SP 10 Package

Looky what I found on my doorstep Monday! *yeah, I know it's Friday and I'm a little behind on my postings, you didn't need to remind me* It's a package from my Secret Pal or rather my Secret Angel!

Look at all the neat goodies I received!Knitting, knitting and more knitting stuff... and chocolate, can't forget the chocolate *yeah, that box of Crunch is gone already* Look at the gorgeous yarn! Cascade 220 in a pretty heather purple! Oh, what to make, what to make with this yarn... any suggestions people?

Thank you Secret Angel!!

Books, Books, Books

I have decided to move my book reviews and reading rambles to its own personal blog. From here on out you can find them on Diva Librarian Pheelya. It's still a work in progress, but joining the Summer Reading Challenge has jump started it :)

Listen to the squirrel

I don't know how many of you know of iLL Will PreSS, but they put out some of the funniest cartoon videos. Warning: Explicit Language is used!

Anyhoo, the cartoons are really random in topic, but they usually are created to make fun *or maybe open up people the real reality* of occurance or events of today. The newest one happens to be about television.

You can see it here.

Can you do as the squirrel suggests and turn off your TV for a month??

Ravelry - Finally!!

WooHoo!! I received my invite to Ravelry this morning! Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

Don't have time to post right now, but I know I need to do some catching up here for this week.

I need to post the goodies that I received from my Secret Pal, or rather Secret Angel since we don't really know what happened to my pal.

I need to post about the books that I finished reading for the Summer Reading Challenge.

And just general shit that been going on in my life :)

Catch you all soon!

Another Personality Quiz

Found this quiz through KozyKitty's blog.

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

SRC - update

So, I have joined the Summer Reading Challenge. I think the real challenge will be for me to stick to my books on the list! I have already deviated by picking up Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting, but at least I am reading right? I mean the main goal is to read.

Anyhoo, I have finished three books that were on my original list.

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl.
I picked up this book because I really liked his first book The Dante Club and because I love Poe. I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was his first. The book is based on my mysteries surrounding Poe's death. The setting of the book was mainly Baltimore, but there was an extended period in France. It's set back in the 1840-1850 as if it took place literally days after Poe passed. It was a bit dry in places. I find it somewhat hard to believe this was the same author at The Dante Club *highly recommend reading if you like mystery*

Black Moon Rising by Damien Ashton.
If you like werewolf books, this is a must read! Terrifying! One of the best modern day horrors comparable to horror classics. The action in the book was intense and the descriptions are amazing. Damien is not an author for the timid, that is for sure!

The story takes place in a quiet little college town in northern California, Sherridan Heights. A string of brutal killings commence and the local PD can't seem to follow the strange clues. They thought they were dealing with a wild animal that went rogue killing. In the midst of all these brutal murders, four college friends go off for a weekend in the woods. These weekend escape quickly turns nightmarish and one of them brings home something dark and vicious growing inside - unbeknown iced to him. And to say anything more would be to give the story away. If you enjoy reading horror, read this book!

Rain Villiage by Carolyon Turgeon.
Finished this book this morning over my latte. I really enjoyed this book. My sister gave it to me as a Christmas gift and it was signed by the author.

A great coming of age tale. Tessa Riley is a tiny 12 year who's unsure of herself due to being mocked by her family and those in her town. Because of her size her family thinks she is useless to help in any way. Her mother is also embarrassed by her size and wants her to hang and stretch herself in the hopes of stretching to a normal size. Tessa feels all alone in the world. Then one day Tessa meets Mary Finn, the town librarian - sexy and alluring. Mary befriends Tessa. Mary teaches Tessa how to read, tells Tessa all about her home, Rain Village, and teaches her how to flying with the trapeze. Tessa soon becomes enthralled with the idea of the circus and that there could possibly something for her outside of her abusive father and bible thumping mother.
Then one day, when Tessa was 16, Mary committed suicide and Tessa felt all alone again. Till the Velasquez Circus comes around and Tessa takes off. Tessa finds acceptance, happiness and love when she joins the Velasquez Circus, but Mary's death leave a hole in her soul. Then one day a mysterious man comes to the circus looking for her and any information that she has on Mary, who turns out is the man's aunt. Tessa finds herself drawn to this man through the connection to Mary and soon they are heading to Ran Village where Tessa hopes to find answers once and for all about Mary, but ends up really finding herself.

