sick and all I didn't want to think about how to convert it from cuff down to toe up. Oh well, that means that I will probably have some yarn left . . . . . maybe for opposite socks?

We'll see.


Oh, in other knitting news, I FINALLY found a new knitting group since moving. I foudn them through meetup and I FINALLY got to go to a get together on Tuesday night. What's nice is that this is a new group so it's not like I'm joining an already established group, y'know? They had only had 2 meetings prior to this one so everyone is still getting to know everyone.

It will be good for me. I missed having that.

OK, I'm getting dizzy again so I am going to go call off for tomorrow and lay down.

UGH!

CRAP!

As IF I needed another sock yarn to fall for. . . .along comes this beauty. Now, when it comes to kettle-dyed worsted, I am all about my malabrigo or manos. They are amazingly soft and FABULOUS with their colorways. Rio de la Plata hadn't really impressed me with the texture of their worsted or their colorways. So, I had never really thought of purchasing them for any worsted projects. Now, today I am at the LYS (don't even think it, I can't believe that I had ANY reason to be there - but I did so there!) looking for sock yarn to make my pal her Ravenclaw socks (blue and silver or bronze seem to not be in my color repertoire) and I came across THIS:

I thought to myself "Self, THAT is the perfect blue for Ravenclaw socks!" So, I grabbed it and upon closer inspection of the tag, I noted that it was from Rio de la Plata.

"Huh?" I thought to myself. It MUST be scratchy & blotchy. I felt it. It was soft. I looked the color over. It's a "semi-solid" but doesn't have any glaring areas of stark white anywhere to be found. I was intrigued. Then the shop owner noticed what I had in my hand and said "I just got that in. I'm knitting these out of one of the multi-colors." Then she proceeds to show me a pair of embossed leaves socks she is working on in a great moss, palish orange, mint and cream colorway. PERFECT for embossed leaves!

I asked if I could feel the sock. She agreed and I felt it. It was soft. It was sturdy. It was. . . . .GOOD! So, I now have the blue sock yarn and I think I know what pattern I am going to make but I need to find a corresponding silver or bronze sock yarn. Sigh. I wanted to stay away from that and really wanted to try to do a variegated or self patterning colorway since she got a pair with stripes and alternate heels in the Hogwarts Sock Swap #1

but I couldn't resist this yarn. I think there might yet be ANOTHER sock yarn for me to obsess over. God help me (uh, help us all - wait until you see this stuff you guys).

So, the question that now stands before me and therefore YOU, how should I do these so that they aren't the same as her first pair? Here are my thoughts. . . .

#1) Use bronze instead of silver (book colors vs. movie colors)

#2) Attempt (notice I say attempt) to do a lace sock. sigh. I should write her now and tell her that I am going to be late already if I take this option.

#3) I don't know of any other options. . . . .


So, HELP?????!!!!!?????

OMG!!!!!!!!! I loved it!

Don't worry - no spoilers here:



I just finished HP and the Deathly Hallows! I can't believe all that just happened. The story weaved by Rowling is amazing. Looking back at the whole series, it's amazing how things from book 1 matter (and come up) in the final book. It's an incredible book and although it took me longer to read than it took others - it was the quickest reading of any book EVER for me. EVER!

What do we all read now?

It's about time don't you think???

I am 69% Addicted to Coffee

$3805.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. From Mingle2 - Free Online Dating
BTW, I'm locking myself away for the rest of the day with Harry. I worked yesterday and I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I had wanted to.

I'm so excited!

Yeah, I got my Hogwarts Sock Swap package today - just in time to see the movie tomorrow! Did I tell you all that I am seeing it in IMAX and that the last 30 minutes are in 3D? It was worth waiting until tomorrow for me. . . . anyhow here are my lovelies. . . . .

Here are the detailed pictures:

Sandy did a great job matching them up, don't you think? Well, she did a great job overall. I LOVE everything in my package. Here are some more goodies:










I REALLY can't wait until tomorrow (and of course Friday) now. I am so excited! Thanks again to Sandy for a great package and Rebecca for a fab swap!

Yarn p0rn pictures

That there would be the vacation haul in it's entirety. See? I told you my hubby was too good to me. Individual yarn shots:

I didn't even photograph all the yarn individually. . . . . so much for the summer of stash more like the summer of stash enhancement over here.

I'm in again!

So, I mailed my Hogwarts Sock Swap Socks and package yesterday. It'll be there no later than Thursday - woo hoo! So, I went to the Hogwart Sock Swap Blog and I found this:

Yep! I'm a glutton for punishment - er, or maybe just for Harry??? Anyhow. Why don't you join in? You know you want to. Go look at all the cool packages that people have been receiving on the first swap. Don't you want in on some of that action? Yeah, I thought so. . . . . go on over and join in on the fun. sig-ups began on July 14th but they are still openings left. Hurry up before the classes are all full! tee hee!

Hogwarts Sock Swap 2 Questionnaire
Second Years

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
I remain a Gryffindor. Different test - same result. Go Red and Gold!

2. Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference?
Size 8 - 10 inches long - Circumference is 10 inches

3. List your three favorite sock yarns.
a. Cherry Tree Hill
b. Socks that Rock
c. my all-time fave - Koigu

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand? ADDED 7/18/07: WOW! I just found this pattern and I want to try some of the sockpixie sock yarn to make it now. LOVE IT!!!!!
I would LOVE to try Scout’s Swag sock yarn. Or, hmmmmmm, ooh, ooh I would love to try Fleece Artist - I’ve tried other yarns from them but not their sock yarn. But, really, I like trying new yarns especially from the little, local yarn dyers.

5. Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?
I have few solid sock yarns so I wouldn’t mind trying some of the “semi-solids” that are out there (Sunshine yarns on Etsy - oooooh). But I usually go variegated. I prefer patterned or striped over true variegated. I have “pooling” issues. I like repetitive sequencing. (My OCD rears it’s ugly head)

6. What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?
Um, how about some fun semi-solids like apple or lime greens, warm yellows (not bright), or some deep (jewel-like) purples.

7. What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?
Anything but Fair Isle. I’m not into color work especially on something as small as socks.

8. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)
Nope, but I can smell smoke a mile away.

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?
Nope. I have a dog but she doesn’t get up on my bed or furniture so they won’t have dog hair on them.

10. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Sure! I think it would be awesome!

