Thurteen on Thirsday. And later...Rocks.

Okay. I'm relatively embarassed to even be typing this but dudes, this here is my space. Well, not myspace, but MY space and I'm throwing this out there:

I watched American Idol. And here is my Thursday Thirteen:




Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME 1. As a disclaimer I'd like to note that I watched two of the audition shows and then the two part season finale. That's it. And I'd like to tell you...that's all you even NEED to watch. Cripes, every week it's on the news, Remy gives updates during the Sox games even. 2. Another tip: Tape them. Or for those of you living in this century....tivo. There's alotta crap thrown in there for filler. Fast forward is my friend. 3. What was with the bad duets? Meatloaf? That bald guy Chris and his favorite band? uck. Clay with the Claywannabe? Again with the fast forward. 4. That Ace guy is creepy looking. Don't know if it's the eyes, the hair, the size of his face...something just doesn't sit right. 5. Liked watching Randy swaying to Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. 6. Was I the only one offended by the fake-o awards? I mean, giving that 'most compassionate moment' fake award to that guys mom, who looks like she might be battling cancer. Nice. 7. Dionne Warwick looks just like she did when she was on Solid Gold. A plastic surgery success story. Take note, Kenny Rogers. 8. Prince. Love him. 9. 63.4 million votes. In four hours. That's alotta votes. 10. I thought for sure Katherine would win. 11. She didn't! Woot! 12. The pyrotechnics, during the last song? A little much - no, ALOT much. They were blinding. And maybe it's just the fact that the Station Nightclub fire is still getting news coverage up here that makes me a little more aware, but next time, tone it down. 13. The next American Idol: Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



So, no posts since last Thursday and that was, maybe, a little Red Sox oriented.

Jennifer was kind enough to monkey with a little photo for my birthday, if you haven't seen it...


Now THAT is awesome. Thanks Jen, you totally made my day.

So the boy is going on a field trip later this week. A THREE DAY LONG field trip. I'm having mini-strokes over the whole thing, but privately. Outwardly I'm showing a calm, relaxed front. Except for one thing. He needs rain boots. And did I think to look for rain boots when I found out about them two months ago? Um, no.

So tomorrow is a mad scramble all over my little corner of Red Sox Nation to find a pair of rain boots. They're on the Target website alright and if it had even crossed my mind last week this whole mess would've been avoided. But no.

So between the whole totallystressedoutabouttheboybeingawaybutpretendingit'sallgood and the lack of wellies, I'm feeling edgy.

And for a short time this weekend we played host to a wild baby painted turtle. Until we realized it would A.) cost over $100.00 to house him correctly and B.) still be alive long after the boy leaves for college. He's in the pond.

We had this fish, it was the girlie's. An orangy little murdering bastard thing. It killed every single fish we put in the tank with it. Like 6 or 7 different fish, dead. I know they're kindof disposapets and the gas to and from Petco costs more than they do, but still. Well, ding dong the fish is dead! Woot! My husband asked the kids if they'd be willing to give up the fish to keep Max (the turtle). They were all "yeah, yeah, yeah!" my lovely boy suggested flushing them. I spoke up..."um, you'd actually KILL them to keep the turtle?" Anyway, we didn't have to kill them. He must've heard us voice our true feelings and pffft. Dead.

So tomorrow it's boots and fish and defacing everything in the duffle bag with my son's name in permanent marker. Do they really NEED six pairs of underwear? I'm hoping not.

Red Sox Fever

Thirteen Things about crazy obsessed Sox Fan Jenny 1. Willie Harris you are NO Dave Roberts. 2. Coco Crisp. Are you coming back? Evah? What're we doing with Pena? 3. I'm not sure how to get a ~ over the N in Pena. Sorry Willy Mo. 4. And David Wells, heal and pitch my man. Can't wait to see you play. 5. Kevin Millar could make googly eyes at Mirabelli all night and now *sniff* I miss him. 6. Last year, when playing for the PawSox we saw Youkilis in a game or two. Instantly coined "Puke-a-liss" by my son and his friend we now have rousing cheers of PUUUUUUKE! everytime he's at bat. 7. Have I mentioned just how much I love Pukealiss? 8. And Papelbon? 9. No? Well, yeah, I do. And not because of Puke's giant head or that goofy fauxhawk that Papelbon had. Those boys can play. 10. Who is this Mike Lowell and why was he considered an anchor in the Beckett dealio? 11. Can we still love a catcher who bats .156? Why, yes we can. 12. I love that Manny & Ortiz can go O-fer and still this team comes out on top. 13. Tonight I can go to bed early, to recover from these late night 'watch Lost after the sox Post Game show' nights. Thank god for the off day. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Is it crazy to assume that every time you kill a spider his brethren will come looking for you? No? Well good. Because every time I kill one of those eight legged disgustacreatures I can't relax for the next few hours. A piece of lint hits me the wrong way and I jump a mile, convinced that his brother is out looking for revenge. See? So totally NOT crazy.

Blue skies, birds chirping, calm breezes, pond rippling...so this is what Spring is all about? No wonder people love it.

Hey, we're having some people over for my birthday this weekend? Wanna come?

So polite of me to extend an invitation knowing you all live too far away to accept...ahahahaha.

I spoke to my son's teacher last night, he wanted early approval on a book report book so I sighed loudly and told him that just this once I'd pull some strings and call her at home. I know her outside of school and we're friendly so I prayed she wouldn't mind. Of course, one of the reasons I like her is that she SO didn't mind and laughed loudly when I told her that "I might be overstepping my bounds here, but can he read the 12th Lemony Snicket?" She told me yes and then promptly said that she too would overstep her bounds. My first thought was "oh-oh. what's he done?" but before I could do much more than laugh in response she told me that my son was her favorite. FAY VORE IT. And then proceeded to tell me just what a great kid this boy is (in school obviously, because she didn't hear him telling his sister to go fall in a ditch about five minutes prior) excited to learn, always respectful, great friend to his classmates, awesome vocabulary...and there was more. MORE! I mean, I know he's good in school...really good. But to hear just HOW good, well it blew me away. Yes I know, braggy brag brag. But HOLY CRAP! I've done something - and it's a big something- right! I must be permitted to gloat.

I let him stay up extra late last night to read his book, and I will give him extra kisses today before school (won't he be thrilled :) ) and inside my head I will be doing a little endzone dance all the while.

blink and you might miss it

Pardon the screen in the photo but that, my friends, is authentic blue sky.

I am in no danger of floating away, we've gotten plenty of rain but nothing like the folks north of the city. Over a foot of rain in some spots. Which would equal, what, like 10 feet of snow. Now THAT would've been fun. Not to make light of what must be complete misery for some people but man, I love a blizzard.