1. The Poe Shadow - Matthew Pearl
2. Danse Macabre - Laurell K. Hamilton **up next
3. The Double Bind - Chris Bohjalian
4. Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
5. A Killer Stitch - Maggie Sefton
6. Mistreal's Kiss - Laurell K. Hamilton
7. Rain Village - Carolyon Turgeon
8. Black Moon Rising - Damien Ashton
9. The Demon Awakes - R.A. Salvatore
10. Disobedience - Naomi Alderman
11. Ophelia - Lisa Klein
12. Voodoo Season - Jewell Parker Rhodes
13. Wild Women's Weekend - Lynne Kaufman

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee **newly added and almost finished!

Birthday Meme

Valerie tagged me for a birthday meme!

Here are the rules: The rules: You go to http://www.wikipedia.org/ and type in your birthday (only the month and day). Then you write down 3 events, 2 births, 1 holiday, and then you tag 5 friends.

3 Events:

1789 - James Madison introduces a proposed Bill of Rights in the U.S. House of Representatives.

1953 - The United States Supreme Court rules that Washington, D.C. restaurants could not refuse to serve black patrons.

1984 - Homosexuality is declared not a crime in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

2 Births:

1940 - Nancy Sinatra, American singer

1981 - Matteo Meneghello, Italian racing driver

1 Holiday:

Roman Empire - second day of the Vestalia in honor of Vesta.

Now I'm tagging:

KozyKitty
PhD Knitter
Cass
Bri
and Theresa!

ADHD Kitty

Here was the scene at my house tonight. Remember those balloon my gf gave me for my birthday? Well, I had to cut the string that attached them to the weight that prevented the balloon from floating away because Frisco was constantly playing with it and I'd hear the weight clunking on the wood floor all night long. The balloons eventually drifted over to a corner of my living room. It just happened to be the exact corner that housed one of the extra dining room chairs. As soon as I saw Frisco eyeing that corner I grabbed my camera. See how clever he is! *too smart for his own good that is*
He managed to get the string into his mouth and brought the sting down to the floor to play with.







Then of course when he moved his paws and no longer had a good grip on the string the balloon would float back up to the ceiling and he would start meowing. Then he gave me is "Mommy I wanna play" look, so I would hit the balloon back over to the corner for him to start all over again. He must have done this like 10 times before he got bored!

What Tarot Card Are You?

You Are The Lovers

You represent ideal love: innocence, trust, exhilaration and joy. You demonstrate the harmony of opposites, two sides coming together. At times, you also represent the struggle between what is right and what is tempting. Control is an issue for you, especially when you don't know your reasons for choosing something. Your fortune: You have an important choice you need to make about love, and it will be a difficult choice to make. You are likely struggling between the love you crave and the love that is right. In the end, you will choose what you crave, even if it's bad for you. Because without what you crave, you will feel empty and incomplete.

What Tarot Card Are You?

With the exception that is was not MY choice, I don't think this fortune could be any more DEAD ON! It's almost a little scarey. I have to say that 9 times outta 10 these types of quizes usually nail my personality dead on. I miss him so much.

What does your name mean??

Found this fun quiz off of Dark Oak Woman's blog. Those of you that know me... does this sound like me?? :)

Dorothy -- [adjective]: Extremely extreme! [noun]: A person who laughs at anything (even this entry) 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Too true!

Summer Reading Challenge

I decided to participate in the Summer Reading Challenge. It officially started June 1st and goes through August 1st. This soooooo reminds me of my childhood days of the Summer Reading programs at the public library. Of course back then it was all about reading as many books as you could over the summer. The summer reading program that my state currently does is so different.

Anyhoo, during the school year I am mostly reading children's book or Young Adult Literature, so over the summer is when I try to catch up on all the great adult literature that I have purchased during the year, but never found time to read.

Since I have a slew of books in my personal library *three and a half bookcases filled that is* I perused my shelves this morning and grabbed books that I have been dying to read and ones that caught my eye. Since I am a librarian, I attend several conferences a year and at these conferences are book vendors that freely give out uncorrected proofs of new books as well and fully published books. It really is in their best interest to do this. I mean think about it, a confernece full of librarians (public, private, college and education) are the main audience at these conference. The annual conference for the American Library Association alone had over 26,000 attendies. This group is probably publishers biggest purchasers.

Here is the list I have composed for myself.