Oh so, DS is at a cool hands-on kids camp this week that is doing all sorts of activities with them. Anyhow, they are going to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" get this. . . .on IMAX! So, I asked if parents could attend as well and they said Yep! So, I will be seeing it in IMAX (the last 30 minutes on IMAX is in 3D!!! How cool is that????!!!???)

Knitter's vacation

Ok, Ok, so it wasn't REALLY a knitter's vacation but, boy oh boy, did I ever get spoiled by my husband on this trip! First of all, let me say that I have a great hubby. Before trips and/or vacations he always looks for available knit shops. He's done this kind of stuff for as long as we've been together. When I was a cross stitcher, he would find the XS shops for me. Now that I am a knitter he finds the yarn shops. Oh, and he know that yarn shops vary and has become familiar with the correct terminology necessary in successfully finding quality yarn shops. He knows the names of the yarns I adore (Koigu, Mountain Colors, Manos del Urugua, etc.), he knows that I am a sock knitter, he knows that I enjoy hand-painted yarns and he knows that I like to knit with natural fibers especially merino, alpaca, etc.

So, anyhow, he scouted out yarn shops and find 1 in Williamsburg and 2 in the Outerbanks. Funny thing is, I asked around the blogsphere and only heard of a single shop in the Outerbanks but he found a second one. And he took me to each one of the three. So, let's have a shop review and discuss my take, er purchases, at each shop.

First up: Williamsburg - Knitting Sisters. Here is a shop that is open, spacious and welcoming with pleasant eye-catching displays, a helpful staff and plenty of room to spread out and knit for a while. There is also a corner with seating and magazines for your non-knitters while you shop/knit. Many shops samples that entice as inspire. Oh, and they have their very own colorway from Claudia's handpainted yarns!
So, souvenir yarn? Yep, that would be the Knitting Sisters colorway in the sport weight - 2 skeins no less (well, I might want a small shawl, right?) The colors are so pleasing and I thought this is great. I can make a couple of pairs of instant gratification socks OR I can make a smaller shawl/stole. BTW, any pattern suggestions for said shawl/stole would be greatly appreciated.
So you might think that since I found the souvenir yarn so quickly, I was done, right? Er, that would be a negative. Remember the shop samples I was talking about earlier. Yeah, I fell. So I got 3 balls of baby alpaca brush in the orange color #1004. I am going to make this capelet. I know, I know, you look at the pattern picture and say "Really? She's going to knit that?" but I saw the sample and it looks completely different and was gorgeous. Interestingly enough, I made this plymouth yarn company poncho into this. Again, I didn't like the pattern but I saw a sample in a shop and HAD to make it. I still get comments on it when I wear it. So, anyhow, someday I will be making the capelet and posting about it. Someday. Overall, Knitting Sisters was a great all purpose yarn shop. . . spacious, good variety of yarns, plenty of needles, gadgetry, welcoming staff, multiple classes offered and they were even organizing a knitter's retreat. . . . . Definitely a place to visit if you are ever in Williamsburg.

Next up is Knitting Addiction in Southern Shores, NC - Outerbanks. You want a spacious shop? Then you need to visit this shop. Wow! Open and spacious doesn't begin to describe it. But, it didn't look empty or cold at all. It was a warm welcome shop. The owner was great (and she's a volunteer firefighter - you go girl!) and she showcases heirloom knitted pieces (her mom's baby sweater) knit by her grandma behind the register. Gotta love that! There is a HUGE sit ' knit area when you enter the shop with 2 full sized sofas facing eachother with a big coffee table in between and a rocking chair (or 2?). There are again lots and lots of great shop samples which highlight many Knitting Addiction patterns. The owner designs around the yarns in her shop and then you can either purchase the patterns ($2.50 - $5 a pattern) OR the patterns are free with the purchase of the yarn needed to complete the project. Great way to move stock don'tcha think?! This shop offered many novelty yarns that were showcased with samples using these specific yarns. It helps to see how these yarns were meant to be used - mostly as accent yarns - when trying to sell (as a shop owner) and invision the yarns in use (as a customer). Knitting addiction has a very laid back atmosphere that is extremely inviting (the owner was walking barefoot the day I was there - tee hee). She was a school teacher prior to owning the shop so there are toys and lots of kid friendly books in a variety of age ranges. Extremely kid friendly shop which helps when on vacation or for moms in general. OK, enought about the shop - let's get to the purchases. Here I got the following: a skein of Southwest trading company's "Tofutsies" sock yarn (50% Superwash Wool, 25% Soysilk (hence the tofu references), 22.5% cotton and 2.5% chitin (made from shrimp and crab shells-how cool!) in "Wild Kat" limited edition colorway. Pink and black - you gotta love it. Plus, it was limited edition, right? OK, I needed to get a regular colorway too, right? In comes #731 also known as the "Ten Foot tall" colorway - look for it here. Great color eh? Fuschia, pink, hot pink, pale pink and white. Yeah for pinks. So, 2 skeins of sock yarn enough? NOPE! I picked up a couple of other things. Specifically, Interlacements Toasty Toes in this great blues colorway. Yummy! And lastly I got the coolest thing ever that I had not known of before. Did you all know that Cherry Tree Hill makes supersock yarn in "Potluck" colorways that are one of a kind dye lots??Apparantly, every so often the dyers at CTH get to "play" with the established colorways and make these potluck colors. Well, Knitting Addiction carries these and I just had to get one. So I got a skein in the jeweltones. . . . . it's got mauves, golds, yellows, greys, blues, etc. Beautiful and unique. Yeah! I got 4 knitting addiction patterns for free with the purchases of my yarns.

My last shop review is a second Outerbanks shop located in Manteo, NC - Fine Yarns at Kimbeeba which is a shop unlike any other I've been too. The owner was there and she was so neat. She was a free spirit who talked to you the moment you walk in. The shop had the most amazing smell of lavender the moment you walked in and there was soft nature sounds music playing. Sybil (the owner) greets you and offers coffee, tea, hot chocolate or ice water. I had the best chai latte! The shop is small but there was still a table to sit out which was flanked by her spinning wheel and weaving loom. She had everything from Sugar 'n Cream dischcloth cotton to cashmere from Italy (I think it was Italy. . . .) Anyhow, anything anyone would want at any price range or taste is there. She even had "jelly" yarn that can be used to make waterproof shopping or beach bags. Kinda cool really - but I didn't get any. Instead I got two (2) sweater quantities of yarn.