Vermont:


Many things to ooh and ahh over.














Many things to throw down in frustration.














Giant stepping.













Pencil Diving.




















Covered bridge driving.












Three trips each morning to the hotel's surprisingly good breakfast buffet. And yes, this is the same boy whose ribs are showing in the pool picture.












And a heat camera (infared???)family portrait.








The end.

If you ever find yourself in central Vermont with your kids I highly recommend the Montshire Museum of Science. It was voted best museum EVAH by my esteemed panel of judges.
Tons to do, lots of hands on things that aren't too little kiddish, beautiful trails, we stayed for a loooong time even though it certainly isn't the largest place. I think museums in cities like Boston are too crowded, too big and way overused and underupdated. There's no way they could've had displays like what they have here...pieces would be missing, lines would be too long and it would cost a small fortune. Honestly, I'd drive back to Vermont just to go here again.

We planned the whole trip around visiting this place but with the rain it wasn't happening. We ended up at a working family farm that makes their own cheeses and syrup. The lady cutting blocks of cheddar in the workshop and giving us sample after sample of their wares was the actual owner of the farm, her parents had bought the land 60 years ago. Five hundred and fifty acres of maple sugarland heaven. The camera was in the car, so just imagine a hilltop location, acres of farm meadow with horses and cows and tons of woods bordering the whole site. See, nice innit?


Oh, did you blink? Because we're back to grey skies & drizzle again.

Who'll stop the rain?

You know the weather has reached an all time low when the sun comes out for 45 seconds and your squinting like crazy at that miraculous bright blob up in the sky and planning a list of 1005 things you can do outside because the rain has ended. Or not, as it's already raining again.

There has most assuredly been a lack of posting here lately. I'm trying to get back in the groove but as soon as I hit 'Create Post' my mind is like a blank slate. Why can't this be the case as I'm lying in bed tossing and turning for forty five minutes?

We spent the weekend in the lovely state of Vermont. And by lovely I mean beautifully rainy and green mountainy. I'll post some pictures tomorrow I suppose but it was mostly just swim, laugh, chatter, swim, eat, drive, swim, goof off.

Two things I noticed:

There are many, many personalized license plates in New Hampshire. I saw more of these in two hours than I'd see in two years in Massachusetts. A big shout out to 5Murbas and Chkadee, the only two I can remember.

Seeing soccer fields flooded with so much water that only the top eight inches of the nets are showing is indeed A LOT of water.

So, in order to stay somewhat alert during the four hour town meeting I drank a diet mountain dew.

It's one a.m. and I'm nowhere near tired.

Wunnnnderful.

Blog redesign? Check. Way too long messing with the title photo? Check. Looks crappy? Check. But I had to post the pic in honor of the Sox vs. Yankees series...

The bylaw that was presented tonight, the one I was going to vote against? Well, I read it and reread it and thought about how it would impact me (which it would) and how it would help to regulate development in my little town (which it would) and then I voted FOR it. No matter, it didn't pass. The committee did a crappy job of presenting it and barely spoke up in response to people's concerns...if I didn't know what I was reading and only had the opinions of a very outspoken few, I would've voted against it too.

The husband & I are in the awkward position of untangling ourselves from a hockey parent friendship...maybe not untangling...just trying to keep a safe distance.

Their son was on our team this year and he's one of only a small number of hockey kids in town, especially my son's age. The boys've become pretty good friends and the parents are part of our bigger group of families we hang around with. But now, lacrosse has started and it's down to just us and them. Not that it's all uncomfortable because it isn't but you know when you realize that your idea of parenting and their idea of parenting is so totally different that you want to, now, sort of discourage the boy's friendship? yeah. fun. They pay him, PAY HIM, to not yell at the umpire during his baseball games if he thinks the ump has missed a call. Two dollars a game. That's just one example, but it's a perfect one.

In other news, it's supposed to rain for the next SEVEN days. That would be because the husband started building a deck shed this weekend. grrr.

Well, I'm off to watch Lost (from last week) and maybe do some laundry. And maybe, if I'm lucky, fall asleep...

Miscellany and List Friday

There is a glut of illness in our little home. It started two weeks ago with the girlie, who's still fighting it off (puking in Target this morning...much to my delight), then my husband and now me. Stuffy head and a killer headache. I'm hoping it passes quickly. I can't decide if Zicam really works and makes the cold much less severe or if it drags it out for a long, long time. Instead I will submit myself to the whole nasal spray addiction and *breathe*.

It's so worth the withdrawal.

Last night I went to a cocktail party for a friend who's getting married. Let me just state here that pomegranate martinis are absolutely delicious.

And another thing? If Terry wins this season of Survivor I will personally...um, I don't know but I will be totally disgusted. Sure he's winning everything and maybe has a right to the cocky jackassy attitude but ugh. Oh, and while snooping around on Shane's website I came across a link to a Survivor spoiler article. It was about gambling online and how they had to take the Survivor contest down because information had been leaked. And did I read it? You bet. Wanna know?

And now, speaking of pomegranates it's my list for Loretta's List Friday...

High School Wardrobe.

1. Pegged jeans. The trouble we would go through to get those jeans folded and cuffed. If only I spent half as much time on actual school work.

2. LLBean Blucher Mocs - The coolest shoes and you had to have them. They went perfect with #1 and #3. Oh, and Tretorn sneakers too.

3. Scrunchy Socks - Thick, thick socks all scrunched down. Must be the perfect shade to match your shirt.

4. Banana Clips - ew.

5. Champion Sweatshirts - a must have.

6. Jams shorts - They didn't have to be Jams, any reasonable copycat would do. I tell ya, when they changed the dress code to allow shorts it was like the biggest news. I loved having teachers stop me in the hall to measure the distance from hem to knee while the girl in the miniskirt went by without a second glance.

7. V Neck Sweaters - worn too big, half off the shoulder.

Aye-yi-yi.

The Key

Here it is, for Show and Tell, in all its understated glory, my key.

And my little beeper, grocery store card and Maine key ring.

The key may be small, but it is mighty. Without it I am a.) stuck at work after a long, long evening meeting or b.) stuck at home on a day when nothing seems sweeter than escape. The kids know the power of the key, they too love escape. And my son rather enjoys sports and without a key...blammo...no practices. You would think, as important as it is I would hold it in high regard, finding a safe place for it to rest its worn out self. But no. Thrown in a jumble in my purse, under receipts and packs of gum. Or left in the console of my car, baking in the sun.

Poor guy.

