Shelly's Stuff

whew What a day!

2009-11-13T22:20:00.003-06:00

Good thing I don't believe in stuff like Friday the 13th because this one sure had the makings. However, it all ended up good enough.

I had 2 job assignments for today....they backed up nicely to make a full day. Tuesday, the bigger one of the two was cancelled. NBD, or so I thought then. My phone rang at 630...the teacher who was scheduled to be gone had a sick child and the computer system wouldn't let her enter her absence. We talked for awhile, and she went on to call administration to make the call as her whole day would overlap my other assignment in the building by an hour. She called back at 7:10 to say that I needed to get over there. I did. After I had called her back, gotten the verbal lesson plans, found all the stuff and got ready to make copies....I walked into the office area to discover that another sub had been contacted by the computer line. It was one of those minor details that get all of us every time. Technically, it was her job. I could have stayed, I'm sure, but what's the point at being difficult? I've vented enough about how I hate the new system. So, I went out to breakfast with the hubby and took a nap. i went back for my afternoon assignments and all was good. What a crazy way to get out of bed and not get paid for the pain. I'll be interested to see if they throw an hour at me or not for that one. I care. I do, but I tell myself that I do not. What good is that going to do? Getting labeled as difficult to deal with will not help my cause at all in the future...and all over a few bucks? Nah.

After work, I ran the swimmer to practice, to home and we picked up Plaza for dinner. YUM! Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE mexican food? I LOVE Mexican food. We dyed hair (as her season is over, and the days of two-tones half grown out summer and chlorine bleached hair are over...and mine had gotten all nice and orangy again) and cleared off the dvr. Hubby and K went to Kato and had some 1:1 time. Life is good.

I fell asleep on the recliner again. WTH? I don't DO that kind of stuff until recently. I do now. And now it's 10:30 and I'm hoping I get tired again fairly soon.

OHHHHHHH! We got Netflix to stream through the PS3 today. I LOVE MY LIFE. I love movies. Hubby already caught Paul Blart this afertnoon and I'm about to finish up 10 Things I Hate About You. I'm guessing that I'm going to get one more watched before I go to bed.

SWIMMING CONTENT (run for your life while you still have the chance)
Remember when I said if you have a lane, you have a chance? Well, she had a lane, and she made the most of her chance. Did she qualify for finals tomorrow, Nope. Could I be any more proud of her, NOPE. She took 4 secs off of her fly and 5 off of her back...or the other way around) Her seed time was second to last in both races. (Hey, somebody has to be) She beat 3 other girls in each event. Nice work. She won both of her heats, the last on a come from behind touchout. How exciting can it get. AND she looked good off the walls. That was almost as exciting as the first time I saw her feet come out of the water. Good times. I believe 7 swimmers from here advanced to finals tomorrow and 3 divers qualified as well. How COOL is that?

KNITTING CONTENT (damn.....I'm on a ROLL here)
I've been knitting on the infamous Central Park Hoodie. As I can do NOTHING exactly by the rules, I'm making mine a zip up vest. Hey. It's mine, and I can do what I want to it. I've got about 1.5 inches on the finishing ribbing. I'm going for 2 inches or so THEN I'm going to do an i-cord bind off and put in my first zipper into a piece of knitting. *scary* I'm getting pretty excited. I'm also on the toe of the first sock of the Wollemeise Sultan that I have from Germany. This stuff is AWESOME. I hope I'm half as happy with the finished product as I am working with it. This stuff has to be the softest and strongest yarn I've worked with to day. love love love it!!!! I'll have to see how it wears.

Now, my last rant is about mold. Usually November is when I start getting an allergy break. NOT THIS YEAR. Apparently the corn here has a higher-than-normal amount of mold in it. SOOOOOO driving to and from everywhere that involves passing a field harvesting corn (ie EVERYWHERE besides in town) means I'm in trouble. Maybe that's why I'm falling asleep in places I've never slept before. *sigh* AND, I get to go back for an extra shot next week because I started a new vial Wednesday. Lucky, lucky, lucky me. I wish I could quit this stuff. I really do. Ah, well, if it wasn't this, it'd be something else, I'm sure. It's ALWAYS something.

Well, I'm not going to get any of that knitting done if I stay on here and type my life way. Have a great weekend and DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX. Life's too short. Really!

Boy, do I know how to shut off the comments!

2009-11-12T00:22:00.004-06:00

Guess I'm just talented like that. Still no knitting content. I DO have some, but it'll keep. Yesterday was all about our Vets. Today is going to be about swimmers, specifically mine. Now, this content is rated PG-TMI. I can't believe she didn't tell me that I couldn't blog this. However, I was instructed to keep it off of facebook. I can totally understand that. Here's some swimming 101. Most swimmers don't shave during the regular season. Why? Why do they wear drag suits and all other equipment used to make them stronger and faster....to build resistance (known as drag). Before a big meet (in this case, sectionals), they shave. The degree to which they shave is up to the swimmer. Back in my day of high school, our boys shaved their heads. It's all about getting as streamlined as possible. Below is her lower leg just moments before the coveted moment where she went to go about hair removal. She hasn't shaved since August, and it was driving her INSANE. That poor kid wore capri's in 90 degree heat....and wore tights to homecoming. Crazy? Nope, we call it committed.