I first got 8 skeins of Hempathy in #011 Navy Blue enough to make something like this sweater.
Isn't that beautiful? I didn't get the pattern but I got enough skeins so, someday (yeah I know) I could make this or something else. This yarn is so soft yet durable. I think I am really going to enjoy this yarn eventually. We'll see how long this languishes in the stash.Next I got 10 skeins of Ella Rae Silkience in 06 color (lavender). I loved the feel and sheen of this yarn especially when I saw the shop sample of this:
It was gorgeous. So I got enough yarn for that (or something like that). If nothing else, I have enough yarn to make a great cardigan. I let my hubby pick out the colors for both of the sweater quantities and I think that he did a great job. BTW, the shop offers back issues of magazines at $2.50 an issue - great deal huh? Especially when back issues include the last issue - yep, one issue is a back issue and is down to $2.50. At least that's how it was for Interweave Knits. AND, you get 15% off your entire purchase when you buy 10 skeins of yarn or more. Woo hoo!

So, 1 week, 7 days and 3 shops. I would say that all these shops are worth visiting and that I got WAAAY spoiled.

I will get the camera and put together the whole lot of stash enhancement for your viewing pleasure. It's been a busy time since our return but maybe I will do that tomorrow. . . Now that I've written about it all I want to pull it out and play with it again.. You guys want to see it all anyway, right?

Safe and Sound

Aaah. Back home after vacation. Made it early enough to even be able to pick the puppy up for the Vets (they board her for us). Had a great time.

There WAS knitting.

There WAS yarn shopping (OMG - it was bad. Hauls. 3 shops. Sock Yarn and sweater quantities (yep plural) and patterns. OH MY!)

There will be pictures. But not now. Now there is unpacking and laundry and lunch making (tomorrow is after all a work day - bleck!)

Glad to be home.

Let Freedom (and gratefulness) Ring!

Happy 4th of July. I am off celebrating the summer, my family and the freedom that we are all so priviliged to live under. My brother was in the Army. My cousin is in the Air Force. My Father-in-law served in the Air Force in Vietnam. Thank you to them and to all that have served and fallen to give us our freedom. I only wish I could do something like Kaziah Hancock to give thanks to all that have lost someone. If the story touches you like it's touched me, won't you consider helping Kaziah continue her cause?

Where have I been??? (photo heavy)

I can't believe that it's been close to a month since I have posted. WOW! Even though, that post really doesn't count as it was just passing on info rather than a true post. What can I say? It's summertime and the living is busy! DS has been swimming in the neighborhood swimteam. Practices everyday except Fridays and Sundays and swim meets every Tuesday. That takes a chunk of time but it's so fun! Plus, it keeps him physically active which is a huge plus. I only wish that I knew how to swim. Sure, I can save my life but do a butterfly stroke? Hahahahahahaha!This was at his first swim meet. He so excited, can you tell? The participants have their swim team numbers written on their arms and it was ironic that DS's was 10 (his age - well they do that for everyone so that they swim in the proper age group) and 65 (his individual swim team number - also the year of a VIP's birth - um hum we WON'T mention whose! >wink< 'nuf said.) So that's reason number 1 for the busyness of this summer. Next, we've been going on quite a few weekend drives. As a family, we all enjoy drives. Long, lazy, strolling rides where you go off and "explore" your local areas. If we had been a family in the 50's, you would have been able to see us in one of those Chevrolet commercials. Y'know the ones I mean . Yep, that would be us driving around on an "adventure".

You may recall the trip to New Bern where I ran into Lolly? That would be an example of our adventures, just getting into the car and going. We recently visited Wilmington, NC and had a great day there as well. While there we walked around and saw the sites and found an amazing Italian Ice/Gelato shop. Mia's Italian Ices & Gelato on Front Street is quaint and cozy and has a FABULOUS Mango italian ice. So good, that after getting some and walking around, we went back for more! Funny thing is that the folks ahead of us the first time at the shop? They had come back for more too! So here are a few shots of our visit to Wilmington.



That same day we stopped at Carolina Beach on the way back from Wilmington. I got a few of my fave pix of the summer (so far) while we were there.



So, anyways, as you all can see we've been very busy. Knitting? Well, I do knit as we drive so there has been knitting. The HP Sock Swap socks should be in the mail this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest. I will photo the swap contents prior to mailing. I've picked up an old friend or two that have been patiently waiting to be worked on and I whipped up a couple of CE baby hats for a coworker's wife expecting twins (I forgot to photo those - darn it!).

We have had more adventures and my family just left yesterday after visiting for a week so, hopefully I will post again later today or tonight. We will be leaving EARLY on the 4th (Happy B-Day USA!) for our summer vacation - Williamsburg, VA and Outerbanks, NC so, if I go MIA that's what's up! DH has already found out shops in both areas for me. Yeah! Any suggestions of shops from you guys?

Hopefully I'll be back on today. . . . .

Oh I am so IN!!!!

How cool is this???

Fortune #2

Fortune for the week of June 11th:

"Conquer your fears. Otherwise, your fears will conquer you."




Gotta love those fortune cookies. So, my fear that I am going to attempt to conquer is my fear of failing to live up to the expectations of others. I mean, really? The people that love me are going to love me no matter what. They know the real me and accept me, faults and all. The people with all the "expectations"? Yeah, they don't really count so much in the long run . . . . .

So, what fears are you planning on conquering? I'd love to hear.

Yes God, I'm listening. . .

Every once in a while, I'll have a day where I feel like God is slapping me across the head saying "What are you complaining about?!?" - Either that or "Really, you have a fabulous life y'know!" - I know that these days happen to everyone but as a nurse, these days happen a whole hell of a lot more often and to a higher degree.

Today was one of those days. Thankfully my patients were relatively "stable" (used loosely here). Both post car wrecks, one still wearing a Halo for a broken cervical vertebra (i.e. broken neck) and the other a paraplegic as a result of the accident. One is 3 weeks post accident (the paraplegic) and the other is 1 week out and still needs a cervical fusion (the Halo patient) but stable. That can be enough some days to make you realize how lucky you really are but the kicker today has really sucked every bit of emotional reserve out of me.

The shift started with one of our nurses having been called in early to go take a trauma patient off the unit to have examinations/tests done - BAD car accident. VERY. VERY. BAD. 4 hours, 2 "in the ICU room" open belly surgeries (yep, right there in the room), over 2 dozen (and counting at the time) blood products and one trip to the actual OR later. . . . the patient died of massive internal injuries on the OR table. Less than 10 months after an older sibling had died. Leaving a twin sibling as an only living child and a set of unbelievably distraught but wonderful parents with another child loss way to early. VERY. VERY. BAD. ACCIDENT.