Thursday Thirteen now - Show & Tell later

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. For whatever reason, my mother in law bought that DigiDraw thing for my girl awhile back. Piece O' Crap is more like it. 2. I am totally addicted to the Red Sox. Oh, sure, every year I'm loving the baseball - but this year is different. I cannot. STOP. watching. 3. It's only May. If this obsession continues I will be a bleary eyed mess by October. 4. We're going away for three days next week for a much needed break. I had a booked a weekend in Vermont at a hotel with a pool and made no concrete plans. I just need a mini getaway. Badly. 5. I forgot to find someone to take care of the dog. Cue the stress. 6. I stopped reading some one's blog because she complained and complained that strangers would tell her how young she looks. She was genuinely put out because people assumed her children were her younger siblings. Oh those heartless jerks. *clicked the red x* 7. Trying to make small talk is like a damn minefield these days. Too many people get insulted by what a lady in the grocery store line says to them to fill a minute or two of time. 8. When a lady follows you around the store screaming at you for not having your baby dressed warmly enough and then threatens to follow you out to your car and call DSS, well then, that might be considered a real problem with the whole conversing with strangers thing. 9. My son was one of twelve chosen to draw a picture for the school mural. He's never had an easy time in art class - all that nasty creativity stuff. But this year is different. He's excelling and the teacher has noticed. The mural pictures will be projected onto the wall and will be painted there permanently. 10. The theme for his picture? Trustworthiness. Huh? 11. I was stumped. He, on the other hand, was stumped for all of ten minutes and then started drawing. 12. The committee I work for is proposing a bylaw at town meeting on Tuesday. It's really, really important to them - It's taken much hard work and many many hours to get it to this point. They're a dedicated bunch and this is like their little itty bitty baby. 13. And then will come the awkward moment when I raise my hand to vote against it. P.S. Number 8 totally happened to my husband and I when the boy was 3 months old. Crazy lady. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I don't talk sports on here as much as I'd like for fear of alienating you all but a Sox post is better than no post at all

And so it was, on Monday night, a great way for the Sox to meet the Yankees.

C-c-c-c-old. And Windy.

Doug Mirabelli the man of the hour. A second string catcher, flown in by private plane and helicopter, who changes into his uniform in the backseat of a state troopers SUV - he is our saving grace. The man who can catch Wakefield. There is no other.

And the boos. No, not the booze, but the boos. For Damon. And cash, thrown onto the warning track out in centerfield. Well, done Fenway fans...well done.

No one is able to hit it out of the park. Not the steroid ridden Giambi or the smug Rodriguez & Jeter. Oh, I meant no one except David Ortiz.

And Papelbon? Perfect again.

And tonight...rain out. Bah, mother nature...have you no respect?

Fives on Tuesday.

For Cady, who tagged me...

My list. Two days late. Ergh, I cannot get my blog act together.

five movies you can watch over and over again:
1. red sox world series DVD
2. moulin rouge
3. kill bill (1 and 2)
4. love actually
5. jaws

five embarrassing songs you know all the words to:
1. the devil went down to georgia - charlie daniels band
2. jessie's girl - rick springfield
3. hot for teacher - van halen
4. i can't go for that - hall and oates
5. big shot - billy joel

sadly, as I went through iTunes, I wasn't as embarrassed as maybe I should be.

five memorable halloween costumes:
1. tinkerbell.
2. a hobo
3. a fisherman
4. dracula

I'm not remembering any more than 4.

five celebrities you believe may secretly be aliens:
1. tom cruise
2. oprah
3. sarah jessica parker
4. tom cruise
5. katie couric

five occupations you could never hold:
1. doctor/nurse - anything with blood and guts.
2. copy machine repairman - ugh, I hate toner.
3. policeman/firefighter - too chicken.
4. singer - I cannot, for the life of me, sing.
5. high school teacher.

five books you've recently read outside of school:
1. the tie that binds - kent haruf
2. the blind assassin - margaret atwood
3. surviving grady
4. the birth of venus (halfway done, but I'll finish it up soon) - sarah dunant
5. you remind me of me by dan chaon

five ways to perfectly spend an afternoon:
1. at the pond jumping off the raft with the kids
2. the beach, listening to the redsox and watching the kids hunt for crabs
3. watching movies while the kids are NOT at home
4. reading
5. on a road trip

5 foods I'm most likely eating:
1. kettle corn
2. grilled whole chicken (well, not the WHOLE chicken myself people, but I cook this alot for the family)
3. steamed peas
4. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch
5. nutrigrain blueberry waffles

five lines you blatantly stole from a movie, tv, a commercial, or song:
I have absolutely no memory for quoting a movie or a tv show.

five people who must immediately respond:
no one, I'm not a tagger, but play along if you'd like

I saw this over in Tuvalu and thought hey, a list...I love lists...and easy posting opportunities. Happy Friday.

I could never be a 40 hour a week or sixty hour a week employee. Well, of course I could if I had to but I'm easily bored and hate the whole 'obligation' part of it. Be here at blank a.m., do this by Tuesday, you can't leave until blank p.m., work closely with the same people for hours and hours and hours and come to hate them.

Petulant child? Is that what I sound like? Sorry. But I do work, and I like what I do it's just that it's part time and that's the key to my success.

Here are some are jobs I might like:

Book Store Owner: Free Books. Oh, wait. I should say SUCCESSFUL Book Store Owner. I wouldn't want to be working in the store 150 hours a week.

Movie critic: Watch movies and then talk about them. I think that's pretty much perfection.

Red Sox Ball Girl: Unless I was hired for this.

Meteorologist: Love the weather. Don't want to be the actual TV weather person but would want to work for the National Weather Service or something.

Professional Blogger: Yeah, I know I'd have to post more than twice a week and maybe learn to actually write but Dooce's husband is now HOME thanks to what? People clicking on ads? Craziness.

Hunting/Fishing Lodge Owner: I have it all pictured in my head - post and beam construction, large stone fireplace, big tables that hold many eaters. I could make big hearty breakfasts and pack lunches and the husband could keep the place in good repair and chat the guests up about their day. Lakefront, in the woods. *sigh*

What do you want to be when you grow up?

And for those of you who wanted to know what a rotary is:

click this.

Five roads all meet up with a circley road and you drive around the circle until you hook up witht the route you need to take. If it sounds dangerous, it is. People are rude and no one uses blinkers and some drivers try to make an extra lane for themselves, but somehow, it all works.
And note that Artist appears nowhere on my list of dream jobs.

Show and Tell & Thursday Thirteen - done and DONE!

And the award for negligent eye care goes to....

One wild guess.

The girlie wore her eye patch religiously for two hours a day for three months last year. We were weaned down to an hour a day three months ago. Guess what she hasn't worn ONCE in the last three months?

Socks? No.

Barrettes? Um, no.

For whatever reason it continually slipped my mind. The opthamologist still wanted to see her, to check her vision and alignment - making sure the stronger eye doesn't just take over for the weaker eye which would make her ineligible for fighter pilot training.

