Catch up!!

OK, so I've been a bad blogger, but at least I realized that before my friend Ellen has to tell me that I've been a bad blogger! (Hi Ellen!)

So, lots to catch you all up on!! First up, my sister came down with my new niece last weekend. Isn't she just precious!! I could hold her all day long!



Apparently, my sister and DH forgot the Pack 'n Play in Florida on their last trip and my other sister wasn't thinking clearly when they first came down. There was no place for Maya to sleep so they had to think fast and make a bed that was the right size for Maya to sleep in....

Tada! Baby-in-a-basket!


And just the perfect size too!! :)

As you all know, well those of you that have been following my blog for a while now, I earned my National Boards Teaching Certificate this year! The county that I work in had an official pinning ceremony for us were we received our official NBCT pins. It was a nice, although at times boring, ceremony. The pin is now officially collecting dust in my jewelry box :) My gf in the middle there called me up the day after the ceremony to inform me that her pin never made it home that night! I laughed so hard when she told me that. She apparently lost the name tag and the pin was on her name tag. She called me up just last night to let me know she did indeed find her pin in the back seat of her car on the floor board.

The state is having a formal dinner for all who have achieved in the state sometime in March and shortly here I should be received my official certificate! I can't wait.



I have several projects on the needles, but these are the three that I am currently working on. Back in December, I decided I was going to match up patterns and yarns so that projects were all ready to go this year. I bagged up about 16 skeins of sock yarns in hopes of getting more socks completed. My official goal is one pair a month, but the more the merrier! I picked this yarn out in February because there were suppose to be my official Valentine's Day socks. Needles to say - I just finished turning both heels last night and starting to work up the leg. I am loving this pattern (Baudelaire by Cookie A.) and the yarn! The yarn is Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood in the colorway Summer Sangria. This colorway is just luscious!



I'm also in a March sock contest in the Sheila Rovelstad Design group on Ravelry. We had to cast on a pair of socks with green yarn (minimum 25% green in the colorway) so I pulled out my BlueMoon Fiber Arts - Socks That Rock in the colorway Lucky and cast on for Pomatomus by Cookie A. *yes, that's two Cookie A patterns on needles at once* These socks have to be finished by March 31st, but I'm aiming to wear them ON St. Patty's day - St. Patty's Day 2009 that is!! :)




Lastly is a baby blanket my gf asked me to make for another friend. I will have this blanket done before Wednesday rolls around! *I swear it Tulabug!*



Here's a little yarn porn for ya. This is the first installment for the Wullenstudio sock club. Isn't this gorgeous!! This is actually my 2nd skein of it.





The first skein I received was to test knit the official pattern for the sock club! Didn't they come out beautifully!! I just love how the colors blend together so well!



Apparently Frisco thought this pair was for him!



Here are just a few projects that I have finished since my last post.

First we have a simple cowl that I made for my Valentine Vampire Swap partner.


Pattern: Simple Cowl (Rav link)
Yarn: South West Trading Company Gianna
Needles: KnitPicks size 11
Modifications: None

Next up the Christening bonnet for my niece. She doesn't look to thrilled to have this on her head does she? *she sure does have the Billy Idol snear coming along there*


Pattern: Feather & Fan Bonnet by Larissa Brown (Rav link)
Yarn: Patons Silk Bamboo
Needles: KnitPicks size 6
Modifications: None, I did add a wide satin ribbon around the bottom to tie a nice bow on the side and keeo the bonnet on her head.

Just couldn't resist sharing this picture as well :)



Last up are the Christening Booties.


Pattern: Mary Jane Booties by Lucie Sinkler (Rav link)
Yarn: Patons Silk Bamboo
Needles: KnitPicks DPN size 3
Modifications: None.

Next up - something for ME!!


Pattern: Just Enough Ruffles by Laura Chau (Rav link)
Yarn: 100purewool.com Worsted Merino Single (love this yarn!! Just like Malabrigo, but less expensive)
Needles: KnitPicks size 8
Modifications: None

Had another skein and a half of this colorway, so I made a beret to match and looking to make some fingerless gloves with the remaining yarn.

Pattern: Meret (Mystery Beret) by Woolly Wormhead (Rav link)
Yarn: 100purewool.com Worsted Merino Single
Needles: KnitPicks size 8
Modifications: 4 repeats before decreasing.

What a Wonderful World...