1 1/2 hours later we got the call about a second "disaster patient" (i.e. severe trauma). Another car accident. Another BAD accident. Patient who was in the 24th week of a pregnancy. Severe internal injuries, severe head injury and multiple, multiple fractures. Loss of the fetal heart tones at the scene of the accident. No responsiveness since the wreck. Massive hemorrhaging. EVERYWHERE. A second destroyed family in the blink of an eye and in the span of a single 12 hour shift. The patient was still there when we left. . .well, in the physical sense (not sure about spiritually).

So, all day long I just kept thinking of how precious and fleeting life can be and how things that seem to drive us crazy and get under our skin REALLY don't matter that much in the end. . . .

SIGH.

Wear your seatbelts, kay?

Fortune

Y'know something that I love? I love fortune cookies. I also love reading the fortunes. Always have. So, I thought I would share:

Fortune for the week of June 4th:

"Don't stop dreaming, otherwise sleep will get awfully boring."


Yep. I'd agree with that one.

I'm getting boring, huh?

Sheesh! I am getting so boring that reading my own posts puts ME to sleep! Sorry guys. I just haven't gotten back into the swing of things. I guess that happens to a lot of bloggers but I did like getting comments and now, barely any. Hmmmm. I know, I know the comments aren't the reason I blog. Truly they aren't. I know that you all are out there and that is comforting. I blog to feel a sense of self, to understand what's going on in my world, to record today and what my life is like and about. But. Still. It was nice to see all the different people and their blogs that were including themselves in my little world. . . .ok, no more of that. On to what blogging is really about.

Hey, lookee, there ARE pictures to be shared:

First up is a photo of my Hogwarts sock swap socks. Almost done! Whoopee! I am knitting them in tandem because I decided to add some increases at the calves. They are a simple 3X1 rib until above the ankle and then I slowly increased to a 3X2 rib. Question for you all out there. . . How would you finish these off? Just, bind off? The ribbing is already there so I guess so but, I wanted them to look, y'know, finished. Can I picot edge with ribbing? Should I just bind off and not worry about it? Your suggestions are respectfully requested (how's that for comment begging? ;-> ) I am making them from Lorna's Laces Sheperd Sock in the "bee stripe" colorway. That swirly yellow stripe thing going up the foot of the sock was purely the colorway. I noticed that that was the point where they switched from gold to black. Seems they had a bit of extra gold. I kind of like the effect though. Don't you?

Now onto a spoiling for me! Here's the totality of my package from my FABULOUS Knitter's Tea Swap 3 spoilee, Jessica:

Isn't that some wonderful stuff? I got 3 different loose teas from the English Tea Store, many, many tea bags of assorted Stash teas, some organic honey lemon sticks, 3 different typed of tea cookies/treats, some dark chocolate (heaven) covered pretzel bits AND. . . . .my very first, ever Claudia's handpainted sock yarn. Woo Hoo! Here it is closer up:

And again:
Thank you so much for your generosity Jessica, it was amazing to have you as my pal. Hopefully you will like my package as much as I enjoyed yours!

Last, but not least, I leave you with a gratuitous family picture of us during Memorial Day weekend while out geocaching. This is a picture of us after finding our 100th cache:



We had so much fun that weekend!

Geocaching and family visits make for a boring knitting blog

Well, of course I KNOW that this is a (supposed) knitting blog. Yes, I know that I haven't talked about knitting much for weeks.

Yes, yes I have been knitting.

On what? Well, I've been knitting on my Hogwarts sock swap pal's socks. No, really. I have. Pictures you ask? Uh, well, let me explain. . . . . . .


Yeah, I suck. I really need to do something to get my blogging mojo back. But I guess it's better to lose your blogging mojo than your knitting mojo right? So, I'm 2/3 of the way done with the first HWSS sock and about 1/2 of the way with the second. I decided that I wanted to add some increases to make the calf more comfy for my secret pal. I'm knitting them toe-up and want to make them a bit longer so I want them to be comfy and not a pair of tourniquets. I started off with a 3X1 rib and am increasing on every other purl to a 3X2 rib and after a few rows of that adjustment will finish off the remaining necessary increases so that they end in a overall 3X2 rib. I started the second sock so that all the increases occurred at about the same spot in the socks (as I am CERTAINLY not counting rows here). So I will be living the in the land of ribbing for a bit now but they are almost done and that makes me happy b/c I am NOT going to be late. Hurray!

I also pulled out one of my oldest (if not THE oldest) WIPs and knit on that for a while. It was like visiting with an old friend and I've truly enjoyed it. I don't want to go on too much about it b/c I don't want to disturb the tenuous relationship we have just re-established but if there is significant progress then I just might let you see who and how much, kay? I got the most beautiful drop spindle from a contest over at Liz's blog and it really is a crime that I haven't posted a picture of it yet. It's a Golding Solid Purpleheart spindle and it's beautiful and all mine! I need to get some plain jane roving to get myself into it again. I had started drop spinning months and months ago but I let it go by the wayside. This spindle though, it calls me to spin it, y'know? It's beautiful and it feels "right" in my hands. . . . .Uh, oh. . . . . .

I have had true distractions to the knitting though (one unfortunate and one fortunate). DS broke (yep another fracture - 2 in fact!) his right little (pinky) finger. No big deal right? Wrong! We had just started practices for swim team and he is in the middle to the end of his baseball season. Bottom line?

No ball sports for at least 2 weeks (almost the end of the season) and no swimming either! UGH! So the poor kid who was just getting into the swing (no pun intended) of things with the swim team in now benched. Sigh. He's taking it well though so I guess that's all that matters.

The fortunate thing that happened was that my cousin flew up from Florida on Friday and spent Memorial Day weekend with us. She came up to visit and for us all to attend GeoWoodstock 5 together! DH, DS and I have been loosely geocaching for 3 years now but my cousin is a die-hard geocacher. It was fun to go to our first organized geocaching event with her and it was a blast to cache all weekend long.

Prior to her coming up to visit, we had a total of 57 finds. We have gone above 125 (I think) this weekend. Woo Hoo! Very fun.

We got to explore our new home state and found parks and naturally beautiful areas, lakes, etc. that we would have never found without the caching. It's truly such a great way to get outdoors, explore the land, get some fresh air and exercise and enjoy eachother's company. It's good for the competitive streak in you too. Nothing like being the one in your group to be able to yell "I found it!" - tee hee.