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. This is just what you don't want to see when you're heading over the Bourne Bridge to the Cape. Especially because when you left the house ten minutes early you were too busy congratulating yourself to remember that A. You needed gas and therefore needed extra time to sell that pesky kidney of yours and B. The new health insurance cards were sitting on the kitchen counter. And so instead of ten minutes early you ended up ten minutes late. Did I mention how even though there are few places I love more than Cape Cod the bridge situation is a nightmare. Unless you like very narrow, very high bridges. And cannot imagine yourself just tumbling off the edge every damn time you go over it. Because then it's fun! 2. Don't buy slip on, no back sneakers for your child unless you like watching her try to run and keep those damn shoes on in some awkward duck footed shuffle. Oh, and a note to Skechers (which these are not) - those Z straps are not some new fangled skecher idea...the girlie has been wearing them for over a year now. And no, she cannot tie her shoes yet. Z straps a good idea? Um, a lazy mommy idea maybe but not sure if that qualifies it as good. 3. I love the anticipation of knowing the beach is right over the dunes and not being able to see it. Had lunch at the beach today...and now am counting the days until summer. 4. The Cape Cod Canal is right next to this particular beach...this is the entrance from the bay side of the canal...notice the beautiful expanse of ocean? 5. And this is what you see when you turn and look behind you. Hello, nuclear power plant. Way to wreck the seasidey vibe. 6. I love rotaries. Seriously, I do. It makes driving in Massachusetts, well, driving in Massachusetts. Most people hate them. I'm not most people. 7. And for Show and Tell this week, my road. Oh... wait...this isn't my road. It's the driveway of the fish hatchery from picture # 2. I just want it to be my road. Does that count? 8. This is my actual road, looking left from my front gate. Yes, it's dirt. We don't actually access our driveway from this road but the front of my house faces this way so unofficially, it's our road. I say unofficially because our deed is a disaster and we found out this is actually what street address should reflect. oops. 9. This is my road, from my gate looking right. Notice that it pretty much leads into a patch of woods? That's where it ends. But through this little patch is my girlie's secret (or not) path to her best friends house. 10. This is the road that leads to the main road, it's a regular freeway isn't it? 11. I'm out of pictures and cannot get this to stop underlining. WTF. 12. My boy want to audition for one of those PBS Frontier House type of shows. He asks me a few times a week how we'd take part in something like that. He loves camping, no electricity, no running water - really roughing it (at least in my opinion). And yet he balked at going TV free for a week. 13. I have to look into getting that automatic linky thing for the bottom of this post...it's the linking that kills me. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Double Digits. Minus One

I've got a NINE year old son. Apparently I've blinked and *whoosh* nine years has flown on by.

I reread his birthday post from last year and found that not alot has changed. Sadly, though his too big grown up teeth no longer seem as big, Lemony Snicket has been replaced with Harry Potter and Fred the Beagle is a fond memory. But being "The Meanest Mom in the World" (a quote direct from the birthday boy when told that A - Drake and Josh is an obnoxious show not to be watched in this house; B - Your sister is NOT to be ordained 'Permanent Goalie' for you and your friends - this is soccer NOT target practice; C- No you cannot have chat capabilities while playing Runescape) has paid off. I highly recommend it. He's a great, great kid and a great brother.

Birth Story Anyone?

I only remember snippets. (Another reason I love this blog - I can look back and say "Aw, wow. I forgot all about that ('that' being anything that's happened more than two weeks ago))

It was my due date. I spent the day raking and resigning myself to another week or so of pregnancy. I remember eating Chinese Food (was told this would spur things on) and finally in the afternoon feeling that slight crampy feeling. We played some yahtzee (I keep the score card in his baby book) and I packed my bag while the husband went to put gas in the car. (Side note to my friend LeeMarie - make sure the car's not on E on your due date, who wants to stop for gas???) We called the midwife she recommended staying at home as long as possible, we agreed. I lasted until two a.m. or so - details are sketchy, I remember lying in bed and thinking damn, this kind of hurts...little did I know.

We get to the hospital, the husband goes to park the car and I walk waddle in. The triage nurse? volunteer? greeter? she takes my name and tells me to sit. Like a mindless sheep - I sit. Thinking "This is kind of fucked up - I'm sitting in the WAITING AREA???" I notice that despite, or because of the early A.M. hours that there aren't two seats together so my husband won't be able to sit with me. I see the real nurse now, she lets the volunteer know that *newsflash* pregnant ladies in labor don't wait.

I go up to the labor and delivery room and the memories are fuzzy here but I remember the heartbeat being all over the place so I was on some sort of monitor. The only time I raised my voice was when a nurse tried numerous times to stick me with the I.V. - yeouch. The midwife asked what was wrong and laughed out loud when I asked her to stop the nurse from poking my hand because it was hurting worse than the contractions.

More fuzziness. More Pain. Something about a vacuum to get his head out. I do remember the doctor coming in (which wasn't a planned thing as he was only called in because the vacuumy thing is something the midwife doesn't do) whistling. "Please stop whistling" was what I said, and he noted my good manners with a quip about using the word please while having a baby about an inch from being born.

A boy. At 7:36 on April 21st, a 7 pound 2 ounce boy. Love at first sight. Such an intense feelings those first few minutes, it cannot be duplicated.

I had brought a James Taylor CD into the L & D room, some book I read said that it might be soothing to have music playing. I don't remember hearing the music until right after the boy was born. The nurses had changed shifts at 7:00 and were just starting their day. The room was sunny and bright and the nurses and doctor were singing along. It's silly but I really love that memory.

There was an almost evening news worthy part of our hospital stay which I'll post tomorrow, I want to go smooch on the son for a minute.

Things I'm liking.

My son will love this show.

I am addicted to these.

The boy and I? Cannot stop playing this.

My T.V. viewing IQ dropped many points when I realized I was glad this show was back from a short hiatus.

Don't go here on the most beautiful day of school vacation week unless you're partial to huge crowds and traffic. And animals trapped in cages. Me no likee.

But they serve this and, well, it's yummy.

Funniest website? This one. And quite frankly, I can't get enough of those Sox.

Weekends like these leave me exhausted. In a good way, but exhausted nonetheless.

The boy had his birthday party on Saturday. TWENTY boys. Playing street hockey at the Y. Oh, wait 28 boys if you count the dads. Which you must because there were two teams, with three lines. Two for kids, one for dads. Oh, and in case you're wondering...it was crazy. The hockey game was fine but afterwards, in the cake and present room? Madness. Well, they were actually all pretty good but seeing as it was the Y there were those exercise balls all stored on racks in there and well, twenty boys + giant blue exer-balls is a little crazymaking.