The Poe Shadow - Matthew Pearl **
Danse Macabre - Laurell K. Hamilton
The Double Bind - Chris Bohjalian
Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
A Killer Stitch - Maggie Sefton
Mistreal's Kiss - Laurell K. Hamilton
Rain Villiage - Carolyon Turgeon **
Black Moon Rising - Damien Ashton **
The Demon Awakes - R.A. Salvatore
Disobedience - Naomi Alderman
Ophelia - Lisa Klein
Voodoo Season - Jewell Parker Rhodes
Wild Women's Weekend - Lynne Kaufman

** denotes currently reading

Turns out the folks didn't come in yesterday either. Apparently my father got sick! He had 102 fever with the flu. My sister and I teased him that maybe retirement doesn't agree with him. He should go back to work so that the germs know they can't infest him *laugh* He didn't agree with out line of thinking... go figure! Happy Father's Day Dad! *not like he'll be reading this or anthing* So now they weill be driving down tomorrow to make it in time for my niece's graduation from elementary school. My sister told me last night that she (my niece) wants to go to The Melting Pot for her dinner celebration. YUMMY!

Saturday Morning Ritual

Aaaahhhh.... the weekend is here. *OK, so technically it started last night* Here I am again lounging on my back deck with my laptop and latte, listening to the birds chirping, watching the squirrels climb around in the trees and bloggin'. Seems silly to think of this as "Me time" considering I have no children to get away from and live alone, but it is. It's just time for me to enjoy the sounds of the outdoors before it gets too hot to sit outside. I really need to start looking for a small table for my back deck. It's not that big so a 36" table should be good. When I originally started looking I thought a 48" would be nice, so that when I had small groups of friends or my sister and her family over we could eat outside, but I think that would be too big considering I have a grill out here. I love to grill food, so giving up the grill to buy a bigger table just isn't an option. My sister keeps suggesting a bistro table, even two of them, but their so tiny! I should probably put together some sheets of newspaper in the the two different sizes of tables and lay them out on my deck so I can get a real visual of the kind of space I would have. I've just been too lazy to do it *laugh*

Today's agenda lacks luster *after my morning me time that is* I need to straighten up the bedrooms today and get the usually laundry done. My folks are suppose to be coming in to town today. *ugg, I'm looking at my sliding glass door and realizing it needs a good cleaning - I hate doing windows* I thought they were coming last night, but with my mom, you never really know till she's here. Guess that is the beauty of being retired. The folks are coming into town because one of my nieces is graduating from 5th grade and heading into middle school next year. Her ceremony is Monday. I think we are all going out to dinner that night to celebrate. Then my parents are taking both girls down to their condo in Florida for the week. That should be interesting. I certainly hope they know what they are getting into! *laugh* My sister also mentioned that she is going to make dinner reservations for us to take Dad out for dinner on Father's Day. She mentioned possibly going down to Annapolis, but I haven't heard anything definite yet.

Aside from the ho-hums of house work I need to get my contest packages together to be mailed out. It's also time to give my wardrobe a good overhaul and pack up stuff that I no longer want, wear or need and call for a donation pick-up. I have to say, I love the fact that I can pack all that stuff up, leave it on my front porch marked and they will come by and pick it all up. Last night I pulled out the summer shoes box and need to unpack all the cute sandals and pack away all heavy shoes. I have to say, I have been super good this year *so far that is* I haven't bought a single new pair of sandals. That still amazes me. I usually cannot wait for sandal season! *I think that's because lately I've been spending my sandal money on yarn - for shame! laugh*

Sometime this weekend I also need to get a gift for my nieces graduation and gift for a gf who's birthday was a few days before mine. *can you say procrastinator* Normally, I would have had all this done way in advance, but my life has been so jumbled lately, that I forget until it's down to the wire. Hopefully I'll get back on track soon. *damn there are a shitload bunch of squirrels out here today*

I need to get my ass in gear and cast on the bag for my ITE pal. I have all the yarn, I just need to settle on a pattern. There are so many cute bag patterns out there it's hard to choose! I wish I could cast on for all of them, but damn life and work for getting in the way of my crafting *laugh* Alas, we all know how that can be!

Well, time to go and organize that second bedroom *just as soon as I get a few rows done on one of my UFOs *grin*

Happy Weekend everyone!

Just When You Think the Tears are Done with...

School is finally over. Yesterday was the students last day and today was a day just for teachers. As the media specialist, I still have a few more days of work. I spent most of today cleaning up my office. I had stacks of catalogs, new books, purchase orders and papers I needed to go through.