I was supposed to work today but I got cancelled (probably retribution for cancelling myself on Friday to take DS to the orthopedist for his finger - oh well) today. So, I am watering the lawn (it will therefore rain tonight!), finishing and putting away (ugh) laundry and. . . .KNITTING!

woo hoo.

OK, OK, I will pull out the camera next time. SHeesh! You don't have to yell, y'know! ;-)

ooh, ooh, I hadn't done one in SOOOOO long!

You scored as Sarabi. You are Sarabi! Regardless of your gender, you have a warm spot in your heart for all things small and fuzzy. You tend to work well with kids, and they seem happy to oblige. You place a strong emphasis on family relations and chances are one of your closest bonds is with a familial figure of some sort. You're willing to give everyone a chance to prove themselves, even if they falter a few times. However, you do NOT tolerate agression well, and it's a big turn off for you in terms of finding a mate. And while you believe everyone deserves a second chance if they mess up, if their attitude is poor, you're less willing to accept them. Overall, though, you're very upbeat and personable - the perfect best friend!

Which Lion King Character Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

Tee hee! yeah. (As you all know) I LOVE doing these quizzes. Thanks Knit Wit!! Now to figure out just who Sarabi is. Was that Simba's mom???

Random Meme

OK, so I got picked for the 8 random things meme by Katherine from Fuzzy Love so, without further delay here they are:

#1) I HATE to read newspapers. I've never been able to hold them right and turning the pages is a pain in the arse. Let's not even start talking about the ink all over your hands or your clothing (if it's white - fuggedaboutit!). YUCKO! (except for the comics. Comics are cool)

#2) The only saving grace for the newspaper (except the above mentioned comics) are the coupons. I love me my coupons. Ooh, and if I can score a sale item with a coupon on a triple coupon day (my grocer always doubles) I am happier than I really should be. (I know, I'm weird)

#3) I can double cross my legs and it's so comfortable to me. I don't know how I do it, I just do.

#4) I have to figure out how to help my DS make a scale model, no bigger than 2 feet tall, of This lighthouse. It's a great one and it will be fun but I only have a week and a half to get it done. Augh! Did I say that there are only 3 1/2 weeks left of school? (we did go and get a styrofoam cone today at Wally World)

#5) I have to drink a can of coke each night at bedtime or I can't fall asleep well. It's weird but it works for me.

#6) Bananas cut up in tomato soup is one of my fave things that comforts me and takes me back to my childhood. YUMMY! (Hey, don't knock it without trying it first, kay?)

#7) Aneurysmectomy is my favorite word, nursing or not. Don't ask me why. Don't know. Just like saying it.

#8) 8 is my favorite number.

Okey, dokey. I tag Erin, Jeanne and Jessica.

Linda J. Villar, 41

disclaimer: the start of this post and parts of it are 'bummers' but there is light and hope interspersed throughout. Hang in there while reading, kay?

It's been so long since I have blogged regularly or with any substance really. Those of you who have followed me for a while now know that I have these times. Usually it's because I am in the midst of a depressive episode. I 'retreat' into myself and then when it's time, when it's passed, I resurface. It's a cyclical pattern that is triggered by anything, or nothing at all. I've been 'away' again because of another 'black' period. Not so horrible this time as others, but bad enough. I've given up on trying to analyze and pinpoint what set these episodes off. It's too much work and frankly, is of no use to me. The reasons are so varied and random that I can't really use the information to prevent this so, I just do what I must to get through it and then push on.

Thankfully, I am on the upswing. I have done a lot of selfish self-preservation, thinking, and praying to get back on the upswing. I questioned why this is so hard for me and why I am the way that I am. It usually (eventually) comes back to my realization that I am the sum of all my parts and this disease is one of the parts that MUST be there for the whole to be what it is. Just like in everything else, you must take the good with the bad. There are no free rides in life are there?

So, what is the name above you might ask? Well, it's my part in contributing to the Mother's Day Project. Have you heard of it yet? You might have so I won't go into too many details. If you haven't, it's all described here.

I read about the project, contacted Anne and was put on the list of contributors. Last week I got my name.

LINDA J. VILLAR

That is my casualty for the project. I started reading through blogs of others that have joined this project. Someone brought up a good point. Why do we use the word "casualty" when describing the death of someone in a war? What's so "casual" about war or death at all for that matter? There are many words in the English language that enrage me for their callousness in how they are used. Example: I am a nurse. I HATE when people at work speak of a patient having 'expired' - Milk expires, library book loans expire, magazine subscriptions expire. . . . people DIE. We aren't something that gets 'used up' or goes 'bad'. Someones passing is not a passive act - it's an action. A verb. They die. A death actively affects others - their parents, spouses, children, friends. . . . they all feel the loss ACTIVELY. For me, using such a passive term (expires) somehow lessens the significance of the loss, of their LIFE. It is one of the banes of my nursing existence and enrages me each time I hear it used.

"Casualty of War" - that's another one of those terms. I am sure that Linda's husband & family did not find anything casual in their loss in early June of 2005 especially when I am sure they were planning her homecoming party - she was due to come home July 13th.

I do not find anything 'casual' in the intertwining of Linda and myself. There are so many commonalities between us that can NOT be the cause of just 'casual' circumstances. She was 41 at the time of her death - my age now. We both have husbands and children. Her daughter was 11 at the time - my DS will be 11 this year. She adopted New Orleans as her home after moving there during high school - DH and I lived there for 3 years and still feel it is a part of who we are. She was a CIVILIAN at the time of her death serving as support staff to the US Army troops there - my cousin Ana is a civilian in the US Air Force and her job very closely follows along the lines of what Linda did (Ana is also a USAF reservist (Sergeant no less) after having served full time in the USAF right out of high school - she's my hero even if she is 4 years younger than me!). So, as you can see, Linda and I have quite a bit in common and I truly feel that it is not coincidental that I got her name. This is what the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count page notes about Linda:

U.S. Dept. of the Army Civilian Linda J. Villar
Age: 41
From: Franklinton, Louisiana
Assigned To: Field Support Command
Based In: Fort Stewart, GA
Fatality Date: Friday, June 03, 2005
Fatality Cause: Hostile - hostile fire - mortar attack
Fatality Location: Baghdad, Iraq

Here is what the US Army Materiel Command said about Linda in the commentary about the Villar Memorial Room:

[Villar, acting chief, 3rd Infantry Division logistics support element, Baghdad, Iraq, was killed when an insurgent mortar round struck Camp Liberty, June 3, 2005. She was the first AMC civilian killed while serving in Iraq. “Linda leaves behind a reputation of excellence; she leaves behind a reputation that serves for all of us that wear this uniform, whether you’re a civilian or military. Linda Villar is a tremendous example for all of us to look up to and remember,” said Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin, AMC commanding general and host of the ceremony. Villar, 41, spent most of her 24 years of civilian service with AMC, including the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, and the U.S. Army Field Support Command. Her awards include the Defense of Freedom Medal, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Army Achievement Award. “Anyone that didn’t meet her really missed a great opportunity. She really touched everybody, and anyone that crossed paths with her knows what I mean,” said Villar’s husband David, a logistics assistance representative, Fort Stewart, Ga.]

