I, Knitwit?

I attempted to learn to knit a couple of years ago. A friend and I signed up for a class at the local Michael's, and I was most definitely the worst knitter there. That didn't stop me from buying a bunch of yarn and continuing to plug along. As with anything new that one tries, I got discouraged that I wasn't picking it up as quickly as I've picked up other crafts. So I made one awkward-looking turquoise scarf and put away my needles.

Fast-forward to Present Time. After reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club" and seeing a fellow blogger's cool drink cozies, I decided that I hadn't given it a fair try. This time, I grabbed my copy of "Knitting for Dummies" (no, seriously) and attempted to re-learn the basic stitch I had done two years previously. Within a half hour or so, I had the stitch down pat and was playing with some variegated yarn. Then I remembered these cool "Fun Fur" scarves that were ultra-popular a few years ago and decided to try that. (I'm never a trendsetter, really, and I always "discover" things when they're no longer the newest on the scene. Like iTunes. Or "That Seventies Show.") So, here is a photo of my creation, a pink Fun Fur scarf. Not sure if it'll turn into something wearable, but I'm enjoying myself and I guess that's what matters.

I've also joined a Needlecraft group on Meetup called "Hooks and Needlers." (again, as suggested by a fellow blogger.) It sounds like it's mostly a group for knitting and crocheting, but the description said that all needle art is welcome. If anything, it's a chance once a month for me to hang out with some fellow crafties and work on the two cross-stitch projects that have been works-in-progress since the spring. Yes---I'm taking the cross-stitch with me. As a new Knitter, I don't want to embarrass myself with the experienced folks!

Apple, Apple

Right now Will's favorite word is apple. He's also in a phase where he likes to carry things around with him. This morning, I was packing my lunch for work and he was watching when I put an apple in the bag. He started yelling "Apple! Apple!" I said, "Yes, Good Boy! That is an apple." Then I closed the bag and put it by the front door. Five minutes later, I'm in the bathroom drying my hair, and he comes in, struggling to drag the lunch bag behind him. He drops it at my feet with a grunt and starts yelling for the apple. I decided that if he's this excited about a piece of fruit, he should have it. So he carried it around with him in the house, willingly got into the car while holding it, and happily went to daycare without any tears. When I picked him up, the daycare provider told me that he proudly carried his apple all day today, and was very happy when she sliced it for him and fed him bits and pieces.

It's amazing that this apple kept him so happy all day. Perhaps it is a magic apple! :)

Wordless Wednesday--Happy Anniversary to Us! (10/7/00)

Panic at the Target

Upon waking up this morning, I was relieved to find that my back didn't hurt as much as the night before. I'm doing better (thanks for the well wishes) but I guess the doctor is right on this one....it's going to take a while for this muscle group to heal and feel normal again. But since I can't stop living, I have to keep on putting Will in the car, giving him a bath, doing dishes, etc etc when Brian's not around to help me because of work. (and tonight is his last work night!) So with that I rolled out of bed and greeted the day.

Today's "chore du jour" was doing a bit of shopping. I'm planning Will's second birthday party and had some ideas for things at the local party store. Also, it's Halloween Costume time!!! I had already been to a couple of stores and I'm pretty flustered with the lack of toddler costumes. It's almost gotten me back on my rant of learning to sew! Anyway, Will and I were perusing Target, him clutching Brown Doggie and nibbling on pretzels and me walking slow. I finally picked out a costume (say hello to my Monkey!!) and headed to the checkout. Now, why does Target only have four cashiers open at the peak of a Saturday?? I then realize that the slow checkout is the least of my problems---Will isn't holding Brown Doggie. A quick check reveals that he isn't in the cart either.

OH NO!!!! My worst nightmare is coming true!! People who know us know that Brown Doggie is much more than a stuffed animal. He's Will's lifeline, his confidante, his peanut butter to his jelly. And what's more important...he simply WILL NOT sleep without his best friend! While picturing the long string of sleepless nights because of an inconsolable, doggless Will, I throw all of my items back in the cart and make a beeline through the store.

Now here's the problem--I have walked through the entire store today, and I really have no idea where Brown Doggie was given the boot. Panic sets in at the pit of my stomach, and I start walking up the aisles. After the third aisle, I find myself trying not to cry. A woman coming the opposite way down a crowded aisle offers to let me go first, thinking I'm looking at art supplies and when I say I'm looking for my son's favorite stuffed animal she says "Oh, is it a brown dog?" YES! She then tells me she saw it in the Halloween costumes and hopes it's still there. SHE hopes?? I rush back and go through the costumes like a mad woman, asking all of my fellow shoppers if they've seen Brown Doggie. Dishearteningly, they say no. Will at the moment is totally oblivious, and I'm near tears. In this particular case, ignorance truly is bliss.

So I try the only place left...Customer Service. After a long wait, I get my turn to ask if they've seen Will's Beloved Brown Doggie. OH THANK GOODNESS! Someone turned in Will's best friend. His eyes light up and he shouts "Dog!" and reaches up for him. I contemplate hugging the guy at customer service and then decide against it.

So, thank you to whomever turned in Brown Doggie at the desk. And well, Brown Doggie? Your travel days are now limited!

Bad Day?

Don't you just hate it! when:

You spill food on your favorite blouse and it was the last thing clean that you had to wear to work?



You wear it anyway, hoping no one will be close enough to you today to notice?



That blouse also has a bad snap on it, that keeps opening so you accidentally flash all the old people in your building?

Someone takes a look at your shirt and asks if you're expecting, and the baby that you were "expecting" is now almost two years old? (and did you burn that shirt when you got home?)



You're fifteen minutes past your usual fifteen minutes late?



You get stuck behind every construction vehicle in town and now your car smells like hot tar?



Your car smells like hot tar because they're ripping up the street right by your work AGAIN, even though they just finished "beautifying" the neighborhood?



Your office is hot enough to steam a lobster in? Better yet....it smells like steamed fish because the fish vendor came today?

You back out of the driveway at the daycare at five mph and hit a parked car?

You come home, cook dinner and then promptly back up the garbage disposal and flood the kitchen because the potato peels didn't go down the pipe?

You go to start laundry and discover that you have an infestation of flying ants above your washing machine?

You bring your dog to the vet and when you get there and open your back door, he vomits all over you and the car?

Your cellphone has a short in it and it keeps calling the last number you dialed, scaring your mother, and annoying your husband and friends?

You burn dinner, order chinese food and, twenty minutes later, have the sinking realization that you didn't say "delivery" and now have to go and get it?

You remember, as you're going to bed, that you didn't put your car in the driveway and will most likely have a ticket in the morning if you don't go and move it NOW!

You leave your cellphone in the car overnight in the winter and when you find it in the morning, it's frozen?

Or, my personal favorite: you realize, as you're getting ready for bed, that you have been wearing your underwear inside-out all day long? Or that you're wearing different earrings? Or, my favorite, one navy blue sock and one black sock!




Yeah......I hate that too. :)

(BTW--not all of that happened in one day, or to me. I just wanted to see how many I could think of. Feel free to add your own!)

Wordless Wednesday....A Game of Then and Now

The changes are a-comin'...

We found out this week that Brian has a new job!! He will be working for a small company in Massachusetts, about 25 miles from here. The best part is.....no more night shift!!! Will and I will have Daddy at home on nights and weekends!!!! This is pretty exciting stuff, since Brian has been working the overnight (aka "Vampire") shift for four years now. I won't have to check all the time to see if he is working before planning anything!

There are some kinks to be worked out, but for right now, share my excitement!