I was going through a stack of papers when I came across the Dear John Jane email that Mr. X sent. As soon as I realized what it was I should have thrown it right into the big recycling bin, but I didn't. I read it. *yeah, big mistake, I know* Emotions just flooded to the surface again. This letter was full of love and confusion on his part. As I read this letter again today *for probably the umpteenth time since I received* I felt the love he was trying to convey as well as the torment that he was feeling. This is what makes it so hard for me. I know that he loved me when he wrote that letter. I know that was not an easy thing for him to do. But knowing all that doesn't help me to understand why he would throw that all away.

He has some demons inside of him that he is still dealing with and for some reason, he feels that he has to deal with them alone. I think he sees "needing" someone (even for just emotional support) as a sign of weakness in himself. He was definitely the "All man" exterior with the a tender heart inside. He was my John Wayne and I loved him for that. When we had conversations about the things that were going on in his life, I would listen. I would make a suggestions. I would be supportive and tell him that I knew he would work through it all, that he would figure things out and that things would get better. Just as he had done for me many times over. For some strange reason, he felt like I was trying to fix things for him. I can hear him in my head now, "You can't fix this for me" or "This isn't something you can fix." I could never figure out why he saw my faith in his ability to get through this rough time as my wanting to fix things for him. All I ever wanted him to know was that I believed in him. Is that really such a bad thing? I mean, isn't that part of being in a committed relationship - giving each other love and support through rough times - more so than when things are all honky-dory?

Sometimes I wonder if he ever thinks about us, about what he threw away. Does he regret what he did? When he looks at his bookshelf and see my books on the top shelf does he remember my sitting on his couch reading while he was doing work on his computer? When he goes in his closet and sees the handcuffs or the box of my things that I left at his place does he think of me? When he wrap the blanket that I made him around his legs at night does it remind him of the love that went into making it for him? *at least I am assuming my things are still in all those places since despite asking him three times to return my belongings (not the handmade gifts) I have received nothing*

I ended up in the staff bathroom with a box of tissues. All I wanted to do was come home, crawl into bed, pull the covers over my head and hide from the world. But I couldn't or rather wouldn't. I had made plans to go out to dinner with some friends to celebrate the end of the school year and I couldn't bail on them again. Not because of him. So at the end of the work day, I met my gfs at Jaleo's and had tapas. I really wanted to load up on some tequila so that I didn't have to feel the pain inside, but unfortunately I had to drive home. So I pushed the pain back down inside to deal with at another time and went on with my evening. I enjoyed good food, good company, *of course I had one tequila cosmopolitan, I'm no saint* and a relatively nice evening out with friends.

Me Likey Hokey Pokey Contest!!

Another contest! Just as I'm trying to de-stash a bit Cass has a contest give-away as well! An who can resist bamboo yarn! Go check out her site, read her blog and laugh-out-loud while doing so :)

Birthday Blast!

Well, despite the fucked up disturbing dream that had me in tears the morning of my birthday, my mood was lifted when I came in to work and found these on the desk next to my computer.

My gf and co-worker, Tracey and Dana left a birthday surprise for me. Just what I needed to lift my spirits. It was a pretty nice day a work. Hot as all hell though! Friday also happened to be the big 5th grade pool party. Around noon, Tracey and Dana come back by the school to pick me up so that I could go to the pool party for a little while. This group of students started kindergarten at my school the same year that I started working there, so it was a bit special for me to see them move on.

After work, Tracey came by my house to pick me up *yes, so that I could drink and not worry about driving* and then we headed down to the Ram's Head Tavern for fun! It was quite a night. KozyKitty met us there as well. KK's son is a waiter there, but he was working upstairs in the dining hall. He came down a few times to check up on his mom and her crazy gfs *giggle* KK's DH also met up with us and we all just had a blast. I think we got several strange looks from surrounding tables when KK's DH lit a straw on fire to try and sing Happy Birthday. Three *or was it four* Long Island Iced Teas, a French Martini, a Cosmopolitan with pear vodka and a double shot of tequila later it was time to go *and yes, that was just what I drank* I was OK up till the bartender poured me a double shot of tequila for my birthday - but then again I am not about to turn down tequila :)

As we were leaving the tavern KK's daughter showed up too. It was quite the gathering in the parking lot. Then my sister and the rest of my family in NY called to wish me a happy birthday. I was three-sheets to the wind and ended up passing the phone on to Tracey. I don't remember much of the phone call *shock surprise* but apparently they were all at my mom's celebrating my birthday without me *laugh* Every time the phone went back and forth between Tracey and myself there was someone new on the phone. Tracey then drove me home and we sat on my front porch enjoying one last drink and chatting. Somehow the conversation did bring up men and we were both in tears for a bit. I'm usually a very happy drunk, but if something taps into the sadness in me I just can't guard against the tears. Luckily, it was short lived.