Linda was a Master's educated woman who chose to put herself in harm's way in order to serve and support the men and woman who serve and support our country and our freedom. By all accounts that I have read she was a remarkably kind, compassionate and giving human being. So much so that Fort Stewart dedicated a room in her honor in December of 2005. That was the month I turned 40 years old. I was surrounded by family and friends honoring my life in a happy, joyful manner while Linda's family and friends honored her life in a deeper and sorrowful way. Two families honoring woman at virtually the same time in such meaningful yet contrasting ways. How often does that happen? How much of our joy and elation is 'countered' in this universe by someone else's sorrow and pain?

So, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about Linda and her family this past weekend. I took the opportunity to thank God that I am so fortunate for all that I have and to feel blessed that I am here to see my son grow up and to grow old with my husband. I prayed for my family, my friends and for all those who serve and died serving this country. I thought about how I would pay tribute to Linda with the project and I decided to stitch her name in RED for the project. Red to symbolize my anger and rage. Red to symbolize the heart of this woman that gave her life so selflessly. Red to symbolize the LOVE this woman had for life and her family. Red to symbolize the blood that she shed for this cause.

I will stitch and I will pray and I will cry and I will be thankful for my life and all my blessings.

Thank you Linda and may you continue to rest in peace.

Happy Birthday Love

My sweet, love of my life, rock of Gibraltar, best friend hubby turns 40 today.

How'd that happen? He is too smokin' to be 40. Love you babe!



Oh, and here's some proof that I still knit AND finish projects!


Fibertrends Felted Clogs
Cascade 220 in Orange and Green (can't remember which ones)
Knit/felted in less than 10 days as a gift for my FIL post Cardiac Surgery.

GO CANES!!

Mashup and GREAT start for the day!

This is a great mashup. Thanks Kerstin!

More later. Today has started as a good day. DS won the code word of the day contest at RadioDisney on the way to school. $500 bucks ain't bad for a 10 year old, y'know? Oh yeah, THAT was the prize. Me? I've won a haircut. DS? He gets $500.

Go figure. Tee hee!

I was so excited for him.

Oh and to continue the fabulous day for DS, tonight is when we have tickets to see the local production of High School Musical.

Zippity do DA!

What a great cause!

I found this over at the RAOK board (thanks Allena) and I thought I would post it for others to see as well:

Crocheted squares are welcome and appreciated as well.

Color choices for squares: Maroon, Burnt Orange, White, Black. Please knit or crochet squares out of the nicest, softest yarn you can afford.

Please mail squares to:

Mosaic Yarn Shop

880 University City Blvd.

Blacksburg, Va24060

Thank You to all participants!

xoxoxox,

The staff of Mosaic

Long time, lots of stuff

So, the last time I left you all with a real post, my Mom was here visiting. We took her to the opening weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. and had a great time. The blooms were amazing this year. The entire basin was lined with them and they were gorgeous. My mom and I were both excited about the majesty of the blooms and all was right with the world.

We also took Mom to Guapo's for dinner (FAB food) where she had a sangria, I had a LARGE margarita and we both got the giggles. It's strange to think that I am actually old enough to get tipsy with my Mom and not worry about it. When did THAT happen? She was the one I always was most afraid of whenever I came home even after the slightest amount of alcohol. I never was, and still am not, a big drinker and I can count the number of times that I have been truly drunk on one hand but, something about Mami always made me nervous if I had ever had any amount of alcohol. Now, here we are getting tipsy together. Tee hee. Fun times.

Great weekend, great company, great time. . . . until we came home. We had left Sunny at our Vet's boarding for the weekend. When we went to pick her up on Monday morning something wasn't right. She came to me but she didn't run, spin in circles or prance as she usually does. She laid at my feet and waited patiently for me to pay the bill. Huh? The girls commented that she had been extremely quiet during her stay. Huh? MY socialite puppy? She turns those eyes on you and mesmerizes you into taking her out and carrying her along with you. What was up? I stood there worried a bit and one of the techs came around the counter. Then she licked her nose and we both noticed that her tongue was extremely pale. EXTREMELY PALE.

Fast forward, she has been diagnosed with Auto-immune hemolytic anemia. Her immune system has turned on her and is destroying her own red blood cells. We can't pinpoint what triggered it: she's negative for all parasitic and tick-borne diseases (but there are many diseases where no specific test is available for them so, who knows) and there aren't any signs of any tumors or other malignancies. Our vet says that sometimes one NEVER knows exactly what triggers this process. Looking back there were signs: she was less likely to bring a toy spontaneously than before; she was content to play fetch for much, much shorter periods of time; she would lay in her crate (usually just a night time thing) during the day rather than on one of her "daybeds" strewn around the house and she had been eating less than usual. Not any one of these things seemed like a red flag at the time and yet here we were. She was pretty sick and is still recovering but the doctor feels that she is no longer in imminent danger of dying (yeah, we were at that point) as she had responded extremely well to therapy.

She remains on steroids and antibiotics and we are monitoring her blood counts closely. We will always have to be aware of this process in her: she MUST be on tick/flea preventative programs; she MUST be on heartworm preventative programs (both year round regardless of weather conditions) AND she will always get minimal vaccinations from now on. We have to be careful to not stimulate her immune system into attack once again. She will have routine bloodwork done now on a regular basis and she will be on/off steroids depending on her blood counts. But, she is responding, she is peppy and she is 90% back to her normal self again.

OK, so that was trauma #1 (yes there was more) since I last spoke with you so, I will leave you with that and will be back with more PLUS pictures of the DC trip and of the FABULOUS yarn my hubby bought me while we were there (Yea, he's good to me - most of the time >wink< ) as well as of the jewelry that Mami and I made.

ribbit

It's free cone day!

I love free cone day. Check it out here.

How do they do this????

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Thanks to Liz for this. How fun, huh? (and eerily true)

I am so excited about this one!!!!!