The hockey families came home with us (see how much we love them?) and we cooked out, laughed, had some cocktails and laughed some more. I had forgotten just how nice warm weather can be. Sunny and seventy six degrees during the day and we were still outside at 10 p.m. while the kids ran around the yard with flashlights playing manhunt. Life is good. Oh, and life is even better because the only room that needed cleaning afterward was the kitchen. Ahhh, outdoor parties.

I was back outside with a flashlight at 5:00 a.m. hiding eggs and baskets. The things you do for love. Last week the kids made homemade chocolates with my mother in law, tons and tons of homemade chocolates. They brought them home and with willpower unknown to humans, they put the chocolate away and vowed to hand it out on Easter Sunday. Super, I thought.

Until today.

The boy takes out his bag of chocolate to bring to my mother's. One giant brick that says happy easter, which was the size of 4-6 hershey bars plus 3 large chocolate bunnies, 4 small chocolate bunnies, two solid easter egg sized easter eggs, 12 half eggs, 3 chocolate chicks and some reese's cups thrown in for good measure. He's sitting on the couch with the candy in a big bag. We go to my mom's and what do we realize? We've forgotten the extra table and chairs. The husband goes back home (no mean feat, it's at least 30 minutes each way). And when he gets home?

There are shredded ziploc bags everywhere. And tiny bits of blue all over the carpet. Because if you'll notice A.) The boy is sitting on the couch with the candy and B.)We go to my mom's. Nowhere do I mention the boy taking the candy with us.

It was left on the couch. And the dog ate every damn bit of it. The husband gets back to my mom's and tells me this fantastic piece of news. But not in an oh my god way, more like a who gives a rat's ass way. Which for the life of me, I can't figure out but that's his issue - I'm beside myself, convinced the dog will go into convulsions while we're eating our ham but we stay a short time and come home to find him in relatively good shape.

We stay a few minutes, refresh the water dish and pet him and head to my in laws for awhile. The kids egg hunted, the adults egg hunted (which was surprisingly competitive - my mother in law was flat out running to beat her boys to the eggs), the kids egg hunted again.

I came home, and this might sound a wee bit pathetic, but I was GLAD that my dog had thrown up all over the carpet. WHOOP FUCKING PEE. Puke. But seriously, it does seem like a sad state of affairs when you think dog puke is really a blessing (hey, he didn't keep it down, good boyeee *scratch scratch*). But no convulsions. And no emergency vet hospital. A dog with a pulse. All good things.

Happy Easter.

And just like that....it's gone.

t.v. repair = couple a' hundred bucks.

check engine light that turned on again Saturday Morning = original estimate $650.00

new tires that should 've been replaced last fall = What, like $500 ?

already booked trip to vermont with the family = a couple a' more hundred.

coffee maker replacement so husband stops with the pouting = $50.00

birthday party and lacrosse gear for son = more than I would've thought.

Now, divide by the sizable pay cut my husband has taken due to pending criminal/legal troubles with his work. Not really a pay cut, just a court ordered ban on prevailing wage work for his company. Still, a healthy 20% off the top of last year's salary.

See, see how fun math can be. This is why I hate it. Seems like there is too much with the subtraction, at least this spring, in this checkbook.

Which leads me to the sad realization that the meetup, with the hotel, gas for the guzzling SUV, meals & extras is just not in the cards for me this time. A completely crappy decision to have to make, but the right and grownup one.

Oh, wait I almost forgot.

new toothbrush: $3.00

why?




and of course. It's MY toothbrush.

So Kate was kind enough to justify my lack of posting with her topic today. Which is precisely why I love her.
Just not alot going on. Or rather, there's stuff going on but I'm having trouble translating it into interesting posts.

And here it is: My first knitting project:


It took me awhile to get the nose and mouth right, but you can't even see the seams can you?? Oh, wait. It's not the girl silly but her pink rolltop hat. A little too small but I'm not complaining. I had some other angles too but they are lost in the quagmire known as "My Pictures". All in all a fairly successful start.



Project Number Two: A tiny chapstick bag for the girlie in the pink hat. It fits a little more than just a chapstick but that's pretty much all the girlie makeup type items she's allowed to bring in public.




I'm finishing up a scarf for the girlie and then I'm moving on to a project for moi. The poor girlie is the recipient of all things beginner and with questionable seaming. But she doesn't know and ignorance really is bliss.

Remember the baby shower we threw about a month ago? Yeah, well let's just say the woman is on her way to becoming my EX sister in law. Not because I'm disowning her but because two weeks ago while my brother in law was at a Bruins game she packed all of her stuff up and moved right the heck out. Holy mackerel. Poor little babe.

Book club tonight. The book, which I have previously referred to as a coaster, has not been read. It's called Self Made Man by Norah Vincent and I wasn't intrigued when the hostess chose it and guess what....Still Not Intrigued. She dresses up as a man....blah blah....and tries to assimilate herself....blah blah. Do I want some greater insight into men? No. Do I really and truly care how they act or what they say when it's just men? No. Do I care how she sees women as a newly mustached man? No. But I'm in luck. Reading the book is not a prerequisite to attending. Well, it might be if you NEVER read the books but this one just wasn't happenin' for me. So I'll put a snack together, wait anxiously for my friend C. and sit quietly (or not) for awhile until the talk turns to other things...



Hockey is OVER! Or as the local paper called it....The Other Spring Break. But it's not really over. Only the games are. We've got ice time thru the end of the month and then the Father/Son game. And then it's over.

I think. And then we start lacrosse.

And today:


Can't read it? It says Kindergarten Screening. Waaaahhhhh. The girlie went today. She's set to go for September. I'm not at all happy about this growing up nonsense.

Thursday Show and Tell, now with Cheating & Lies

See, check the date down at the bottom...didya check? Really? Well, see then, still Thursday.

And a double bonus, not only do I lie about the date but I lied about the show and tell. No show. For whatever reason the pictures didn't save correctly and they are blank now. You'll have to take my word for it and that in itself is a sketchy proposition today, what with the two lies so far.

Favorite Childhood CandyBar: Tie. SkyBar vs. Whatchamacallit.

Favorite Grown Up CandyBar: Hershey's Special Dark.

And really, what do I have to gain for lying. Whatchamacallit. I mean, really.



I'm still in technogeek love with the iPod. And the car charger/player thingmo. Love that too. The girlie has fairly decent musical taste (with the exception of that Feel Good Inc. song...blech) and we were blaring CCR and the Beatles. She tells me how much she loves the song that's on (Hey Jude) which makes me smile because it's my favorite too and I just found out it was my dad's favorite and well, that gets me all mushy. Anyway.