She went home and I went upstairs and passed out on my bed. I slept like a freakin' baby! But my body got me up at 9 AM! I couldn't believe it. And once I'm up, I'm usually up for the day. So I piddled around the house, ate some food and started to think about what I was going to bring to the Knit in Public day event that was scheduled for 2pm. I did lounge a little on my back deck. My cousin gave me this solar light fairy *yes, more fairies around me house* as a house warming gift last year. Unfortunately, I don't get a lot of sun around my house, so I had to put the fairy on the back porch, on the only corner of the railing that gets any sun at all in order for the orb to glow at night.

Then I contemplated for a bit of what I could do in my pitiful backyard that gets no sun and has 6 huge trees. This picture only shows three of them, but you can see the bottom portion of the 4th one way over to the left of the pictures. There's also a huge maple tree just off the back left corner of the deck one dead pine tree next to that tree. I would really like to get those two trees removed, but I have to get permission from the HOA before I can do that and in my HOA I would have to get the stumps ground down. Right now that is more $$ then I can afford. *of course if I stopped purchasing yarn for a while I would probably have that $$, but then my sanity would be compromised *laugh* I would really like to do something back here to cover all this dirt, I just did not inherit my father's green thumb for the outside *I just inherited the temper and genes for big boobs from his side of the family* So much work needs to be done to this yard and I am not much of a gardener that I don't know where to start.

Then I headed out to Knit in Public day and Lake Elkhorn. I was a beautiful day *in the shade that is* Here is Lynn. The wonderful woman that organized the event. She was so worried that no one would show up! Can you see the gazebo behind her and the dude at the tripod? Someone was having an outdoor wedding in the public park.

Here are PhD Knitter and KozyKitty just knitting away. Check out those funky glasses on KK! She's working on the Rusted Root pattern while quietly cursing the yarn she's using under her breath *OK, maybe not so quietly - but you know I luv ya KK!* while PhD is working on a cabled baby blanket.

Here is Denis diligently working on yet another pair of toe-up socks. Someone has turned her into a sock addict! Denise I wear a size 10! *hint hint*giggle*

Here are some more knitters. I completely apologize as I do not recall everyone name. Terrible I know.
The one in red in Ivee. I can't believe that she was wearing a sweater that day!

Afterwards, they all went to Lynn's house for dinner and yarn swapping while I went to my sister's to celebrate her birthday *and had several margaritas!*. Yes, for her 6th birthday she got me as a birthday gift the day before! Of course, she told my parents she didn't want a sister because she had her dolls to play with! At the end of the day I just sat back and relaxed on my sofa and Frisco snuggled up beside. All in all what started out as a depressing birthday really turnout out to be a blast *and drinking fest*

He doesn't look very amused that I was taking his picture.

Contest Winners!!

First, I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, the wonderful drink suggests, yarn and pattern suggestions, and favorite sexual positions *Cass you are crazy! :)* I was unable to try all 50 some odd drinks on Friday night *not for lack of trying, just ask KozyKitty!* but I will be transferring all drink recipes to index cards and will try each and every one of them before the summer is over! *some drink suggestions brought me back to my college days! Buttery Nipples, Slammers!* I'll get my gf KozyKitty and Tracey to try them with me!

I forgot to bring the names with my to the Knit in Public event, so I brought them over to my sister's house Saturday night and let my little niece's pull some names. We pulled from two different groups. One was everyone who made a suggestion of some time and the second was from the group that actually posted the contest info on their blog. *sorry it's the school teacher in me*

And the winners are......

drum roll please...

The winners from the first group are Crafty Momma and MotherGoose (and my niece had such a fit of the giggles when she pulled your name out!)

The winners from the second group are Cass and Kounting Sheep

Ladies please email me your address so that I can mail out your goodies! :)

Dreams and Tears

Last night's dream is one of those that I wish I didn't remember at all after waking up. I don't even know why my mind went in that direction! I have this one fragment of the dream that I can't see to shake out of my head. I feel like I have to get it out or it will be haunting me all day and I don't want that. Not today. Not on my birthday. Damn. Damn him!