A New Hobby??

Last Saturday I took a glass blowing workshop with some friends, Naomi, Racheal and a friend of Naomi's Joe. Not something I would have scoutted out on my own, but I figured what the heck. The lesson was only $40 and I get to take home the piece that I make. For the life of me I can't remember the instructors name, but he was a good teacher. He gave a demonstration of the three different things you could make at the workshop; you could pull a flower, blow a glass ornament, or make a necklace pendant. After we each finished out pieces, we talked about taking the 4 week course. Unfortunately, my basement fiasco happened the very next day and the money I would have spend on the class went to the plummer instead. So, no class for me right now. I am thinking that I might take the workshop again - I mean for $40 and I get to take home what I make - instant handmade gifts!

Anyhoo, here are some photos from that day. There's apparently a video of this out on facebook somewhere too. If my girlfriend ever gets around to sending me the video I will post it.



And here is what I made that day. I call it my Twlight Flower *yes, after the series* I'm really happy with how it came out and right now it is front and center in the china cabinet, mainly so Frisco doesn't bat it around and turn it into a shatter glass.







I so would love to put a sink like this in my bathroom! Is that not the coolest! Yeah, those are the wacky girls I took the workshop with.

Water Whooos

I have not had a very good start to my year when it comes to my house. First, I had issues with my heat pump, AGAIN. I got an outrage electrical bill in December - almost as bad as the bill from last year. So, my immediate thoughts were that something is wrong with my heat pump again. After numerous phone calls to my home warranty company (shopping around for a different one this year) and numerous house calls from a heating & air conditioning company - turns out the HWC screwed me and I'm stuck with crazy electric bills.

What happened it that technically the warranty company created a mis-matched unit in my house. The indoor portion of the heat pump is a 10 SEER unit and the outside unit that was replaced last January is a 13 SEER unit. IF the units were matching the 13 SEER system would be much more energy efficient, but they didn't. Instead they replaced the outside unit with a PAYNE, which is turning out to be a Pain-in-the-ass or rather wallet, and the installed some little gadget to the inside unit that lets the warranty companies get away with creating a mismatched unit and sky-rockets my bills.

So, I bought myself a Delonghi oil-filled space heater. I put that in my bedroom and I still have one of those blowing space heaters which is in my computer room. The thermostat now stays on 60 and the space heater generates enough heats to warm up the upper floor of my house. So when I am home in the evening, I pretty much live upstairs. Hopefully the January will be a LOT less for me efforts.

OK, so I had my upset for the year right off the bat - so I thought. Sunday I was doing laundry and when I went downstairs to change out the loads this is what I encountered:



The culpret was that toilet in the basement. Apparently there was a clog in the main line of the house and all the water that was draining from house hit the blockage and then came back up from the toilet and all over the basement floor. I lost it. All I saw were the dollar signs it was going to cost me to fix this and knowing I just didn't have it right now. The one thing I am grateful for is that it was sewage that came up through the toilet! Thanks goodness for small favors I suppose.

This was like the straw that broke the camels back. I just lost it that morning. So after I cried out all my frustrations and got myself semi-together, I called my sister for help. I called the county first to see if the blockage was on their end. I prayed that it was! From there I called my insurance company, who inturn called a cleaning company to come out and clean up the water in my basement. County called me back and basically said "Nope. Not our problem." Soooooooooo, the plumber came out on Monday and snaked the main line. Nothing really seemed to be caught to create a blockage, but the toilet now seems to be flushing without incident. The plumber isn't sure what happened. " Could be rooted damaged the pipes." He said, "If this happens again he'll snake a camera down to see what is going on and to start saving money because I may need to install new drainage pipes." *WHAT?!?!?*

Can I catch a break.... PLEASE!

Sock it Two Me

Well, really three, but that wouldn't sound right. I finished three pairs of socks this month!! I can only show you two of them. I am a test knitter for my friend Sheila. She put together her first sock club this year and she asked me to test knit all the patterns before the shipments go out! Her yarn is FAaaaaaB - U - lous!! So go check out her sock club. I promise you won't be disappointed!

So, getting back to my socks!

First up.... Smeggin' Red Dwarf Socks...