We get home and she says "you know mom I love that song, I'm going to name my baby that".
Which one? I ask her
And she sings it, nice and loud "HEY JU"
Which could also be spelled 'Hey Jew"

Gah!

After I stopped laughing (totally at her and not with her, as she was all "huh??") I kind of thanked god that she hadn't decided to test her musical chops in Target.

Sometimes when you least expect, things just fall into your lap(top)

Meet the latest and greatest addition to my little family. A gift! From a friend with too many laptops (as if!) and no upgrade knowledge, see, my new baby is empty and is awaiting an OS transplant. I'm a little excited.






Last Friday I returned home after picking up the babysitter, pizza and movies in tow. I walk in the door and my husband is standing there, ashen faced, the TV is dead, he says. The babysitter refuses to take broken for an answer. In record time he has the gamecube TV hooked up to the dvd player and running in perfect order. I'm thinking that someday having a sixteen year old around the house will be a good thing.

Of course the repair shop called yesterday with the bill. Let's just say that it's just under the' it's not worth fixing' dollar limit.

The future bruins clinic, wherein you drive two hours to watch your child skate for fifty minutes. And then burst with pride not because of his skating abilities but because when facing off against a girl much smaller with much less skill he didn't just wristshot it and skate away like the other boys, he actually skated with her and muffed up the puckhandling so that she could steal it and get a shot or two off. And not at all being obvious about it. Impressive sportsmanship never fails to, well, impress.



Oh, and I know I haven't posted for like FIVE days (Really, Jennifer...I'm okay...just busy and lazy all at the same time :) ) but is there minimum posting requirements for the meet-up? Because the room? It's booked.

My Windows xp

The double window in the living room. Dirty. As is the case with most of the windows this time of year. Oh, wait. Every time of year.

Before we rebuilt the house this was the general location of a bow window that let in enough of a draft to blow candles out. Seriously. I was blaming the husband but was totally mistaken.

I love these but they're large and a target for kamikaze birds.



The boy is well. I pretty much knew this but because there four of his friends went home sick in the past two days, I let him stay home anyway, the stipulation being that he lazes around and watches TV and reads. Forced leisure. You'd think I was pulling out his fingernails with pliers, never have I seen a kid more ready to play outside with his sister.

I saw Hustle & Flow last night. If you haven't seen it you should. And the song that won the Oscar? So deserving. Great, great movie.

Do you ever watch a movie and find yourself trying so hard to understand the character's accented english that you begin to think you'll hate the movie and then ten minutes go by and you wonder how you COULDN'T understand what they were saying? No? oh.

It seems the boy caught a little wishIcouldgohomeearlytoo-itis. Doesn't explain the slight fever but the boy is FINE. I guess my mention of 'now, if you get out of school early you'll be lying down, not playing Warcraft' cured him. It's practically a miracle. Or a foolproof way to ferret out a faker.

My son is the reigning champion of NHL 2006 on the gamecube. He whips everyone he plays, adults included. My daughter is up 3 to 1 right this minute. It's gotta be a fluke. Right?

Will be back with my windows later.

*Update* she won 5-4. Maybe he IS sick.

I thought I was doing so well...

This morning, the kids are getting along...things are going well.

I leave the house with time to spare. I will actually be EARLY getting to work.

As I'm walking in to the girlie's school, I look down.

Slippers.


oof. the school nurse just called.
low grade fever, stomache and head ache. 45 minutes until dismissal. he's going to tough it out.
please send non-vomiting illness thoughts my way, they'd be much appreciated.

I've been playing with this alot. I'm using pictures of the kids and dog and whatever else I have in the My Photos folder. Thanks to Show and Tell there are tons of pictures of random objects that are coming in pretty handy.

I was busy racking my brain trying to think of some sort of game to go along with the cards and my friend whalloped me on the head with common sense and said 'how about a game like War?'. D'oh. I've added a few extra cards that with special instructions (Person to fold the most laundry wins automatically! - or maybe just 'give your opponent the top two cards from your deck') but I'm going with the war idea.

Must go prepare for the arrival of sick boy.

This was in my email box today....

March 20, 2006

Dear Super Cute Son of Jenny,

Congratulations!! You have been randomly selected as a winner in the POWERade Future Bruins promotion. Your prize includes a POWERade Future Bruins hockey jersey and an on-ice clinic on Sunday, hosted by representatives from the Boston Bruins and coaches from Northeastern University. Immediately after the on-ice clinic three children will be randomly selected from your session for the grand prize which includes four tickets to the April 8th Bruins and Rangers game.

Make sure you bring all of your hockey equipment and a parent/guardian to the clinic. Your parent/guardian will be required to complete and sign the attached waiver before you participate in the clinic.

If you have any questions, please email me at xxxx. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Sincerely,

David xxxx


Let's just say he's a little excited, shall we?

blah, blah...I know. Hockey again. Sorry, it's what rules this house right now.

I got nothing else, just sharing his good fortune...

Okay, so say you're going to create some leprechaun mischief. Don't make a big toothpaste smiley face on the bathroom mirror. Whatta mess. And the girlies effort to clean it up, as you know - a surprise, to help me...well, she took a bath towel and smeared it all over the mirror and turned the bath towel gummy with blue Sparkle Fun Flavor Crest.

eh, it's the thought that counts, right? at least she tried - i'd rather have that than no help at all (which would be a hint to my son, and seeing as he doesn't read this blog it's falling on deaf ears...oh wait...even if I holler it out it still falls on deaf ears, damn that testosterone induced selective hearing).

Thinking about going to see Failure to Launch? No? HAH. Me neither. But my friend, she was needing some comedy (and wow, there was zilcho worth seeing anyway, but I digress) and so, I gave her grief because that's what friends do and then acquiesed. Because, truth be told, I could care less what movie I see when we go out. The point is the going out. With her. No drinks because she's pregnant. Little does she know I'm already itching to hold that baby. eeeek. i. can't. wait!

And then I read her post about us going out, which I have sworn I won't link her until she's ready to come out of the blog closet, so you all will just have to believe me when I say it was one of the nicest things I've evah, evah read. Much love to you, C.

The rest of the weekend was a blur of hockey games (woot for the boy and his hat trick on Saturday! and for the way, even though they lost, he skated on Sunday) and a baby shower and a(nother) hockey party/cookout.

I am a stellar underacheiver in the world of knitting. I was trying to knit 2 purl 2 and could not remember for the life of me what i was doing the minute i looked away. I've switched my pattern to something a little more idiot proof. We'll see how I do.

Top O' the Mornin' to yeh...Unless you're Blogger, then pffft.

A filer or server or someother technical mojo prevents me from viewing this here blog right now. Apparently it'll be up and running later. We shall see.