Not pretty is it? Nope, but it takes a lot of tenacity at 14 to do whatever it takes. There are moments that totally amaze me. The best moment was the face filling grin I got when she came down and let me take a pic of her newly exposed calf. She yanked up the bottom of her pj leg and said, "I LOVE smooth legs" Double thumbs up, darlin'

Now...back to the point. I've tried explaining this to several people this year, and I'm pretty sure I've failed miserably. Swimmers are clocked to a 100th of a second. I've seen several ties this year, and not just in the shorter events like the 50 free. It's been ones that take a couple of minutes....six lanes and there are TIES. Swimmers fight for every last fraction of a second. Literally, races and meets are won and lost in less than a blink of an eye. So, for the big meets, they wear speed suits instead of the regular lycra ones and dehair as much as possible......because if you have a lane, you have a chance. There are no time outs, no half times, no substitutions, and no second chances.

How do I think she'll do? I doubt she'll make it out of prelims tomorrow. How do I feel about it? Fantastic. Several girls were fighting for the chance to even go to sectionals. She made it. Whatever happens from here is whipped cream on top of the sundae...and an experience of a lifetime. I can't wait to watch it all unfold!

Swim it like you love it!

Thanking a Veteran Day.

2009-11-11T12:53:00.002-06:00

Short and sweet today. For those of you who are my friends on facebook, you've seen this before....but I thought I might hit a few more people this way.

Today is simple enough.

If you like your life, thank a veteran
If you hate your life.....change it and thank a veteran. Without them, you wouldn't have that choice.

Thank you Veterans. Two simple words that I hope can carry the enormity of what you've done for us civilians. Today is your day. May it be an incredible one.

Tuesdays not with Morrie.

2009-11-10T22:01:00.004-06:00

Okay, okay, that was a good book. However, I didn't spend my day with Morrie. I did something better. I had a girlfriend date. I KNOW, right? I haven't done that in several weeks. What a breath of fresh air. We were gone most of the morning, and it couldn't have been better spent. Okay, on the beach with cocktails, maybe, but c'mon. This IS still reality, you know.

I've been exhausted this week. Too much stress and too little time? Yeah, that usually does it. I did a few shops yesterday. That was fun. We'll see how many I did right. (hopefully all) I checked the web, and so far there is no subbing for tomorrow. I could do a couple of public audits tomorrow, but they sure don't pay much. However, I am considering it. It depends if I have a ton of energy and need out of here or if I'm ready to tackle the house. Yeah, I wouldn't place bets on the house either. Cleaning has GOT to be one of the most overrated chores ever. Wash, vacuum, dust, repeat endlessly. However, it IS better than living without it being done. The top of my fridge totally needs attention. I tend to forget it. I can't see up there, therefore it doesn't exist, right?

I'm trying to remember how to play. Life's just to heavy for playing at the moment. When my brain stops weighing a ton, I bet I have a better chance. Maybe if I bought silly string.......I'd have a REALLY big mess to clean up! ack! No more of those.

Okay, here's what I'm tap dancing around with. I am supposed to forgive something, but in doing so, I have to allow myself to trust and open up for more hurt. I'm not finding the strength to do that. How do you forgive without letting the defense walls down? Can you? Are they two separate things or are they too intertwined? In my mind, they are a unit. If I cannot protect, then I am unwilling to forgive. No wonder all I want to listen to is hard rock. It's much easier to bang my head on the wall to the beat. Really. Is it really necessary to trust? Why can't I just live without it? Yeah, I know, not happening. Still. I hate this.

Ahhh, have I mentioned that I love music...and shuffled itunes?

Thank You ZBB.......toes in the water, ass is in sand, and I'm not going back again.
forget wahtever I was saying...I'm mentally OUT of here

Adios!

Wow, I didn't mean to cause a big ripple in the universe.

2009-11-07T22:34:00.003-06:00

Holy everything. Wow. I thought I was free reeling thoughts out here in cyber space. I had NO IDEA the fallout I was going to feel.

Wow.

You know who you are. I know who you are. Relax. This is as deep as it gets and as raw as it comes. The world doesn't need to a grinding halt. I am not any -cidal, am I not depressed and I am not in the mood to to anything (too) rash. I am trying to sort out my world the only way I know how. Out in public. If I don't own it, then I tend to lie to myself. That is sin to self #1. Public, if you don't want to read it, don't. Really, it's all good. However, I need the accountability. I'm just wired like that. "that's just the way it is baby, you know" (wish I could remember how to make those musical notes, but too damn lazy to play around tonight to do so. NOT worth the effort.

Great, and now I've lost my ipod again. I would have sworn that I put it on the charger as it was the next thing to dead. However, I obviously was mistaken as it is NOT there. Grrrrreat. NOw how am I going to sleep. The normal way? Me? Give me a break. Moon's up. Not gonna happen. Crap. crap. Crap. "Now, Shelly, how do you REALLY feel about this?".......

We had a fire in the fire pit/stone shelter thing at the park tonight. Double thumbs up. I love controlled fire. Yummy. I love to watch it burn, poke at it, throw stuff in it. Ahhhhh, that was good. Too bad the bathrooms were closed for the season....and it was too dark to trust that porta-potty. Sometimes I girl just has to head home.