Pattern: Red Dwarf Socks (Rav link)
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Two's Wick
Needles: KnitPicks size 4
Modifications: None

Next up are my Psychedelic Falling Leaves Socks


Pattern: Falling Leaves (Rav link)
Yarn: Colinette's Jitterbug
Needles: KnitPicks size 1.5 (2.5mm)
Modifications: None

I ran out of yarn while making these socks and looked around on Ravelry to see if anyone was selling this color. I found two people, but only looked like it would be the right color match. As you can see the colors in my skein were deep and rich and lots of the dark purple. I was careful when matching the new yarn to the old and you can't even tell where the new yarn starts!! I love it. Of course, now I have a little more that 3/4 of a skein left that I have no idea what to do with!

And my 3rd pairs for the month.....

Well, you'll have to check back mid-February to see those pictures :)

KCS4 Questions!

Round 4 of the Knitters' Coffeeswap is up and running. I am co-hosting with KnittyMama and Dawn. Here are the answers to my questions and I can't wait to read my partner's!!

1. Whole bean or ground? I prefer whole since Ihave a grinder

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? FULLY-loaded - a must!!

3. Regular or flavored? definately regular

4. How do you drink your coffee? usually I make a soy latte. If I'm running short on time or soy milk and I French press it with a little sugar and creamer

5. Favorite coffee ever? LaVazza or Jamacian Blue Mountain Coffee

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I tend to be a bit fussy about my coffee

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Since I'm losing weight, usually just yarn and needles to keep my hands busy. Every once in a while I cave in to temptation and I have what are called Dunkers. They are chocolate chip cookies that are long instead of round and have chocolate on the back side. When you dunk them in the coffee the chocolate melts a little into the coffee give the latte just a hint of flavoring. Yum.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? hmm, not that I can think of right now.

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Merino, Suri, silk, cashmere, I definately lean more towards the natural fibers

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? scratch wools - my skin is sensative and if a wool is scratch I simply cannot have it against my skin. I'm not a fan of the fun furs either.

11. What's on your needles? OMG, I have to list this?? OK, here goes - 3 pairs of socks, 3 scarves, 2 lave shawls, a cashmere cowl, Juliet, and I think I have another cardigan aw well. That's all I can remember off the top of my head.

12. Favorite colors? I find almost all colors appealing. I personally lean more toward the jewel tone colors, black and red. I rarely knit with yellow or orange unless it was specifically chosen for a knitted gift. I never wear those colors.

13. Allergies? It's not an allergie, but I can't stand the smell of smoke and I'm an ex-smoker!

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I love my Italian heritage. I collect fairies. I love knitting socks 2-@-a-time. I'm an avid reader and I have a kitty called Frisco who always thinks I don't give him enough attention!

Twitches with Temptation

Help!
I'm an addict!!!
I need a 12 step program!

"Hello, my name is Pheelya and I'm an addict....

Hello Pheelya...."

I just cast off 2 pairs of socks and swore I would not cast on another till I finished 2 more pairs of the remaining 3! Yes, I had 5 pairs of socks on needles! FIVE! For someone who swore when she started knitting she would never knit sock I had, yes count them - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - 5 pairs of socks on needles!! 2 down - 3 more to go. And, what did I do today? Can you guess?? Uh you guessed it! I cast on ANOTHER pair of socks! I need therapy!

BUT - O! M! G! I LU-HU-HUV this yarn!! I couldn't resist the color any more. Even thought it was wrapped up in tissue paper - I knew it was there. Lurking.... calling to me... I swear I heard it speak to me every time I opened my closet of yarn... whispering.... "knit me.... you know you want to.... come on, cast me on...." *oh the temptation* It's been calling to be ever since I bought it at Stitches East.

Today, I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried to resist. I did. Really. I swear! HONEST! *Don't mock me because you KNOW you've all been there!* But the force was strong today. If you were in my house today you would have heard it too, the yarn, call me, mocking me....

"Resistance is Futile!"

*yes, yes, I know I just cross referenced Stars Wars with Star Trek*

And then, I thought I had resist. Really I did! Then I heard it again on my way to Knit Night...

"Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile."

Uh oh, now I was hearing it in the car. Can't be. Am I going crazy? I must be. *hey, no comments from the Peanut Gallery over there* That yarn is at home... in the yarn closet.... wrapped in tissue paper.... So I thought.

I heard whisperings as I walked into Panera's to join my knitting group...

"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

I sit down and open my knitting bag and right there, right on top of all my other projects, mocking me... was THE yarn! And I heard it again....