St. Patrick's Day has turned into quite a little celebration over here in our little part of New England. The first order of business is the purchase of two bags of those chocolately gold coins. The girlie eats all but two from her bag but no matter, the brother has a little more restraint and still has all of his.

Then the plans are drawn up. The recycling bin is raided and there are scraps of duct tape and torn off labels all over the cellar floor. A leprechaun trap is in the works, this year's version involved a ramp, a swinging trap door and a strategically placed squishy ball that will oh so conveniently fall and block the entrance.

The gold(ish) coins are hidden all over the house and in the trap, piles of two and three, in order to lure the leprechauns in. But they're wily, those leprechauns, they leave green hershey's kisses in place of the coins. Nothing except kisses inside the trap, maybe next year.
Did I mention the mischief? No? Well there's mischief. The toilet paper is unrolled and strung around the bathroom. There's a smiley face drawn in toothpaste on the mirror, my books are all turned backwards, the girlie's stuffed animals are lined up parade style and her dollhouse people? Have all been jammed into one vw bug.
My boy, who normally sleeps through smoke alarms woke up last night as I was laying his school clothes out. The pants touching the wood chair was enough to rouse him from his comatose sleep. So I try to shush him but he gets up saying he's got to go to the bathroom. Can't really refuse that request. Now, the mischief has been done but it's only 11:30 so crap, crap, crap how'm I going to explain that I'm still up but the leprechauns already came? I lie, lamely too, but he's too tired to notice. The look on his face when he sleepily sees the toilet paper strewn across the bathroom was priceless. He literally jumped. His eyes popped open and he was speechless. Then he ran upstairs, scared that they still might be here and jumped into bed with my husband. For whatever reason he's into this whole thing hook, line and sinker. It's been that way since preschool, when the teachers put all of the toys outside the playground fence and monkeyed with the classroom a little bit - blaming leprechauns all the while.

There's even green pancakes. With green sprinkles. Served on shamrock plates.
My mother in law is making a corned beef and cabbage dinner and normally I wouldn't miss it, because even if her picture frame/shadow boxing skills are questionable, her cooking most certainly is not. yum.

But tonight I'm missing it. Going out to eat with a very good friend. And then a movie? shopping? who knows. In eight short hours I'll be outta here :)

But first I'm going to go scrub the toothpaste smile from the bathroom mirror and put away approximately 50 beanie babies. Darn leprechauns.

Update: Apparently I am Irish:

You're 40% Irish

You're probably less Irish than you think you are... But you're still more Irish than most.

How Irish Are You?

I don't even like people. Well, except for you.

I'm at the library this morning, our attempt at free entertainment as the art class/$7.00 entertainment has been cancelled. Usually we hit the shelves for a few minutes before or after the daisy girl scouts shindig but this time, with no time constraints the girlie and I browsed. Well, she browsed I read the Chyrsanthemum Palace but close enough.

I up the ususal 4 book 1 movie limit to an unheard of 10 books and two movies. I'm feeling generous today.

The toddler reading/crafty class gets out just as we are walking up to the circulation desk. I'm in line, albiet a little off to the side, with our bag o' books. A mom steps up, kind of next to me. She's busy badmouthing the school committee's decision to demolish the playgrounds at our elementary school and rebuild.

So, let's just say that working for a few town committees over the past four years has left me a mite defensive in favor of the volunteer committees it takes to run a town/school department, etc. She's indignant...the cost...the inconvenience, blah blah. I only wanted to say..."maybe you should've gone to one of the meetings" because it was clear she hadn't and really, don't bitch unless you know the details. And if you don't go to the meetings, you don't know. period. *rant over*

The mom in front of us finishes up and this playground badmouther steps forward at the same time I do. Now, she only has one movie to check out and I've got a bagful of stuff. But before I can even offer to let her go first she says. "oh, were you here first?" I nod, but don't even get to speak before she says "Well, I wasn't really paying attention, I didn't even see you but if you say so, then I guess...".

So, passive agressive soul that I am I let the girlie start unloading the bag. book by painfully slow book. And this lady, she's something else, she is. She says "Oh. My. Well, I wouldn't normally ask this (at which I haven't even SPOKEN yet but I let my eyebrows raise as if to say Oh. Really? I bet.) but I only have one thing and you've got so much more, could I just go? I'm in such a rush. I've made dinner for a sick friend and have got to get it over to her, she's got kids."

My mind says 'lady, it's 11:30 a.m. - I'm doubting that she's worried about her supper' but my hand waves her on, because for all I know the friend has cancer and one week left to live and this is the last meal she'll ever have with her family. Okay, so I lean toward the melodramatic but damn I'm familiar with that karma chick and she means business.

She does her thing and then while she strolls over to help her son with his jacket we check out and leave the library before she does. I'm buckling up the girlie and driving away as I watch her stop at her friends car for a chat.

She's in a hurry. A HURRY! No time for waiting in line. No time for idle chatter. I wanted to pull up to her and just say, remind her of her friend's dinner. Well. Really, I wanted to. But I didn't. Instead I'm here, typing it all up and posting away.

You're welcome.

And now, show and tell.

I know, a BUTTER dish was requested but damnitall I don't have a butter dish.

I have a tub. And there are sticks of I can't believe it's not butter in the fridge too, still in their foily wrappers.

I do buy butter and not just any kind but my favorite, Kate's. I mostly use it to cook and I don't have anything planned that will require honest to god butter this week so y'all are outta luck.




We are in the midst of planning for the big festivities tomorrow. Green beer and hangovers? Um, no. Leprechaun traps and hidden gold. Green pancakes and special plates. Not a drop of irish blood runs through our veins but this has somehow surpassed easter to move into the coveted space of "Favorite Holiday besides Christmas". Woot. And it's tomorrw. We're off to hide the gold. g'nite.

And did I learn the first time? Picture frame complaint number one got me picture frame #2.

And picture frame complaint #2 will probably get me...you guessed it, picture frame #3 for my birthday.

And I'll totally deserve it.

Moving on.

The girlie got a haircut this morning. Second one in two weeks as the first one was a do-it-yourself job. She just took a handful of hair and snipped. She said it was snarly and she snipped just the once, about three inches off the side. It really didn't require immediate fixing but her bangs were long and her hair was ragamuffinish so it was time anyway.

We're throwing my sister in law a baby shower this weekend and guess how many guests have R.S.V.P.'d? Two. Out of Fifteen. I'm thinking people will just show up, at least I should say I'm hoping people will just show up.

Oh, remember all that Netflix trouble? Well, emails were sent back and forth and surprise...my movies have been coming quick like, well, something quick. Huh. So I'm back on the loving Netflix bandwagon.