Crisis averted. It (ipod) had already fully charged and was waiting for me to take it upstairs. Silly girl. Is it too much to hope that the book I'm reading is going to appear magically before I go to bed? I think so...therefore I have pulled out a new one. Speaking of books, I'm reading what I'll dub as high school lit...you know, books aimed at that aged crowd. I 100% recommend Deadline by Chris Crutcher. It was totally worth the read. I don't care what age you are (okay, I wouldn't go younger than jr high) or what your gender is.....it was just a good book. You know the kind, the ones that keep you thinking on and off for days afterward. This was one of those. I'm sure it's not a piece of literary brilliance or anything, but it was my favorite type....smack you hard enough to make you think, but gently enough so that you're thankful that you've been smacked.

Tomorrow. What can I say about tomorrow. It's not here yet? Tomorrow's never are (bwhahahahahahahahaha). Laundry is always famously on the list. I think I want to make breakfast. I know, that sounds great at night. I'm sure tomorrow morning will be a different story. I'm dreaming french toast, crispy bacon and some kind of berries thickened up into come kind of compot/syrupy topping. I know. November, great berry season. Eh. I live in Minnesota, it's not like there is a big any kind of fresh fruit season...it's just how much I'm willing to pay. (It's beginning to sound a lot like frozen).

Not that I want anyone to be sick or anything, but I sure hope a few jobs open up next week. I'm ready to head back for some more self inflicted torture. It's a sickness, I tell you, a sickness. Hey, Thursday is Sectionals. I'm sure we won't be seeing Dee in the finals on Saturday, but I'm excited to go. I've heard this is a great facility they are swimming at, and I'm ready to be seeing some good facilities! LOL. Where, oh where, does the time go? I have no idea.

Nope, no deep digging tonight. I'm sure I'm too brain dead for that process. Now, if I could just become part of the sleeping community, more things would appear right in the world.

Sweet dreams

How can it be Wednesday already?

2009-11-04T00:11:00.002-06:00

Isn't it crazy how some days take weeks, and others fly by in minutes? Yikes!

Thanks for the input on the last blog. I'm all over the map again these days. Shannon is totally right, I cannot waste precious time wondering why I'm on this earth. I AM on this earth, and I best be getting busy. I'm not sure at WHAT....but I'll find it. Apparently, this is my season for self reflection. Yippee? Yes, and no. It's tiring work, and there is no visible progress. Y'all know how I like to SEE results. I guess it's just not time to see.

It's funny, some people think I've changed dramatically, and others think not. Perspective IS everything. I really think I'm coming into my own. However, I have thought this before and have slid back into the same old ruts. I'm so done with ruts. Ruts suck. As Pastor Jeff always said (and I'm sure he still does) a rut is nothing but a coffin with the ends kicked out. Very true. However, the journey is scary. I have no idea where I'm going. (is this where blind faith kicks in...NOT one of my strengths) I have no idea where this whole experience is going to take me. Very scary.

I know I'm totally rocking the household boat. For this, I am sorry for the discomfort, but I'm not giving up on me. I cannot. I must not. The only way out is to keep going forward...to wherever that leads. It would be nice if I could keep patting everyone's behind and reassuring them that everything is okay, but I cannot. I do not know. What I think I want most is acceptance, unconditional love, support and the feeling of total security when I am at home. Home should be a safe haven. I don't want lip service or a string of pie-crust promises. I don't want my ass kissed (often). I want to be able to be comfortable in my own skin. Gee, that isn't asking for too much! LOL. I'm sure there is more. It's just not on the tip of my fingers, yet. Yes, I do. I want to feel safe, protected, important, valued, and validated. I want to be chershed, but not like I'm breakable. Good grief, if I were breakable, I would have been dust long ago. How does one achieve this? Alone, you can't. How do you tell someone how to give this to you? I don't think you can. I think it happens or it doesn't. This is where I get confused. Freud, Jung or Skinner. WHO DO I BELIEVE?!?! LOL. All I know is that I am unwilling to live without it. I'm tired of bridging the gap to keep everyone happy. It's not my job to make sure everyone understands and fully appreciates everyone else. However, since I want everyone to be happy, here I stand in the gap. I'm tired of making everyone else feel better, dammit. Yet, how am I supposed to let someone else take over if I don't want to let anyone in? Gah! I'm just not sure I'm up for one more round of anticipointment, unrealized promises or "it'll be better whens".

To publish or not to publish, that is the question. Do I really want this out in the unvierse? No. But then just as I typed this, I'm listening to Loverboy and no joke here were the lyrics, "I gotta do it my way or no way at all. I gotta do it my way, I gotta fly" Yep. So it's out there. Since I tend to live all in or all out this all grey area with no answers is complicated. I am not sure if I am looking forward or am afraid of the answers. Time will tell.

ACK. I don't wanna hit publish. Yet, I need to keep these words. I will want to remember this someday. Gah!!! (part 2)

WTH All IN

I suppose the crash was inevitable

2009-10-25T02:22:00.003-05:00

but that doesn't make me any happier to see it. Hopefully, it'll be short lived. I'm going to work on it.

Isn't it funny how life evens things back up again. The good news...if you're on one of those everything sucks rounds....things are gonna be great before you know it!!!!

Oh, and for the record, insomnia is winning tonight. 2:24am.....yeah. I'm not winning here.