I just joined this swap and I am so super excited I can't stand it! For my secret Hogwarts pal, here is my questionaire:


Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Gryffindor! Go scarlet and gold!

Shoe size?
8.5 women’s US

Foot Length?
10 inches (that seems so looooonnng!)

Foot Circumference?
9 inches (really? REALLY?)

List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a. Lantern Moon - 5" size 1 - rosewood
b. Lantern Moon - 5" size 2 - rosewood
c. Brittney - 5" size 1

Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
I really prefer knitting socks with wooden needles (less slippery) and I like to use the shorter needles (easier to manage). I have gotten used to size 1 or 2 needles for socks as well.

If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?
N/A to me (but I prefer the movie colors just for the record)

Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Sure.

So, anyhow, this is such a cool, cool swap b/c
a) who doesn't love a swap
b) who doesn't love a sock swap
c) you get not only socks but a new set of needles and a matching set of stitch markers
d) Harry Potter rules!
e) even if we have to say good-bye (sob, sob) to the series, we get a cool pair of handknit socks to comfort us for our loss (boo hoo hoo!)

So, what are all you sock knitters waiting for? Go join! Even if you aren't an HP fan, what's not to love about getting/sharing socks?

Right?!?

How funny is this?

So, my Mom is up from Miami visiting for the week. We took her to DC this past weekend. If you all remember, my visit to DC last year to see the Cherry Blossom wasn't a complete bust, but most of the blooms had been blown off the night before by a huge storm. This year, we were there for the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival and it did not dissapoint. Post and pictures on that later but I had to share this with you right away.




Tee hee. The great thing about this was that my hubby didn't even bat an eye when I shoved the camera at him and ran across the street to pose.

Yeah!

No knitting but some excellent reading

DANG IT! My carpal tunnel is acting up and although I REALLY, REALLY want and need to knit, I can't. . . it really, really hurts right now. :-O

Sigh.

BUT, have no fear, I have found something to occupy my time. . . .has anyone else read this. Man, it's good. Ok, Ok, so I am not lil' miss politics and I do not know anyone who suffered a personal loss on 9/11. . . BUT. . . .

I do know what it is like to have friends who are your lifeline during hard times. I do know that it is very important to tell the people who matter to you that, well, that they matter to you.

This book? FAB! Yes, it's the story of 4 Sept. 11 widows and yes, they do talk about losing their husbands but it is NOT a book about Sept. 11th. It's a love story about 4 women who form a bond that is beyond a "normal" friendship. It is about how they come to understand that life is meant to be shared with people who you love: romantic love, familial love, parent/child love, and just as important, friendship love.

I've always been one to tell people when I love them. Yep, PEOPLE. Not just boys, not just men, not just my family, PEOPLE. I love people all around me in my life. . . and I tell them. I tell them whenever I feel it and whenever I am saying goodbye. I don't want to ever have something happen and have them not know that I loved them. It's important to me. I've seen so many people die with the regret of unspoken words or feelings. I don't want that for me or for those around me. So, if I love you, I'm gonna tell you. Live with it.

A few years ago I met the wife of one of DHs (back then) coworkers - (did that make sense?). Anywho, we met at a baseball game when DS and I got to go to the firm's suite at The Jake. We hit it off right away. Our lives where such parallels of each others. We both grew up in Florida. We both married our college sweethearts. We both wanted lots of kids. We both had just one son. (We both had very similar feelings about that but that's a different story). We both supported our families in New Orleans while our husbands both attended Tulane Law School (different class years - we were a year a head of them). We both are under appreciated (and under paid) professionals - teacher and nurse. (Again, different story). You get the picture, right?

I remember the first time I told her that I loved her as we were hanging up from a phone call. She was taken aback and just said "uh, Thanks". I persisted with subsequent conversations and meetings to tell her that I loved her when saying goodbye b/c I had come to love her. She mattered to me. I wanted her to know it.

I also remember her and I having a conversation where she told me how much me telling her that I loved her meant to her. She started looking at her life different and realizing that she, like many, just assumed that the people who mattered to her just knew that they mattered to her. Of course they know, right? Uh, not necessarily and even if they do, who doesn't like to hear that they matter, that they are loved? She thanked me for teaching her to tell people how she feels. She told me how she had started to say I love you more and how much closer it drew her to those that mattered. She told me that it changed her to hear that she was loved not just by those who were supposed to love her, but by other who chose to love her. So now, each time we write each other or talk, we say "LYLAS" (we pronounce it 'lilas') - love you like a sister.

So, this book, it's a good book. It's written by each of the 4 widows plus another author. Pick it up if you can. It's really a good read.

Oh, and by the way,

when was the last time you told your friends that you loved them???

I wish I could be there

I want so much to be here but unfortunately, DH has more business stuff to attend to than ever imagined and so I must be home to play stay at home mom. UGH! I so wanted to be a part of Represent (read the whole post please) because I don't think muggles truly understand how many of us, knitters/crocheters that is, there really are. I don't think they understand WHO we are either (all ages, all types, both sexes, etc.) and therefore underestimate the power of us as a whole.

Sigh. I'm passing on the info in case any of you don't know about this but can make it. If so, take a pix with the traveling sock for me, kay?

BTW, speaking of knitting, (lest you all think I am a complete liar) I have been knitting on the hood of Arwen. I THOUGHT I would have, no scratch that. I SHOULD have a picture of some progress.

Why isn't it here? Well, that would be because I misread my place on the cable chart and therefore crossed cables incorrectly which lead to frogging of MANY, MANY rows of knitting (sob, sob). I truly did almost cry, tears welled up but didn't spill. Sigh.

So I had to frog back to a point where the cables were correct AND where I knew where I was on the chart. This meant frogging much more than beyond the error. (AACK!)

I had to put it down. I couldn't photograph the failure and ensuing disasterous frogging. I might pick it up tonight for Grey's. Believe it or not, I haven't screwed it up while watching that show, just while watching American Idol (must be all the angst over Sanjaya still being there). Course, I just totally jinked myself didn't I?

RATS!

Somebody just shoot me now!

I can't believe we have to listen to him again next week.

Good grief.

I love Starbucks!

I do anyway but tomorrow, March 15th from 1000 am to noon, they will be giving away free coffee!