So, this fragment... *sigh* I was in a hospital room. I had given birth to a baby boy and I was holding him. *mind you, I have never given birth, but I do want children - and in the back of my mind try to accept the fact that it just might not be in the cards for me* Mr. X was there, leaning down on the bed watching our son *that feels so weird to say* wrap his little fingers around his big finger. I was just watching quietly and this feeling of pure love just swells up inside me as I watched them. It was like I was looking in on a special moment just between them. *I woke up with that raw, emotional feeling* Then he looked up at me. The expression on his face, the same intense look he had on his face the evening he asked me to be his wife. (That night, when he looked at me and asked me that question - I didn't answer right away. I was searching, looking in his eyes, looking to see if he was serious or just taken away with the passion that were in the middle of. When I didn't answer he stopped and asked if I had heard him. That's when I saw it. Intense and raw. I said yes. Then there was a slight shift in his expression, more gentle, more intense, and the look. He looked at me like no man ever has *and I know this is going to sound corny and hokey and all that, but it's what I saw* it was a look that said this woman is going t0 be the mother of my children. *I told you it was going to sound corny* But if you knew him, you'd know how well that fit with his personality.) That was the look he was giving me in the dream when he looked up at me. I cupped the side of his face and smiled at him.

That's when the alarm clock jolted me away. Those feelings were still there, engulfing me. I didn't know what this meant or what to do. I did the one thing I knew. I cried. This was the type of dream and feeling that I had many, many months ago that lead me to completely trusting him. And here I was having another dream about him, with those same intense emotions attached and yet, he's no longer in my life. He had severed all ties to me.

Of course now, now I wonder if I had completely interpreted the first dream all wrong. Now I wonder if I had read the emotions on his face all wrong that night back in August. Now I wonder if he had, in fact, asked only because he was in the heat of the moment. I wonder if he'll even remember today's my birthday.

Time to wash off the tears, pull out the mask and get ready to face the day.

Holy Coffee Swap Package Batman!

Yesterday was a crazy day! Work really sucks and I am trying not to think about how "the boss" *cause she certainly is no leader* is really placing our school on a downhill slide for catastrophe. Why is it that that my county cannot find good, intelligent, reasonable people to be principals??


I love these stitch Anyhoo, after work I have my therapy session, then grab a bite to eat on the way to meet up with my Wednesday night knitting group. When I got home from the Stitch 'n Bitch session this was waiting for me at my door!! Suddenly all the bull$hit from work melted away as I couldn't wait to open my package. My kitty was just as interested, and while I was trying to be good and find my camera, he was trying to open my package! I couldn't wait to see what Megan, my coffee swap partner, had sent me :)

She even used on of the HP note cards I sent her in her package!

Here are all the goodies. I retook pictures when I got home from work today, so that I could take better pictures outside. My neighbors thought I was a tad off *image that, me a tad off.... nnaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh* setting up the display just so for a picture *laugh* Look at all this stuff!! Even now, I'm still so excited about what I got! *did I mention that there a little girl trapped inside me and that no matter what age my licenses says she always rules me :) *

Two different kinds of Espresso bean! Fudge brownie mix *drool* A kitchen magnet. Adorable book plates!
Aren't these stitch markers great! That's me! S-E-X-Y!! :)

She even got me my own specially blended tea! I had told her that Starbucks used to have this great tea called Winter and how I had been looking for it ever since Starbucks switched tea companies. I told Megan how I had searched the Internet to avail because I could not find my Winter Tea and I guess I must have told her what was in it and she went to a specialty tea store and shared my frustration over trying to find this tea and they whipped up a special batch on the description! You're AWESOME Megan!! I haven't tried it yet, but it certainly smells as I remember the Winter Tea did! She got me honey sticks to go with it! Of course I told her that if this special blend is right she will have to purchase my monthly supply for me *giggle*

She even got something for my inner child and her affinity for fairies! She made me this felted latte fairy! I have her hanging in my kitchen already!

Last, but certainly not least, look at this awesome yarn! Manos del Uruguay! Look at those yummy colors! I can't wait to figure out what I am going to do with this great yarn! Anyone have a suggestions??

Last weekend I told you all about the pretty fuchsia plants I got. Well here they are hanging off my front porch. I love these plants.



Here's a picture of Frisco in another one of his favorite spots. I lay back on the couch and stretch out and in 2.2 seconds flat there's Frisco wanting to lounge and sleep on my legs. He's such a strange kitty, but I wouldn't trade him for the world! *like I could, any cat owner knows they own us and not the other way around*

As for knitting/crocheting updates - not much. Still working on the baby blanket, though I do only have the edging left. If I can just figure out what I want to do for it! I did complete one of the Mason*Dixon Warshcloths and started a second. My gf Tracey just moved in to a new apartment and she has no pot holders, dishrags or anything, so I thought I'd make her a nice kitchen set with all this cotton yarn I have! I'll post project pictures soon!