I wish I could just pour it out and move on, but I'm emotionally constipated. Not a lovely visual, but when you're brain's stuck, it's stuck. I'm not very good at getting back up after something silly whacks me down. I'd like to be like those webil toys from when I was a kid (webils wobble but they don't fall DOWN) I'd love to be able to pop back up. I cannot find the right combination. I should NEVER have posted all that crap on Wednesday. I should have known better. I'd like to blame it on superstition. However, I'm sure it's not that, either.

I am confused. It's just that easy. I have no idea what I want to do, much less how to get there. I set too many limits on things (and sometimes, that's even a good idea, but not nearly as often as I do).

So, what makes me tick? What makes me happy? What makes me want to get out of bed and tackle whatever life throws at me? I do not know. I want to know. Scratch that I NEED TO KNOW. I've felt myself skate a bit over the past few days and I'm terrified of falling back into that hole. Yes, I know, I couldn't sustain that good of a mood, but I don't think it needs to be so durned far away either.

So, tell me, how do you figure out what is "it" for you? What made you realize what made your life as complete as any human can rightfully expect?

I look forward to hearing your ah-ha moments, and I'd really like to have a few (million) of my own.

And on that note...I'm going to go mark more time until I can figure out how to get some sleep. THEN I can get up and figure out what's going to make me sing tomorrow.

<3 ya!!!

Note: interesting side note. The time stamp must be from the time I started typing this post, or my computer clock and the blogger clock are NOT in sync. Interesting. I'm not sure I really care about the answer....but something to wonder about, just the same.

Wet Wednesday.

2009-10-21T12:37:00.005-05:00

No images. Y'all know what wet looks like. I'm finally taking today to settle down and kick back for a bit. I feel like I've done a marathon or something. I love when life goes the way it has been. Everything seems fun, all is good....even the crap, and there's sun in every day (mentally) i'm not sure how to keep this going, but I'm pretty sure kicking back and refueling is a good idea.

Things have continued at the same pace of insanity. I can't even digest it all. It's been a helluva ride, though. i do miss kicking back and knitting. I've been doing very little knitting. I KNOW, right?!?!? Ah, it'll come back. Good thing I don't have any deadlines. I do have a few challenges on Ravelry that I'm going to miss. I'm pretty sure I'm okay with it. I signed up all in good fun, anyway. It just increases somebody else's odds of winning, right? See. It's all good.

Are you still reading? I have no clue why. Apparently, this is one of those posts that I'm going to use to try to gather my thoughts together since I've been so mentally scattered. Hummm, maybe a list here would help. I like lists. Lists are good. They are straight up, to the point, lacking in bullshit. Dare I say that lists are Life Hardccore? Maybe not THAT far, but still.

What I've learned/noticed/rediscovered lately

1. Life really is good, even when it seems not so good.
2. Laughing is worth the tears
3. I'm a lot stronger than I thought
4. My girls are growing up entirely too fast
5. I cannot stop that fact
6. I'd better embrace the moment, because it's not going to wait on me
7. Pollen really sucks, but benedryl rocks
8. A power benedryl naps are unavoidable
9. Post Nasal Drip must be stopped at all costs! (lol)
10. Netflix movies streaming while keeping an eye on facebook while knitting is an awesome way to spend an evening
11. Music IS life.
12. Life without expression or communication is actually death. You're still drawing breath, but that's pretty flippin minimal
13. I can grow older, but I do not have to grow mentally old
14. Kids of today really aren't any different than we were, or our parents were. Really, all that's changed is the decorations and trappings
15. I 100% do not regret putting the girls so high on my priority list
16. I have no clue what I'm going to do when they are out of the house.
17. I need to start experimenting to find out what it is I'm going to do when they are gone.
18. Climbing trees is still fun....and the up is SO much easier than the down.
19. Apples you picked yourself taste so much better than the same apples from the same place bought in the bag.
20. I really, really, really like to drive fast. ( I know, bad.)
21. Music choices really do effect overall car speed.....some songs just require a heavy foot
22. There are more songs on the girls' can't listen to while driving list.
23. Does any other parent even HAVE that list?
24. Life is really, really short. Just skating by or marking time is unacceptable
25. Love is the solution to everything. Love of self, others and life. life's too short to hate. Go focus on what actually is going to bring improvement. how? IDK but Im up for focusing on the search, aren't you?
26. Never underestimate the power of being accepted and understood.

And then I tripped over this song

Walnuts and Heidi Hats

2009-10-15T13:14:00.003-05:00

Did you REALLY think you were going to get through this fall without hearing me complain about black walnuts? Really? Seriously? Yeah, right. No way. This year has been totally different from the previous 8 years. The leaves have some down while still green in huge clumps WITH the walnuts. Crap. That means we have to manually separate them. MANUALLY. Folks, that means raking, getting the leaves taken care of AND bending over and picking up each walnut one by one AT THE SAME TIME. Uncool. Very uncool. I'm guessing it's the three small snows we've already have had is the culprit. Still. Yuck. the girls have both today and tomorrow off of school, so I was planning on enlisting help then going apple picking this weekend. However, 39 and rain is NOT apple OR walnut picking weather. *sigh* Maybe I can find someone to put me on a benedryl drip Saturday and Sunday night so I can make it through the rest of the week without thinking I'm dying of something other than mold spores.

Kinda looks almost tropical, don't you think?