So, how many different Starbuck branches do you guys think I can hit for a free cup of joe?

tee hee

Ugh,

OK, so my shows have all sucked lately. Why you ask? Well first there's the debacle that is American Idol. AACK! Sabrina is gone but Hayley stayed on? WTF???? Sundance is gone but Sanjaya lives? DOUBLE WTF?!?!?!? I guess there is no accounting for America's taste. After tonight's performances I don't see how Sanjaya would be able to look himself in the mirror if someone else got eliminated. Seriously. He's made the top 12. He's going on the AI tour after the show. Enough already. I want to hear people sing and not just see what else he can do with his hair. Seriously. He did the Farrah flip, the grunge scrunched look, the flat ironed style, the ponytail at the nape and now the permed look. ENOUGH! All that's left for him to do is freak and pull a Britney Spears! America, open your ears and LET HIM GO AWAY ALREADY!

Then, THEN Rob and Amber got ousted on The Amazing Race. OMG! The worst part of that whole deal was that he KNEW the path Magellan took but he misspelled Phillipines. AND, he even said "this better not be a spelling thing". I was screaming at the TV. Honestly, I almost cried when they got eliminated. What a bunch of CRAP! They were the best team the first time they raced and they were again this time. They were just so OFF this last leg. . . . .sigh. . . .I really, really, really wanted them to win. Worse yet, we have to watch the crazy cousins (aka Charla and Myrna) for at least 1 more week. Blech!

We haven't had a Grey's in a couple of weeks and I am so GLAD that there will finally be a new one this week. Btw, have any of you done this? No? Well, I did and the results were:

You are Addison!


You are strong and independent and oh so capable, but sometimes you wish you had a shoulder to cry on. When it all gets to be too much, you might find one where you least expect it. You've been unlucky in love before, but maybe it's finally time for you to find lasting happiness. But no matter what is going on with you personally, you can take pride that you make a difference, every day.



Hmmmmm, not sure how I feel about that. I took the dang thing THREE times and each time was the same (y'know, there were a couple of questions where I could have gone between 2 answers - so I tried again).

Knitting newsflash! Arwen has a grafted sleeve cuff and the beginnings of a hoody! Pictures tomorrow (promise)

I'm not sure I understand why but I'll take it.

I've been posting a lot more regularly (and frequently) over the last few weeks. It's been kind of fun getting back into the swing of blogging and sharing stuff with all my knit/blog sibs (thanks Brenda for the term). I've especially enjoyed it since the move. You have all been such a support and joy for me since coming to NC. I lost all my "in person" friends but I got to keep all of you so, things have been a bit easier than they would have been without you. During the months since the move, whenever I've felt a 'black day' coming on, I've sat down and read my blogs (I really need to update my list, sorry guys) and written here. It's kept me much less lonelier than had you all not been here for me. Thank you so much for all that you give me.

That being said, let me explain the title of this post. Although I don't get a ton of comments (lurkers, I know you are out there - tee hee), I do get enough that I feel 'connected' with you all. I'm grateful for each comment I get. I have recently gotten a few wonderful comments where I have been complimented on my blog and have been told that this delightful blog (I still can't get over that - tee hee hee) is being added to their blog reading.

Me. Little old me is keeping you all entertained AND getting wonderful comments like that. I am humbled (and honestly dumbfounded). I mean, this is just me rambling on and on. I read other blogs and I totally "get" why they are so popular and why I have them on my bloglists but ME? Seriously? No, I mean, SERIOUSLY?????

So, I don't quite get why you all keep coming back but I wanted to say that I thank GOD every day that you do and that you all are so kind to me in your comments, encouragement and support. You have all been so much more to me than you can all imagine and I thought I should take a moment (and a post) to thank you.

SERIOUSLY.

(btw, March 15th can't come soon enough) - Hey, did I mention that I scored some of these? I am SO excited with them. They are AMAZING! Thanks again Amy, they are amazing.

Lest you think this is no longer a blog about knitting, I have completed 3 washcloths, a set of wrist warmer (Noro Silk Garden - yummy!) and have finished the first sleeve of Arwen. Slow but steady wins the race, right?

__________________*****************______________________

OK, so American Idol this week. Here are my calls.

Boys first as usual. What the heck is up with them? I agree with Paula, Randy and Simon. There are really only a few guys worth the competition at this time. But, only two have to go so I think that although SANJAYA is the first that needs to go, with the way things have been going (who is voting for him? - I heard that in the votes last week he was 4th among the guys - huh?) I think that PHIL (Leann Rimes song? WTF?) and SUNDANCE (only Eddie Vedder should sing Pearl Jam songs - especially Jeremy) are going to go this week.

Girls next: Please, please, please I don't think she will go but ANTONELLA should go. That being said, I think that HALEY (again please, please, please - if I want to see someone like her, I'll go on a cruise, ok?) and GINA (damn, I LIKE her) are going to go.

Who do I want to see go? I want it to be Sanjaya and Phil (though his story is fab) and Antonella and Haley. I'm afraid for Sundance and Gina though. . . . .

A funny thing happened while on my way to . . . .

walk around in New Bern, NC yesterday.

Let me explain. Yesterday afternoon, DH decided that we should take a little day trip. We enjoy getting in the car and just going somewhere to see what's there, enjoy the car drive and each other's company. So, finally at 12:30 (after quite a while of trying to find a place to go) we set off to New Bern. Nothing planned, just a drive. We were having a nice drive but along the way I got hungry so we stopped to have lunch at a Diner along State Route 70. Nothing planned, just lunch and then back on the road. We finally arrived at New Bern around 4:30 in the afternoon, knowing full well that most of the shops would be closed but figuring that we would walk around, see the town, eat dinner and go home. Again, nothing planned, just a nice day together.

As I got out of the car and started walking down the street, I heard some rapidly approaching footsteps and some laughter. I turned around and found myself face to face with Lolly! How weird is that?

Especially considering that a) we got off to a much later start than DH had anticipated, b) we happened to pick New Bern to visit c) lunch took longer than we expected, d) that we happened to park on the very street that she happened to be on at the same time that she was on it, e) that she happened to look out of the window from the shop that she was in across the street from where we parked at the very moment that I got out of our car. and f) that Lolly just happened to be visiting her sisters on this particular weekend.

Freaky neat, huh?

It was one of those synchronicity moments in life where things just all fall in to place to put you at a particular place at a particular time for a particular reason. Sorta spooky but cool at the same time.

I was glad to see my friend again. I hadn't seen her since last year and it was nice to see her again, especially so completely unexpectedly! Even funnier was the fact that while discussing where to go yesterday, we talked about going to see the Cherry Blossoms again this year and how I would have to write Lolly before we went there this year.

And people say that there is no such thing as fate. . . .