My new nephew

Evan...(my sister is a manager at Starbucks, hence the "SB" onesie.)

More pictures...

Some things I've been working on...

Stitch detail for the black scarf

Finally, a picture!

Here is the poncho I made for the niece awhile back....When we were out in Vegas I finally got to see her in it.

Shaken but NOT stirred

Personally, I love a little earthquake activity in my life, it makes you remember the whole "scheme of things." Besides that, you get to see a bunch of idiots on the news asking people stupid questions about what they were doing at the time it happened. Just once I would love to hear someone say they were on the toilet, followed by a brief but detailed description about that scenario. Yeah, I know, i'm sick. Whatever. We all have our crosses to bear.

Speaking of (not so funny) toilet humor...

I didn't feel the one we supposedly had last Sunday. We, combined with our upstairs neighbors were dealing with a major plumbing emergency. I was busily bailing raw sewage out of our toilet that was rapidly trying to overflow. Fun. I think if there had been an easy pain- free way of committing suicide at that moment I would have.

Needless to say, we have had cocktail hour at the Davis residence every night this week, so nice and relaxing. Not to worry, it's not time to do the AA intervention yet.

I missed the SnB last night. I fully intended on going but got home and was so tired. I just couldn't do it. I'm sure I would have sat there staring into space and been no fun at all.

Still trying to make a dent in my stash. Hats, hats and more hats...and I can't post a frigging picture, yet.

I was sitting in my car this a.m by myself at a red light and I flashed back to something that was said at an SnB awhile back. This woman who I'd never met said she knits while driving. Excuse me, but how is that even possible? (By the way, I cannot remember who said that, or how long ago it was. I have a habit lately of compartmentalizing things in my brain and then going back to process them when I have time or the 'RAM' gets full). Does anyone who reads this blog knit or crochet while they are driving? Does the mere idea of it seem ludicrous to anyone else? Could she have been lying?

By the way, i'd like to direct your attention (if you haven't already seen them) to the most inspired pair of hand knit socks I have ever seen over at Dixie's blog. They are truly amazing and the reason I will NEVER attempt to knit socks :-)

It's official, I have way too much yarn. Normally, that's not really a problem. At least I don't think it is, but it has made me assess
the way I have chosen to store it all. Bags, bags and more bags. Clearly, this is not working for me. I need to investigate a better solution for my organizational woes. The amount of yarn that I possess will probably generate many hats and scarves (I'm thinking holiday's and birthdays). Unfortunately, my past yarn purchasing habits have not yielded enough yarn in any one color for a substantial size project. It was ALL impulsively purchased in insufficient quantities for anything of note. Unless of course I wanted to make one hideously gigantic scrap afghan. NO Donut afghans either. Thanks anyway Karen :-) *i'm assuming that would have been her comment*

Congratulations Dixie!

So, tonight is the season finale of "Lost," I'm addicted to the show because it's fun. It's the same reason I watch "Desperate Housewives." Fun. TV in general, fun. I find that I used to be one of those people that never watched television, or at least said I didn't back in my 20's. Now that I am firmly in my 30's I have NO problem admitting that I do. People that I have had conversations with that don't watch television have this sort of "I'm superior to you kind of attitude." Whatever, I like TV. I also like to crochet and read, which I manage to try and fit in with ALL the TV watching I do. Plus, i'm never at a loss for conversation at all the cocktail parties I attend.

I'm currently still working on that black scarf I started several days ago which I thought would take me a day or two. Black yarn is not my friend. Too hard to see. I do love the black yarn, though. Must make more things with black yarn!

Had a really nice time at the SnB yesterday afternoon. It was me, Tevana, Christine and Carlin. Always interesting conversation. ( I think Cara stopped by for a moment, though I'm not sure. I looked up from the scarf I was working on and she was already out the door.) At one point the conversation gravitated towards our plan for our beloved pets remains after their lives on earth have been completed. It stemmed from a website we have been talking about, www.lifegem.com . Interesting, though I could see Tevana's eyes glaze over, she's not really an animal person, not too sure if she could wrap her brain around the whole keeping of a pet remains thing. When we got home Carlin told me how uncomfortable the whole discussion made her feel. She did not like talking about the death of past or present pets. I just feel that when the death of my pets happens as it is inevitable, I will probably be close to inconsolable and want to know of all of my options for when the time comes. I have a need to be prepared and an inherent fear of the unknown.