Here's the hat i started for myself and ended up giving to Dee. She's excited about the hat..........but apparently it takes about 14 picture attempts or less to rub off the excitement.

I went to my 20 year if I would have stayed there class reunion last weekend. Talk about blazing trails. There were so many firsts...unbelievable. I've never experienced that coming home feeling before. Overwhelming. If you get the chance, go. Yes, things change, people change, hell, life is change. Sometimes change is so good it'll surprise you. Go out and grab yourself some firsts too, it's empowering. I'm sure in time, the same old same old will drag me back down a bit, but until then......I feel like I can conquer anything. Give it a shot. Really. What do you have to lose? A rut? Boredom? Really....can't live without that, huh?

Slowly Getting Readjusted

2009-09-16T10:23:00.002-05:00

Schools back in session, hubby's back on and off the road, and here I am waiting for the phone to ring. I'd like the money, but I'm pretty happy to rediscover my house, my music and my life. Wait. Check that. I have a life? Interesting concept.

I've got the ipod plugged into the stereo, and I'm sure I'm annoying my neighbors. If my music choices aren't to their liking, then I'm pretty sure my squwaking over the stereo and the vacuum isn't winning me any good neighbor points. Oh well. They can come on over and join the cleaning party, shut the windows, call or knock and ask me to stop. Just please don't call the cops. That wasn't a whole lot of fun last year with the dog.

I've discovered that my exercise bike is my friend. It's one of those recumbent ones, so I can knit and ride at the same time. Life is good. What a great way to catch up on tv, knit and work out. I love it. I still hate cleaning, but I'm glad for the opportunity to get things back into the spaces I want them to reside. I've also been doing the European shopping thing. Every afternoon, I walk (or drive, depending on the store needed) to the store and buy stuff for dinner. I feel like I'm escaping. Escaping from what, I do not know. Hey, as long as I think I'm winning, I'm winning.

Dee's swim season is beginning to take it's toll on all of us. She has a cold, is exhausted, and doesn't want to eat. Um, not okay. You cannot burn over 2100 calories in the pool then NOT EAT. However, I'm beginning to feel like the Jewish or Italian mom's in movies always shoving food at their children. Taper should start in about a month, so I'm sure we'll make it, but I might be bald first.

Last weekend I did a lot of reunion shopping. I can't remember the last time I bought that much stuff in such a short time. I have a new outfit for Saturday night, from earrings to shoes to the purse. I NEVER do that. It was fun. I love the sales I found as well. It made me even feel smart. I also picked up some jeans from Maurices. OMG. Dee has been trying to talk me into them for ages telling me they "will make your butt look good and feel almost as good as sweats" It's a good thing we were sharing a dressing room. I put one leg in, lifted up an eyebrow and thought that there was no way they were going to make it. I pulled off the jeans. As I was putting on my old ones, I watched her pull up her jeans. I watched with amazement when what looked like wouldn't be too baggy on a thigh ended up around her waist looking great. So, I tried again. Granted, I do not have the butt of a 14 yo swimmer, it did look a whole lot better than the pair I wore into the store. The best part.....they really aren't much less comfy than a pair of capris or sweats. Niiiiiiice. I got a 20% off coupon in the mail. I have a pretty good idea that there will be another pair or two in my closet.

Katie's doing great. Link Crew and pep band is keeping her busy. This morning pep band practiced at 7 and link crew has a meeting for an hour after school. Yikes! Those get to be long hours. Wednesday is short practice night, so I'm looking forward to having a bit more of an evening together.

As for knitting, I'm knitting like crazy. Not a whole lot to show. Eventually I'll finish a project or two. Until them....I'm pictureless.

Have a good one.
me

Oh what to say today.

2009-09-10T11:49:00.002-05:00

Then why blog, you ask....because I need to straighten out my head. It's in uber-pinball swirl mode. I had a great day yesterday. I did nothing out of the ordinary, I just happened to be in a great mood all day. That doesn't happen often. I am not much fond of the day after. I'm in a fine mood, but nothing like yesterday's lightheartedness.

I know the answer to today is to get busy and stop trying to recapture the moment, but I'm stubborn. Maybe in a little bit, I will.

Or maybe today is the third day. School started and Jeff went back to work on Tuesday, and this is the reality of routine setting in. Routine?? BLECH!!!!!!

I'm so glad this is what I'm complaining about, aren't you? I'm also in hurry up and wait mode. we have another swim meet tonight. I need to pick up a few perishables for the concession stand. I need to pick up and mail a get well card. I will be running between here and school quite a few times, but I can't find something to settle into here. I figure once I type all this out, I will see how ridiculous I am being and I'll find what I'm going to work on. I'm funny like that.

Hey, I have a question for y'all out there. Am I the only one who hates vague facebook/twitter/plurk posts. Talk about teasers. "I 'm so excited" about WHAT. "This is the worst day of my life" okay, details, please. Do y'all know what I mean? I'm going to have to stop reading all these status updates if I can't find a way around it as it isn't really much of an update. It's more like "GIVE ME ATTENTION BUT I WONT TELL YOU WHY ANYWAY". Shelly doesn't play those games very well. That being said, I'm a wee bit flighty, so I'm sure mine don't make sense from time to time.....

Okay, I've figured it out. I need to hop on the exercise bike and sort through the rest of the ping ponging in my head. Then I'll tackle whatever needs to be tackling. Man, do I love to be difficult.