I'm kind of looking forward to that invention show that's starting soon. At least for the first week and then I'll forget it's even on and never watch it again. Which seems to be pretty much what happens to every show I watch except Survivor. I did get sucked into Dancing with the Stars but that was on at the same Thursday night time so it worked out well. Two shows. One time. I've dumbed down my TV viewing schedule even.

I deserve whatever I get

Life Lesson Number 5646498:

If you're going to whine about a gift, expect to be repaid mightily. This is a little excerpt from a Thursday Thirteen I wrote back in November:

My brother in law and his wife got airline tickets to meet my inlaws in South Carolina next week for their first anniversary. We got a picture frame, decorated with roses and a hallmarky sentiment next to the opening for the picture. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth and all of that...but really...


Fast forward to last week. Our tenth anniversary had just passed and last Friday my husband went to visit his mom to escape the hell that is being the husband of a book group hostess. He returns, wrapped goody in hand. Now I don't expect presents for our anniversary, really I don't. Really. Anyway, I unwrap and lo and behold....

A shadowbox picture frame, with one of our wedding pictures inside. But what's wrong with our wedding picture, can't be that bad, you say?

oh no, the picture itself isn't bad but now it's been matted. On some antiquish looking paper and there are embellishements. Don't get me wrong here either, I'm a (very) novice card maker, I like gizmos, but the sheer volume and style of the gizmos has my head a-spinnin'. There are roses and doves and hearts, so many hearts, and wine glasses and wedding bells. And some of them are multi-dimensional and such.

The saving grace of this photo display is that it was handmade by my mother in law. And when I say SAVING grace I mean that literally, as in saving it from a spot in my eaves.

Yes, I'm mean. She probably spent hours on this gift and for that I am thankful. But the woman has known me for sixteen years and she knows that frou frou is NOT my style. Maybe it's my husband's style. I'll find out tonight because I'm hanging it right over his bureau today while he's at work.

Eye Spy

Okay, this is the second time around for this post because blogger was a little grouchy this afternoon. I'm sure it won't have you cracking up in side splitting laughter like the first one but hey, you can't win 'em all.

First off, the Show and Tell, for my favorite little birdie.


I took this last spring or summer and due to the lack of camera batteries it's what I'm posting. There's no new picture stipulation is there? My eyes are brown and used to need glasses or contact lenses to see far away. The last time I went to renew my driver's license I forgot both and took the vision test...and I passed. Huh? I know that I should wear contacts or glasses but when has the RMV ever been wrong?




Here's another knitting picture for my friend who said she didn't want to look at that AWFUL knitting picture for even another minute:



Now this, this isn't AWFUL knitting. It's knitting and purling. Look at me go, eh?





And tomorrow, a visit from a little bitch named Karma.

well, i am fully recovered.

from what?

an impromptu party on Sunday with 20 guests. and 45 minutes notice.

I hit my new friend Rachel up for another recipe (Italian Sub Soup), stopped at the grocery store, ran home made a few beds, a big pot of soup, a cold drink and voila...rolled out the welcome mat. it went swimmingly and our home was officially declared the sunday destination of choice for post hockey gatherings. i should be running scared but the season's almost over and i'll miss this crowd. I'm imposing a hockey ban for the summer. Waiting to see if the boy gets the D.T.s. Should be interesting.

Yesterday I returned to my knitting class, having ripped out all of that mess I showed you guys last week. I was basically knitting all wrong, flipping the yarn around and some other nonsense.
This week I actually learned how to do it correctly along with purling and increasing. woo-hoo me.

We'll see if i remember any of it tonight.

The mess with the daughter's school is slowly working itself out. Her preschool/day care is closing at the end of the month. It was the only school in town that would provide before and after kindergarten care on the same schedule the girlie would of had in the fall. (half the town goes in the morning, the other half in the afternoons and then in January ~ we switch. What fun for working parents, eh?)

So I guess I'm going to be enrolling her in another preschool that will do the pre and post kindergarten mess but she will be going on the opposite schedule as all of our neighbors, as it's across town. And I will have to provide transportation on the three days she DOESN'T go to this before and after place.

Is making any sense? Am I just prattling on? Yeah? Oh-kay then.

Doesn't matter. That's all you get from me today. Mindless blather.
What??? Just like every OTHER day you're saying?
Fine then. DOUBLE mindless blather for you tomorrow. Hah. That'll show you.

Show and Tell Friday....because I cannot adapt to Thursday. or because Comcast PhotoShow stinks. And now with a bonus question for those who knit..

So, I had my pictures for the show and tell ready to go and because one of the calendars needs a little editing up...i head to photoshow. It's done right by me before, only this time...not so much. Crashacrashacrasha. I open it, try to import, it closes. over and over again. Of course I'm not sure why I expected the eighth time to be different than the first but I digress.

Last night we had the opportunity to see the Bruins for $10.00 a ticket and, well, we couldn't pass that up and that bit in mightily to my blog messing around with time.





Here is the calendar that required no messing around with because (and I must say I feel better after seeing that I'm not the only one who does this) it's blank. Oh sure, I flip the picture of Black Labs every month but I rarely, if ever, write a thing on this. Usually I just use it for reference I guess. Not that it references anything and mostly I run up the stairs to look at the real one.









I have a thing for organization. Or should I say...wanting to be organized. I've never really acheived this lofty goal and I've always wanted to buy this calendar so buy it I did. There was alot of time spent filling in our names (with different colored sharpie - a trick that might have worked if I hadn't lost MY color) and I wasn't too happy about the big pictures they like to throw into the middle of the pages, making it almost impossible to see what you've written. But still, I really like this one. It comes with stickers (three for Halloween and only 12 for sports practices. which makes less than no sense AS IF we would only have 12 practices in a sixteen month period - and who has three halloweens? )

But it's a full sixteen months and not the cheesy four months to a page deal either. And there's a pocket for the sharpies and a real holder that doesn't rip. love it.

And hey, check out my superior photo editing skills. Time to quit my day job, no?


And now onto the question...

I learned to knit on Monday. Just casting on and the knit stitch so far, but it's a start. Last year, there was one row of incorrectly done casting on left on my needles for like, eight months. I had to DUST the yarn. But it looked so pretty and knitty in the corner of my room. Anyway...

Here is my problem:
Actually, I don't this is a picture of my problem. This is what I think it SHOULD look like (am I right?) And this is how it started out looking:





But then:











Look...the spacing is all wacky. I've no idea what I did differently. None. Any more experienced knitters have a clue? Because, even though it's just practicing I'd like to figure it out before I move on.









This is what it looks like all together. Any ideas?

My show and tell will be up tomorrow as my little photo editing gizmo keeps crashing and i have some gizmoing to do before i post.

grrrr.

it's too late to monkey with it again.

g'nite.