Projects I'm working on include:

Scarves and more scarves (good for 'de-stashing'). Not sure why, I think I'm unconsciously planning for the holiday's already. Sickening.

Still trying to complete the hubby's afghan, it's just been too hot. Not like he would want to use it yet, anyway.

I also started a new project for the hubby, can't really say what it is though, on the off chance that he actually reads this on occasion. I was going to surprise him for father's day but it may be more like his birthday (September) by the time he receives it :-)

I finished the snake that I made for my nephew. It turned out so cool, if I do say so myself. I'll have a picture of it up soon.

Damnit, damnit, damnit!

Wouldn't you know it, my digital camera software refuses to load on the Dinolaptop and there is no available USB port without using an adapter that I don't frigging have! Can you tell that i'm just a little bit irritated? I have even less patience for the usual crap then I normally do. Probably stems from the "Cabin Fever" that I suffer from. But then as Carlin loves to regularly remind me , "It's always got to be about you Mom." Damn straight!

I have managed to pursuade hubby to take a sick day tomorrow so he can stay home with Carlin and I can go into the office for the morning and get some much needed work done. Weird that I'm actually looking forward to that. I just need a break.

There is a bit of a funny anecdote to go with the title I have chosen for this blog entry. When I was a little girl and still sitting in a highchair, my parents (when they were still married) and I went to dinner at "The Sizzler". Apparently, I became impatient (again with the lack of patience, do you see a trend?) because I couldn't pick up a garbanzo bean, or something to that effect. I took my arm, in one sweeping motion and flying saucered my plate across the restaurant while simultaneously yelling at the top of my lungs, "damnit, damnit, damnit!"

Well, I guess I can hardly be irritated at the fact that my 'regular blog reads' have hardly been posting with any regularity as of late. It's not like i'm the poster child for serial blogging. To all the Serial Bloggers out there, you know who you are.

What is my blog missing, aside from better punctuation and more interesting reading. Photos! For the last few months i've been handicapped by our slightly slower IBM Thinkpad. All of our software programs are not loaded on to it for fear it might spontaneously combust. At least that's my fear. Hubby would and has said, "It should be fine." Not too sure if I buy that. I have trust issues. Therefore, I have not loaded anything remotely related to the digital camera on to it. That may change, soon. My impatience is taking over. Our desktop computer is laying next to me in near fatal condition. It's motherboard has died an awful death and we are waiting for the good people at "Such and Such Computers" to ship out our new one. Can't wait for it to get here so my computer geek husband can perform the necessary surgery.

Carlin has Pneumonia. Last week she had what may have been the flu which has turned into something much worse. The poor child has had what any normal person would deem a high or significant fever for a week now. Yesterday, she was at the doctor and got some antibiotics. If it doesn't clear up in a couple of days her doctor would like her to have some chest xrays and then not too sure what else after that. I'm just a teensy bit stressed out by it all and I feel bad that she has felt totally crappy for this long. She also seems depressed. She misses her daily and not so daily routine. School, friends, SnB's etc...

Needless to say, even though I have been at home with Carlin and faced with endless amounts of housework I have pretty much chosen to ignore it and crochet instead! At least I have my priorities straight. Pictures to follow, with possibly even more actual blogging. Stay tuned...

Not helpful...

I like a day that feels productive. Unfortunately, today was not one of them. I woke up with the best intentions of making it so. I guess it wasn't in the cards.

I have projects that I'm still working on: mom's throw, baby blanket, hat and booties for sister's unborn and a scarf that I'm knitting thrown in for a little distraction from the larger projects that occasionally feel a bit monotonous and are getting less and less portable due to their size.

I was also told today by "C" that I was not helpful when it was my advice she asked for in the first place. I don't believe I ever promised that my advice would always be correct. Advice is inherently subjective anyway. It is only ever correct if it's what you want to hear.

You're such a teenager!

Tomorrow, my husband and I become the parents of a teenager. Those of you with kids will get how significant that is. It's a milestone that marks how fast life is and a reminder that things should be enjoyed and valued.

Happy Birthday Carlin. We love you!

Cancel the milk carton alert.

I have succumbed to the pressure from my peers in relation to my lax blogging habits. I've decided it's time to soup up the 'ol digital camera and start the streams of consciousness a flowing. I went as far as to wipe out my old blogging template (apparently, by default, it also clears out the personal info on the page, too.) Time to begin again. I think there is something to be said for a clean slate.

Stay tuned.