FIBER CONTENT: Hubby might be able to stop by Wollmeise's shop sometime this fall. Get this. She has a color way in my legal name, and I LOVE IT. Wouldn't that be a cool Christmas present? I thought so too. He's planning to be in the area one weekend for Octoberfest (in Munich) and thinks that he can stop by and take a look at her store. I certainly hope this isn't a tease. I told him he'd be the hubby envy of the knitting community. He doesn't believe me....but I suppose he doesn't have to, but we all know differently!

Happy Snacks

2009-09-07T19:31:00.003-05:00

Cheesy? Yes, it is. Does it make me smile? Hell, yeah. Guess which matters most?!? LOL.

I realized yesterday afternoon that the swimmer needed an insulated bag. School starts here tomorrow. She'll leave around 7:30 and I'll pick her up a bit after 6. She likes chocolate milk after a work out (thank you Erin for telling us how to stop the incredible hungries) I just didn't think that it would stay good in her locker all day. Now, why did I not go and buy a lunch bag? That's simple.....because that's way too simple. Instead I pulled out the wool and the hook and whipped out a lunch bag. Since it needed to felt...that meant I had to do laundry today. See...win win win win win. I like those types of projects. I need to felt it more, but it'll do for tomorrow. It's in the fridge chilling out with the milk, apples and a cheese stick inside. In the morning, the swimmer will throw in the frozen oj for before practice and LIFE IS GOOD! The part that makes me the happiest is her cheesy grin every time she looks at this cheesy button. It's the small things in life. It really is.

Have a great night!

Slowly driving myself insane.

2009-09-06T20:37:00.001-05:00

I decided to join plurk. Why? Damn if I know. However, I did. Now I can't figure out how to get it to my sidebar. I bet if I searched and read directions I would find out in a jiffy, but what's the fun in that? I do know of two things that don't work. That's just with trial and error! (2 trials and 2 errors)

The Nascar race is on, and I'm excited, but I am finding it hard to kick back and relax in the evenings. I think I need to be stuck to this computer. I don't, but I don't understand that....yet.

Hope you're having a great Labor Day weekend.

Enjoy!

Only 10 days?

2009-08-31T21:01:00.002-05:00

Hummm, feels more like a lifetime! I'm through clue 2 on the carefree KAL sock. I'm loving it so far. Adrienne kicks designing butt!

Lose weight with the chance of money too?

2009-08-21T22:01:00.003-05:00

Better yet, it's all true.

Go here to see how:

I included her blog button link, cos the whole thing is really just too cool to miss. Enjoy.

I've seen it all

2009-08-17T10:33:00.004-05:00

Take a look at this poor, rejected oatmeal. I bought a variety pack from Aldi's this spring when the girls thought they'd like some oatmeal. I didn't know what kind, so I bought the variety pack. None of us were too interested in the peaches ore the strawberries and cream (we were all over the cinnamon roll, maple and brown sugar, and the apples and cinnamon).

I thought instead of throwing it out, or letting it sit in my cupboard until it has expired, I'd donate it to the local food shelf. You know, the one screaming for money in the newspaper, telling us how many more hundreds of families locally are in emergency need of food. The rejected it. it has an expiration date (jan 6, 2011). It's in an opened box...but the packets are still sealed. But they won't take it. I'm sure it's some God only knows what some asshole did to create this rule thing, but still. It's weird having your food rejected by the food shelf, dontcha think?

I'm now officially tired of hearing how bad everyone has it. If it's so bad out there, then why in the hell can't I GIVE AWAY FOOD?

So, I'lll keep it, and I'm going to eat it, damnit. And you know what, maybe I'll find that I like that flavor after all.

I'm a good girl, I am.

2009-08-16T15:42:00.003-05:00

I had been looking and finally ordered yarn from Knit it Up! in their Sock Yarn Cinema Club. (the like takes you to her etsy store...which is closed for vacation until Aug 25)
My movie of the month is My Fair Lady.....she did two different color choices...a before and after representation. Mine is called "Good Girl" and is the before. How fitting for my personality!!!!!! I'm now knitting it up. Late LATE last night, I was knitting along to the start of the movie...and saw the quote which inspired my colorway. Naturally taking a pic of the leg of the first sock hanging off the edge of the tv showing the scene is a fantastic idea at 2 am :D. What can I say? My mind works in the strangest of ways.

And can you tell by my labored typing (which I'm sure is making for even worse reading) I'm exhausted. Ah, well. it was worth it!!!! Wanted to share, now I'm outta here. enjoy the rest of your weekend.

The truth revealed.

2009-08-14T13:05:00.003-05:00

Besides the obvious rust stains that I haven't fought off with anything resembling valor....please note the seemingly grey ring around the seat of the toilet. Darlin' DeeDee painted that on over 7 years ago.... why is it still there? Somebody who wishes to remain nameless hasn't changed out a toilet seat before and really isn't interested in learning. Once, she bought a new seat, only to find it was to short for the bowl. It was returned and she (who remains anon.) is still ignoring the fact that she really needs a new toilet seat.