"I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will service... us."

So, I gave up trying and cast on another pair of socks :)



Oh, the yarn? You want to know about the yarn? And here I thought you had read through all of that because it was entertaining! *grin*

The yarn is Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood in the colorway of Summer Sangria (Wine, burgundy, maroon, claret. Kettle dyed) The picture below just does not capture the intense richness of this color. Oh so nice to work with!



"Resistance is, and always has been, futile." -- Locutus to Captain Picard

Returning from a Hiatus...

Sorry folks, I know I have fallen behind in my bloggin' and haven't caught you all up date with what's been going on *see Ellen, I'm writting* and sharing pictures of my two little cherubs *enough picture for you KK??* I was off work for just about two weeks and my whole schedule has been thrown off.

First off - I'd like to let you all know that I have resolved my transmission problem with my Honda. I sold the sucker!! Gone, it's probably up on some auction block right now or some high school kid is rebuilding it for auto-mechanics class! But, it is no longer my problem :) I now have a Toyota Corolla. My parent's were buying themselves a new car, so they sold me the Corolla. It's smaller then my Honda with the most annoying alarm system. I'll have to take a picture and share with you all another time. Feels so strange being able to sleep in an extra half-hour in the morning now that my car doesn't have to heat for 50 minutes!! The only think I hate is the color. Seems like everyone has a silver/light grey car and finding it in the parking lot is not so easy anymore! The first day I drove it to work, I completely forgot and I was looking for my red Honda that afternoon! It was a good 10 minutes before I remembered *DUH, you have a new car* But it felt good to be able to leave the work parking lot at exactly 2:30 PM that day and not have to wait 45 minutes for the transmission to warm up. Wow!! and whole hour and a half back in my day!!

For Christmas, I went home to NY. I spend several days there knitting, relaxing and playing niece Maya. She's such a little peanut of a thing. While I was up there I finially finished my Christmas Money socks!


Pattern: Monkey socks (Rav link)
Yarn: Wullenstudio Sock Yarn
Needles: KnitPicks size 2 fixed circulars
Modifications: None

They were finished the day after Christmas, but I wore them anyway!!

And here are some pictures of the little peanut at Christmas.



1. Christmas Eve 2008, 2. Nonni & Maya, 3. Nonni and Maya, 4. Grandpa & Maya, 5. Grandpa's the baby hog!, 6. Mrs. Maya Clause, 7. Felicia and Maya, 8. Felica and Maya sleeping, 9. She's a little peanut!, 10. She doesn't like the camera flash, 11. how peaceful, 12. I could have held her all night, 13. One pooped Ms. Clause, 14. Santa's little helper, 15. Christina, 16. Soon-to-be Godmother, 17. Are you talking to me?, 18. Hangin' with Zia, 19. Chillin' in the Boppi, 20. checkin' everything out, 21. Hi, 22. What's over there?, 23. She's trying to say something, 24. Wha' you say?, 25. Are you still talking to me?, 26. oooo fishies!, 27. Maya in her Santa's Helper PJ's, 28. Did that move?, 29. I can reach..., 30. Felicia babysitting, 31. Peaceful moments, 32. A steady heartbeat, 33. I'm not sure about you, 34. Oh, just gas :)35. Not available36. Not available

So, I was in NY for about a week, drove home Saturday, about an hour after arriving home I was picked up by my friends Stacey and KnitRedSox and we all went of to KozyKitty's for a graduation celebration for her son. We hung ou there for a few hours and then I returned home to unpack and pack for my trip to the Windy City.

I spend the next week chillin out *and it was chilly* hangout with Mr. X and Baby M. I have to say I was rather shocked that Baby M seemed to remember me from my last trip because as soon as her father put her down she came over to me for a hug. She so cute when she hugs too - she runs up to and then falls on top of you to hug you. Aside from saying Dada and Mama she now says Pup-py! Baby, Bye-bye and Thank you *it's sounds more like 'tank YOU' - so cute*. She will give you something just to take it back and say "Tank YOU!" I had her saying penguin a few times as she has this penguin today that she likes alot. Here are a few pictures from my trip.