I have a bad cold. I'm stressed about the holidays. I'm really trying for a festive mood but it's tough. Oh, and I only want to make 1 hour scarves with a "P" hook.

Bah humbug!

So, I picked up the 'ol knitting needles again last week...I ended up completing another scarf, sort of. I was using Wool ease Thick 'n Quick and I ran out, the scarf came out too short, and rather then go to Michael's and try to find more in the same color (which i'm betting would be an unsuccessful trip)I frogged it. It wasn't heartbreaking at all, I did a bang up job, no mistakes. That stuff knits up really quickly and i'm just chalking it up to some much needed practice. The thing about knitting, for me is that I feel sort of clumsy at it, as opposed to crocheting, which is like second nature to me. For instance, i'm having alot of trouble with transitioning from a knit stitch to a purl stitch and a knit row to a purl row. When i'm switching row types the yarn seems to get really twisted up because i'm having to move the yarn to a different position. When i'm switching stitches in the middle of a row I seem to be unintentionally increasing because of having to switch yarn positions. Having said that, I really do enjoy the knitting. For me it's more the process of it, not necessarily the product. I think that the same can be said about crocheting, though my crocheting ability allows me the satisfaction of 'product', too.

Yesterday, Carlin and I set up the 'tree' and the Hanukah decor...ever since I was born we have had the tree right alongside the menorah. My family has always participated in the crass commercialism that is Christmas. We are not christian so it's not a religious holiday for us. I definitely get far more excited about Hanukah and we don't do gifts for that holiday, for me it has meaning that doesn't translate into a wrapped present.

Happy Thanksgiving...and go and eat in mass quantities, I won't tell.

Carlin fractured her elbow yesterday, she can't knit or crochet for awhile and is somewhat down in the dumps about it all. She's in pain and i'm totally stressed out over it. She fell while running in P.E. , 1st period on Wednesday. So no sooner did I drop her off at school that I got a call from the nurses office telling me that I needed to come and get her.

I finished the poncho for the sis (can't post a pic yet, the computer has been stripped down to the bare bones programs for now)... i'm in project Purgatory and i'm not sure what to start next.

Raise your hand if you will be one of "those people" that'll be shopping at 6am tomorrow. Just curious, because seriously, it won't be me. Zzzzzzzz.

Does anyone have the foggiest idea of the way the political limerick goes that includes the line "i'll embrace your elephant if you kiss my ass?" I'm stymied and I can't come up with it.

Still working on the pregnant sisters poncho...no mistakes have been made since I had to frog most of it, thank gawd. (I was just about to take a photo of it and discovered both sets of camera batteries are dead, it'll have to wait until they are charged.) It looks kind of like an extremely large basic granny square. Not in any obnoxious colors, a nice understated charcoal gray, done with an "H" hook, so it's fairly tight.

Missed the SnB last night due to Carlin's usual large volume of homework. Oh well, she has a nice long winter vacation coming, the end of December to early March. We have the multi-track year round school schedule to thank for that. I should be completely hairless on my head by about mid-January, because her boredom will be all my fault!

For all of you locals...we have an Atwater SnB this Sunday 2-4pm ish. Don't forget 8-)

I love the idea of a Stitch n' Bitch and I frequent them pretty regularly but I find that i'm having a hard time with the combination of the two on a technical level. I've come to find that I pretty much can't do both at the same time, stitching and bitching that is, and it's primarily because I like to look at a person when they are speaking to me. I'm making a poncho for my newly pregnant sister's birthday present and today I ended up ripping out a good 2 hours worth of it because I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing at the SnB last night. Whoops.

By the way....
What's the moratorium on removing "Kerry for President" bumper stickers? Doesn't matter, i'm not taking mine off.

I have decided that after the "news" of this a.m I am going to unplug myself from anything that the right leaning media feels necessary to spew. I know that sounds like "sour grapes" but I can't help that. I must unplug so that the news does not plummet me any further into the depths of despair. I realize that as the saying goes," keep your friends close and your enemies closer" applies here, but I need to get away. For me and the people that I choose to surround myself with, the outcome of the election has been an extremely bitter pill to swallow. At this point, I'm not sure how to come to terms with the loss that at least 50 million people are having to deal with. I am overwhelmed with emotions that include but are not exclusive to: anger, hate and depression. I need time. I have at least 4 more years to figure it out. "The Truth is Out There" and some of us, after we heal, will want to focus on it again.