BUT

that's not why you are looking at my lovely (not) toilet......nor is the lovely 1970's electric blue (of which I am very pleased isn't harvest gold or avocado green). No. We're looking at that lovely gray ring around the seat. "what is it?" you may be wondering. Why, I'll enlighten you. It's fingernail polish. Different colors of GLITTER nail polish that will not come out no matter how many times I've gone at it with remover and cotton balls. I've often wondered (and asked) why she decided to paint my toilet seat with fingernail polish. But, considering this is also the girl who used markers to paint her walls, sheets and window screens....I was not surprised when I got the run around for an answer. The most believable of which was "I was trying to make it pretty" (it's a TOILET seat. Toilet seats aren't PRETTY). However, yesterday I was finally blessed with the answer of truth. She was 6-7. She was mad. (surprise she's my kid) at me. (bigger shock, I know) So, she decided that she would put a bunch of nail polish on the seat (check) so that I'd get stuck when I sat down (uncheck). Much to her dismay......I didn't have to potty before the nail polish dried.

That led to another confession. Oooooooooh, true confessions, deedeestyle. Apparently, she counted the number of pictures containing her sister and then herself. The totals were not in her favor, so she put sour cream on Katie's face to even out the numbers. I knew she was MAD when she did it, but that I would never have guessed. Nor did I realize (8 years later) that there was an uneven number of appearances of my children on my walls.

Who says life as a stay at home mom is boring either has the stepford kids or hasn't given it a run for it's lack of money (hugs,tears, germs, yes.......money, no)

My Rainy Thursday

2009-08-13T16:04:00.002-05:00

has beenb filled full of the normal, usual, everyday stuff. I cleaned, ran errands, did some laundry. Yippee. I somehow managed to be efficient enough to have some free time this afternoon that was designed to spend at the beach on what was to be a 90 degree day. Since we haven't seen much of the sun, I don't think we broke 80. That's fine. I could turn off the ac, but who wants the humidity after getting it all out? Certainly not me!!! So, I hit craft mode. (boooo hisssss, hahahahaha) Here's the pair of socks I finished with the yarn that the main man brought home from Germany. I love the socks. I gave up after take 12. I'm too short for any kind of distance, and oh, I'm just never going to be a photographer. If you notice any pet hair, I wouldn't be surprised. I swear that stuff comes out of hiding AFTER cleaning (not that there wasn't plenty to see BEFORE). I love love love them. I am, however, willing to wait to NEED to wear them.

Which brings me to a question. I thought spiders came out in the fall.......am I wrong on this? I found numerous cobwebs today. As in the amount I didn't remember seeing until late September or so. Maybe I'm mistakes. Regardless, the spiders are currently homeless. I'm sure they'll have a new one spun before this time tomorrow.

Fair Protection a Headache and socks

2009-08-09T18:03:00.004-05:00

There. I don't need to blog a thing. The title says it all *grin*. I've had a headache all day and I've been almost unproductive. My big accomplishment of the day---hanging drapes. Thank you Main Man for taking down the rods so I could hang these babies much easier (as IF he read this....)

The County Fair right down the street starts in 9 days. *very big sigh* I was excited about this when we moved in 8 years ago. Frankly, I am all faired out. I suppose having a corner lot with street parking on both sides and a barking dog will wear one down. Way down. (btw - parents, do NOT let your kids go into strangers yards and bark in their windows.....it really does make the owner consider an insanity plea for any pending violence) I've done the gung-ho, live at the fair thing. I've done the pretend it doesn't exist thing. This year is a new tactic. The above picture is of one window in my sunroom (attatched to the living room). We've always had sheers there (made even more sheer by the broken plastic draw drape hook holders and the claws of our lovely cats). Sheers are, well, sheers. They are sheer. I can see out, you can see in....things are just fuzzy. I've wanted new drapes forever, but the plastic hook thingies are half broken off.....and really, have you tried to buy inexpensive drapes that use hooks anymore?!?!? Not exactly a dime-a-dozen commodity. Then, I should just buy new rods...right? Yup, except that widow you see is 126" wide...with most rods ending at 120". (again, I'm not looking for the million dollar solution) So, I finally womaned up and bought the rings that go over the rods that clip onto the curtains for the "shabby chic" look. I'll take "shabby chic" hell, I just don't want people to be able to look in as they go to the fair! However, this involved getting out a screwdriver. OMG - you might as well ask me to go walk to the moon. A SCREWDRIVER. Panic sets in when tools are involved. NOTHING ever "just" needs a screwdriver around here. However, I am pleased to announce that the main man and I managed to get the drape rods down, and de"draw"draped (plastic thingies and little ropes removed) and put the others up with a minimum of problem. YIPPEE!!!! I am going to have all my windows shut and drapes drawn when I don't want to know there is a fair.....and I'll walk right out the front door and go when I'm ready to admit there IS a fair. the best part....I now officially have two rooms that are somewhat "tied" together. The decorator gene didn't stick to this girl's chromosomes, that's for sure.

Since the headache is everpresent today (yep, I'm guessing drape dust too) (and yes, I've popped every pill cocktail that's safe to mix at one time) I am just going to have to be forced to sit on the recliner, watch tv and knit on a pair of socks. Oh, maybe I should take a pic of them........brb.

as if you would have noticed if I hadn't opened my big fingers. Geesh. Those are the socks that I'm off to knit on. I'm using the Groovy Sock pattern hyperlinked for you Ravelry members. If not. I don't know. If it really matters, contact me, and I'm sure we'll figure something out. I don't know what if you want to see the pattern and you don't belong to Ravelry.