1. Baby M unwrapping her presents, 2. Baby M with Dr. Suess, 3. A book, 4. Not sure about that, 5. Baby M, 6. Checking out the knitting accessories, 7. Tastey row counter over the cheesy poof, 8. She luvs this puppy., 9. Showing off her teeth, 10. Not sure what to play with next, 11. My cuddle toys!, 12. All mine!, 13. Baby M's House, 14. Daddy acting goofy, 15. Now how do I open this again?, 16. Mmmm Cherrios, 17. She loves her penguin, 18. Baby M's laptop, 19. The little doodlebug, 20. You can't have my laptop!, 21. No, this button Daddy, 22. That, that over there!, 23. Juice!, 24. more juice, 25. Hugs with Daddy, 26. Smiles, 27. Diabolicale!, 28. Cuddles, 29. Kisses just for Daddy, 30. Baby M's dress, 31. Baby M loves her laptop, 32. more smiles, 33. Her Puppy!, 34. Daddy and Baby M, 35. another hat!, 36. Doodlebug!

While I was that the airport I casted on for the Ruffle Hat with the leftover yarn I had from the Baby Bolero I made her on my last trip there. I wasn't sure if I would have enough, and sure enough, I didn't. So it was turned into a rolled brimmed hat. Still looks cute on her though and she seemed to like it. Mr. X warned me that she tends to pull her hats off, but she didn't. Soft, squishy, warm yarn tends to make a difference ;) I still want to make her the Ruffle Hat because it's just so cute! Here's a pic of her in the Roll Brim.


Pattern: Ruffled Hat (Rav link)
Yarn: Wullenstudio DK Yarn
Needles: KnitPicks size 6 16" & size 6 DPN
Modifications: Didn't make the ruffle. Kept knitting till I ran out of yarn

I had also started the Cat-Eared Baby hat for her with the yarn that Mr. X picked out on my last trip. I followed the directions, but the hat looked awefully small to me. So before I cast-off, I packed it and brought it up for her to try on. Sure enough - too small. She's got her Daddy's big head. So the first hat was frogged and I started over casting on something like 20 more stitches. When I finished the hat I decided I didn't want to make cat ears and started searching around on Ravelry for some idea when I came across these flowers and thought "oh, I like those!" So I made three flowers and Baby M now looks like a baby flapper in this hat:



I have also finished 2 more pairs of socks, but don't have pics yet. I will post them soon. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

A Year of Review - 2008 Knitting

1. Madelyn's blanket 2, 2. Wave Scarf, 3. 2nd pair Fetchings, 4. 100_1040, 5. 100_1518, 6. Impressionist Cowl, 7. MD Moss Grid Hand Towel, 8. 100_1211, 9. Swiffer covers, 10. Chinese Waves Dishcloth, 11. Birthday Cowl, 12. Thumbelina Hat, 13. Baby M's Berry Hat, 14. 100_1033, 15. Baby M's Beanie, 16. Shetland Triangle, 17. 100_1000, 18. 100_1547, 19. 100_1316, 20. One Row Scarf, 21. 100_1203, 22. Moss Bark Short Sleeve Cardigan, 23. Cherry Garcia cowl, 24. Luna Moth Shawl, 25. WhoDuKnit Mystery KAL #1, 26. Neck-down Childrens Bolero, 27. M lacy, 28. Just Ducky, 29. 100_1377, 30. Gabbi's ocean blanket, 31. monkey, 32. Crosshatch Lace Socks, 33. 13, 34. Cowl'd and Frosty Outside, 35. Christening Gown, 36. Fetchings

New Year's Resolution

More Wine Please!!


updates with pictures coming soon

Holiday stuff

The first snow of the season!! Doesn't it look pretty.Last Friday evening it snowed and this is what my yard looked like Saturday morning :)




On Tuesday, Frisco's Christmas gift was delivered. What is it with cats and cardboard boxes? He just has to check it out.









Frisco is getting a bathroom upgrade for his Christmas present. :)





Wednesday night was my knitting groups 2nd annual Cookie Swap! We each had to bring 7 dozen cookies because there was suppose to be something like 35 people there. I have no idea if 35 people were there or not, but it was a good time and I came home with some great cookies. I have been so good too! I haven't eatten any of the cookies yet! I'm being a tad lazy this year, since I'm not going to be here for Christmas. I'm taking most of these cookies home to NY with me so that Mom doesn't have to bake. She's having the family over for Christmas dinner so that will be enought cooking for her. I will also pack a small tin of cookies to take with me to Chicago for Mr. X. Oh, I baked Triple Chewy Chocolate Cookies, and can I just say OMG they are rich! I got the recipe of a friend of mine who loves to bake. I can only eat one cookie and I have to have a HUGE glass of ice cold milk to wash it down.