Video Thursday - Powerful Stuff

Lizzie Palmer (who put this YouTube program together) is 15 years old.



And to think that when the Board of Education looks to make budget cuts, the arts programs are always looked at first. Shameful when you see thinks like this from children.

A Contest for My Birthday!

OK folks,
My birthday is on Friday *does the Happy Dance* and I want to celebrate it starting now! I decided to share my birthday excitement with you all! And so a contest is born! *and a lot less painful compared with other births*

Leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite alcoholic drink *I'm always on the lookout for a new drink or wine to try :) * or your favorite project, favorite yarn, favorite pattern or favorite anything :). Then leave a post on your blog telling others about the contest and link back to this contest post asking people to say they found this contest off your blog :)

Saturday morning (about 1 PM EST) I will print all comments and cut them individually and put them in a hat. I will bring all comments with me when I meet with other knitters for Knit in Public Day and have one of the knitters pull out a winner (or winners depending on how many people enter!)

I know you are all wondering what the prize is! Well of course there will be yarn, *can you tell I'm looking to destash and hoping for good yarn carma :) * When you leave your comment please note if you prefer natural, synthetic, or happy for anything :)

There will also be a book from Maggie Sefton's Knitting Mystery Series!!

Good Luck!!

Rainy Sunday Morning

Here's to a lazy Sunday morning. *holds up her latte in a morning toast* I'm sitting out on my covered front porch just listening to rain pitter-patter down, drinking my latte, watching cars drive by, chit-chatting with friends online and bloggin'. I love to sit out here and listen to the rain (when it's fairly warm out, that is).

I'm happy to say I got most of what I planned to do yesterday done! I called my gf KozyKitty to see if she wanted to come with my to the LYS, and I ended up meeting her at Lowes and going plant shopping at Behnke's *laugh* I bought 4 nice size Fuchsia hanging plants for my front porch. I get very little direct sun around my house because of so many trees, so Fuchsia plants are perfect. Now I just need to remember to water them daily or the heat of summer will kill them anyway *write a big note and hanging it on her coffee machine - since I use it every morning - WATER FLOWERS OUTSIDE!!* I also need to figure out what I am going to plant in the little flower bed that is in front of my porch - again minimal direct sun.

After getting back from Behnke's, I dropped off my hanging baskets and headed out to my LYS to purchase some yarn for that ITE bag I need to make. I'll have to post pics later as I don't have them on my laptop. I got out of there with minimal damage to my wallet *laugh* which is good.

I did manage to gather up all my UFOs around the house *faints* more than I remember starting! So here's my list:

1. Lapghan - Crochet - 50%
2. Arm Cozies - Knit - 50%
3. Scarf for sister - knit - 35%
4. Mimosa Blossom Afghan for parents - crochet - 1 pattern repeat
5. My So Called Scarf - knit - 50%
6. Braided Cable Scarf - knit - 2%
7. Baby blanket - Tunisian crochet - 75%
8. Larger Than Life bag - crochet - 75%
9. Stained Glass Afghan - crochet - 7 squares completed, 350 more to go!
10. Monica tank (2nd one) for other niece - knit - cast on
11. Simple Socks (1st attempt) - knit - heel flap completed on 1st one FROGGED

I think that covered everything. The lapghan is in colors that no longer match the decor of my house. I'm thinking of two option here a. bind off and donate to an animal shelter b. finish and give away as a gift. The arm cozies I knit both at once on a pair of circulars, so those are almost both done! Now if I can just learn to knit a pair of socks at once *I should probably finish my first sock before becoming so ambitious*laugh* I think I need to threat some waste yarn through the loops of my sock and try it on! I keep stretching it and wondering if it will even fit my foot as is! *runs off to do just that*
....
....
hmmm.... not sure. I can get it on, but it's snug. I wonder if I should frog it and maybe and a few more to the cast on. Then won't I have to re figure the stitches for the heel flap?? ACK! Help! I don't know what to do. Most patterns are not written for shovel feet like mine! (size 10). I don't know why socks intimidate me so much! Well, before I do any froggin' I think I will take my lowly sock with me to the S'nB session on Monday and ask one of those crazy gals for help. I think there are more sock knitters in that group then the group I meet with on Wednesday nights. If one of you Monday night gal is reading this, can you help me with my socks!! *begs and pleads*

Went to JoAnn's yesterday to take a look at their purse handles. Nothing really grabbed me, so I grabbed another row counter and headed home to hang my flower baskets.