But I digress.

The Main Main brought me this yarn home from Germany. I LOVE IT!!!!! Great colors, great feel, and hopefully a great wear. We'll see this winter. Hey, take a guess who modeled the sock for me? We took other pics without her sweats in them, but this is the best one of the sock. Figures. I hope to get them done early in the week. I have my "My Fair Lady" sock yarn from Sock Yarn Cinema to knit up and watch. I'd like to get started on them. Also coming up is the carefree kal.......which I bought new yarn for yesterday. I'm not sure, but she's thinking that one will start around the 27th. I just want my needles to be free and ready to go!

Okay, coffee spurt wore off. Time to go collapse on the recliner and knit until, oh say, bedtime.

BTW - Captain's practice starts tomorrow at 7am. Ugh. Butt crack of dawn, here I come! (and then it's off to the shot clinic.....do I know how to make a Monday suck!!!?)

What the gophers didn't get....

2009-08-06T14:05:00.003-05:00

After reading everyone's bountiful garden......I am embarassed, but this is what the gophers didn't get. I had a whopping 5 green bean plants survive. This is the start to the zucchini and the yellow squash. My tomatoes in the topsy turvy planters LOOK great, but have a bad case of black bottom blossom end rot. I'm trying different things to stop this problem......but I haven't found the solution. I think my main problem is that the water tends to run in rivers straight through. I've gone with the "water globe" theory with plastic water bottles. Since that plan is only 3 days old, I can't comment on it's success.

However, for what little is coming out of our garden, we'll still enjoy it tonight. We'll grill the squash and the green beans (with some onion..yummy!) I'm also going to beer batter up one zucchini and an onion to finish up the sides with the hamburgers.

And if anyone knows the cure for ground squirrels in the garden OR black bottomed tomatoes PLEASE COMMENT!!!!! I can use all the help I can get.

Yum! Fresh Picked Strawberries

2009-07-03T09:46:00.005-05:00

Ya know, no matter how hard a grocery store tries, there is NOTHING like U-pick berries (or tomatoes....) After the 6-8a practice, we loaded up and headed to the Straight River Farm and in short order picked 10 lbs of berries. We stopped by the grocery store and picked up pound cake and whipped cream, and bacon. Not a breakfast for a dieter....but we obviously aren't dieting today! We also got some spinach for a wilted spinach with bacon dressing for lunch and meat for fajitas for dinner. I'm so excited. I'm off to slice the pound cake......

then I'm off to some serious business of finishing Schindler's List and taking a nap. I'm hoping it gets warm enough for a float in the lake before it's time to go to the track.

Life is good.

This is gonna get interesting!

2009-07-02T22:37:00.002-05:00

I'm talking Dee to her early am swim practice. We leave here at 545...y'all know I'm not morning people. So, I popped one of my trusty dusty (5 a month) sleeping pills, knitted for 10 minutes and headed up to bed. Much to my dismay, my ipod is totally out of charge. I'm wondering how long I have to sit here to get a couple hours of charge. Maybe I'll plug it into the wall upstairs and MAYBE that'll work. Who knows.

So what's up with your fourth of July holiday weekend? Any good plans out there??

Tomorrow, after picking up the swimmer, we are going strawberry picking. YAY! I am excited. Then tomorrow night the main man and I are headed to the local dirt track. The girls are invited. Any guesses if they go or not? I suppose it depends on how bored they are, huh? Saturday is the beginning of the Tour de France. I'm more into it than ever. I joined the TdF sock KAL HERE. Feel free to join. The contest (is backed by those lovely people at crystal palace and their sock yarn is da BOMB!) is to knit a pair of socks in yellowor red and white or green or the country you're rooting for's flag colors. What fun! The legs only have to be 3" long. What a deal. I'd already promised myself I'd try to ride 10% of the race mileage on my stationary or real bike (on the easiest position...let's be real, here) I'm knitting up a pair of green socks. I was going to do an awareness ribbon pair (organ donor) in honor of my mother's ability to see and my aunt's unselfish donations.......however after several false starts, I'm going to have a green pair of socks WITHOUT the ribbon. It wasn't meant to be at this time. That doesn't mean never, however.

And, I digress once again.

Later Saturday is the Daytona whoever is sponsoring it 400. YAY part 2. Sounds like lots of knitting and stationary biking time to me. I'm sure food will be a junk fest.

Sunday's festivities are out of town. We have a few options. I'm not sure what we'll do. The fireworks are here at 10. I am hoping to get on the flat roof outside of Katie's room, but who knows. It may involve hinge removal. *gasp* We'll just have to see!!!

Whatever you do, have a happy, safe and fun holiday weekend!

A Very Important Day

2009-06-24T13:10:00.003-05:00

Today Katie got her permit. Mom is a wee bit proud. I was sitting in the hall with a grandma who's granddaughter was taking the test for the 10th time. I'm so glad first time was a charm in our life. I'm thinking things are going to change in ways that I have yet to imagine. It's all good. Bittersweet. Mostly sweet, though. Tomorrow I pick up Dee from her 10 day swim camp. Yeah, my 14 yo is gallavanting around a university campus, my oldest is prepping to drive. Damn, I'm old.

Nobody blink, I don't want to miss anything!