OH! I finished my cardigan just in time to wear to the party!!





I also received my Winter Wonderland Swap package this week from my pal in Las Vegas! Check out the cool things she sent me!! I love the snowman ornament. It won't be in the tree this year because I'm not putting up a tree since I won't be here over the holidays. I know, depressing. Never really feels like Christmas to me without a tree, but if I'm not going to be here to enjoy it then why bother?? Anyhoo, check out that yarn! That color it sooooooo me!! Thank you Alexis!!

Christmas Classics!

A new twist on an old classic!

Just Precious

Pictures from Thanksgiving! Unfortuntely, I don't have too many because the batteries died in my camera, but my sister was nice enough to send me the ones her DH took. Because Maya was only a week old, she wasn't able to leave the house, so we dropped in on the new Mommy and Daddy about once a day. Maya mostly slept and when she woke up, she was fed to get her weight back up. While I was there Friday afternoon I got to feed and burp her. I don't think Nonni or Grandpa's even had the chance to feed her yet :) Luckily she had just been changed before I got there! *hee-hee* Maya's a little peanut. I think she is the smallest baby I've ever heald.



Since no one knew if it was going to be a boy or a girl I held off on my knitting. Once Maya was born I had a field day looking for patterns and yarn for all the little goodies to knit for her. First up is the Just Ducky hat and booties. My cousin Cesidio, who was also asked to be Maya's Godfather, was appauled by this outfit... "My goddaughter is NOT going to wear a duck on her head!" but the rest of my family out voted him - including the Mommy & Daddy *hee-hee* Right now the hat and booties are a tad to big for her.


Pattern: Just Ducky from P2Designs
Yarn: Knitpicks Swish DK & KnitPicks Merino Style
Needles: Lantern Moon DPN
Modifications: None

I also had to knit her first sweater! Complete with tag and all :) I had bought those tags years ago and I can't remember from where. The tag reads "Made with Tender, Loving Care by Dorothy" I found them again as I was rummaging through my stash to find yarn for this project. I need to remember to pack one to put on Baby M's sweater next time I go up there. This shrug was knit up in just a few hours!


Pattern: Baby Shrug from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby
Yarn: Berroco Lullaby
Needles: KnitPicks, size 8, 16"
Modifications: None

Yenta or Shadchan?

No, I'm not Jewish, but apparently my assistant, R, must have been in her former life. She is contently asking me this or that about my love life and if I'm not giving her answers, which I hardly do because I don't really know her all that well, she's trying to get the information out of my assistant, who I've worked with for the last seven years. Much to this woman's chagrin, Carleen doesn't tell her anything. Carleen and I find it humorous that she will ask us each about the other, but will hardly ever directly asks us those question. It drives Carleen absolutely batty!

Anyhoo, getting back to the Shadchan part. *For those of you that do not know, yenta is the Yiddish word for busybody and shadchan is the Yiddish word for matchmaker - if I am incorrect in my translation please correct me!*

So, a few weeks ago, my team (minus Carleen because she was out that day) and I were sitting down eating lunch and just chit-chatting away. Another co-worker, Ms. P, comes in to shoot the shit with us and she wanted to show us pictures of her son. Her SINGLE son *you see where this is going yet?* This co-worker is a little Italian woman that is tickled pink to have another Italian to talk to at work.

The light bulb went off in R's head and she ask "Is you son single?" Of course he is. Then, before I really know how it happened P was telling me all about her son. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Oh, did I mention the fact that he's teaching English over in Korea! He's not even in the states! Yeah, just what I need. Luckily, just as I think P was trying to actually get a firm answer out of me of if I was truly interested, my cellphone rang. *saved by the bell, literally* The humorous part of that was that it was Mr. X calling.

The next day, I was telling Carleen the story and I don't think she could believe it all, but when Ms. P came by for her morning coffee and referred to me as her "future-daughter-in-law" I thought Carleen's eyes were going to pop out of her head when she looked at me. I had to leave the back office.

I think Carleen must have said something to R because it was never mentioned again, until today when Ms. P asked me what I was doing over winter break because he son might be coming home for Christmas. ACK!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!