Didn't go to Don Pablo's last night, but my neighbor grilled out and made a plate for me. I have such great neighbors! A grilled hot dog, baked beans *yummy*, a fresh turkey burger that was full of flavor *need to find out what she put in it so that I can make them for my next cookout* and a great macaroni salad that had tuna fish and shrimp.

I never did get around to going through my stash. I will have to get to that today. Right now, my latte is done and it's time for a shower and then stash diving *laugh* Hopefully I will post an update later tonight.

Finally a free weekend!

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and comments over Mr. X. Somewhere inside of me *probably in my feet since the thought seems to get squashed whenever I'm walking around* I know that eventually it will get better and hurt less, but right now all those feeling are so close to the surface that it just doesn't seem possible. Anyhoo, enough about him, I want to enjoy my free weekend and not think about him again all weekend *fat chance, but I can try*

Wow, it's been so long since I have had a completely free weekend that I just don't know what to do! For so many months my weekends have been consumed with working on my National Board certification. I had spend months working on the four entries that were required for the portfolio portion and then spent the last two months studying for the assessment test. Almost every Saturday for the last two months I met with the other four media specialists that were also working on the boards to study for the test. This is the first Saturday I was able to actually sleep in till 10AM! That was N-I-C-E!

Now, I am just chillin' on my back deck with a latte, my laptop, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's new book Casts Off (I finished reading her other book, Knitting Rules, a last weekend) and contemplating what I should do today. I received an email from my LYS yesterday that included a discount coupon (I think it was for 25% off, but can't remember right now) so I might go and drool over some yarn a little later. I do need to go and get some Cascade 220 for a felted bag that I need to make for my ITE IV pal. I'm thinking of knitting her a nice size tote to carry around her knitting. *well, what else would a knitter carry around* She pretty much likes the same colors I do, so it might be a little hard to part with the finished piece *laugh* I think I'll call my gf KozyKitty and see if she wants to join me!

I might also make a stop over at JoAnn's Fabric. I saw in this weeks circular that their purse handles are on sale. *I can't resist a sale, then again what woman can* Then later this afternoon I really need to take stock of all the UFOs I have around my house! Last weekend while I was trying to straighten up before my sister and her family came over for dinner, I noticed I had bags of UFOs all over my house! *as any addictive knitter/crocheter would* Some of those projects I hadn't touched in months *some, I'm ashamed to say may even have been years* Once I have all my UFOs gathered together I will need to decide which ones I really think I will finish and which ones I will probably never touch again *if that's even possible*

Afterwards, I need to go through and take stock of my stash, for several reasons.

1. New colors for Project Spectrum started June 1st. I need to see what red,black and metallic yarns I have in my stash and figure out what I'm going to make with them. Off hand, I do know that I purchased a handpainted wool/silk yarn from Mystical Creations a while back in a colorway of red and black. I want to make a shawl with it. So I have one spectrum project on the ever growing "To Knit" list.

2. I want to start thinking about Christmas gifts for family and friends. *I know, I know - June just started and I'm already thinking of December* I just know me, if I don't get started now I'll be in some department store or mall on Christmas Eve looking for something to buy the person who's gift I never got around to. *I detest shopping malls and department stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I try my hardest NOT to have to go unless absolutely necessary - like for toilet paper*

I might be going out to dinner at Don Pablo's with my gf Tracey tonight. She's working till 4:30PM and said she'd call me afterwards. I haven't been to Don Pablo's in quite a while *my mouth is already salivating over the cheese quesadilla and a beer. Have to have a beer. It would be unthinkable not to have a beer, or two, or three with Mexican food*

Then, of course, there are the normal weekend ho-hum things that need to be done around the house - the laundry, the grocery shopping and the vacuuming *Domestic Goddess I am not*

My coffee swap partner got her package yesterday. I had so much fun shopping for her. You can see all the goodies on her blog. I seemed to have turned into a swap ho, but it's so much fun finding goodies and treats for people who have the same love of yarn and crafting as I do.

Well, for someone who didn't know what to do with her free Saturday, I sure as shit filled it up pretty quickly! Well, time to head off the to the LYS and squeeze some yarn! I might have more to say later :)