be thankful, damn it

Tomorrow is the 'rents and grand'rents for lunch. No, not cannibalism, hamloaf. I should get alot of knitting on the sock accomplished. Then a movie with Sweetie, who is home for most of the week. I doubt dinner, since we both will eat well. His Thanksgiving will consist of two 20 lb turkeys and one 22 pounder. Plus the sides that 3 or 4 farmwives can make. Poor boy! They will have to roll him out of the house.

On the knitting front, Linda H and I will be making a trek to Columbus on Saturday to take a knitting class. Yes, we are nerds. Knittin' Knerds. (isn't that just the nerdiest? yes?) I think that I have too much free time on my hands and if this keeps up, I'm going to have to buy a tv and rot my brain that way. Ok, who am I kidding? tv is evil and reading knitting blogs all day is great! And with that comment should follow pictures of stuff, like Harriet the Hamster. Or the project du jour. The only glitch is that I carry my camera in my bag, but I have nary a picture to prove it. I even put in fresh batteries. And the cord disappeared. That's alright, since I need less stuff in my life, right? OK, the cord needs to reappear, but I need to de-clutter. Friend Carrie and I were chatting the other night and she just laughed at my clutter complaints. She saw my house in Rajshahi where all possible surfaces were cover, nay, piled with things, while my floors were clean (thanks to a bua), and the same thing happened while we were roomies in Dhaka. And she also reminded me of the infamous 'Dirt-o-Meter'. I am fine with dirt up until a certain amount and then, when that amount of dirt has amassed, cleaning must happen. And that is what is happening right now in my house. The dirt-o-meter rang loud and clear and housecleaning ensued. Just the clutter on surfaces remain. I need to get better. Or hire help.

Maybe after I get a sugardaddy. That would help the financing of a housekeeper.

I'm just saying

Update, or go get a cup of coffee because I've written and I can't get up

So many times, I think to myself, "Oh, I have nothing to write about.... my life, what a boring mess" and then I go off and do something that even I don't consider boring. But I forget about it the moment my butt meets my chair and the computer is on. So here is a laundry list of stuff I've done, but didn't write down (or as much as I can remember, since my butt is having a meeting with the chair):

• Went to NYC with Megan and Sweetie to watch Megan run the marathon. Megan rocks, can we all agree to this? And Sweetie (whom also rocks).... well, he gave up all of his points so that we could stay in Manhattan without any of us giving up a first-born child. My checkbook did a happy dance. And we also met Dennis who is also darn wonderful! When Megan passed out (beware of your salt intake when running), he was Johnny on the Spot and just a all-around good sport.
• The knitting has been good, but I'm still a year behind in projects. Of course, every knitter knows this and works with this knowledge. I have two sets of socks on needles, a Jilli hat still being worked on, a scarf for myself in a lovely basketweave pattern and probably others.... I haven't looked too hard into my knitting basket lately. And I signed up to for an entrelac class with Linda H. for a Saturday this month. Talk about good times. Then, I can start the afgan that I have a pattern and yarn for in entrelac. No pressure, right?
• I contemplated moving to Tonga. This is what reading National Geographic will do to a girl on a particularly slow day at work. Maybe I could re-up for PC and go there. They still have an active program there. hmmm... if grad school doesn't work out, maybe Tonga could be the place for me.
• Gift bags. I won't go into detail of what I purchased to go into the gift bag, but all they need is tissue paper and something that can't be added until the week of giving, but other than that, it is finished. Yeah for being ahead of the game for once. :)
• Grad school application. It was in a while ago, but I won't hear a response until the middle of November, which is coming closer and closer. I've pushed it out of my mind, otherwise I'd drive myself to distraction and then some. I just don't have a good feeling, so I'm looking up other grad schools for future application. Or maybe in the back of my mind I just don't want to jinx it. Who knows, but I'm sure a future therapist will have fun trying to find out.
• I went on my first date in years. And when I say years, I literally mean it. He was a nice guy and it was a pressure-free evening. I feel good about it, even if it doesn't go anywhere and I get a new friend out of it. I've broken that non-dating barrier so that I might have a chance to reproduce within the next decade or so. Sounds stupid doesn't it? Now I just have to think positively and maybe wrangle another date.
• Cleaning out my closet. OK, so this isn't completely 100% done, but it has been started. I got tired of living out of my laundrybaskets, so slowly, the clothes have been finding their way back to hangers and drawers. I've given up on ironing, however, since I've misplaced my iron, but still have my ironing board.

Ok, my rant is over for now. I can't think of anything else I've done lately. Or I will think of something the minute this is posted.

Ya know... I haven't heard hardly enough updates of folks. Send an email or leave a comment with a personal update. I'd love to hear from you and it ups your chance of getting a gift bag for Christmas!

where is October going?

Today was uber boring, so I decided to share. Isn't that wonderful of me? As a professional who is licensed in the State of Ohio, I must take Continuing Education classes to keep my license. 20 hours every two years. And the first 40 you take to get the license in the first place don't count. Bummer. So, today I learned about ethics and risk managament. After 8 hours in class, the summary is this: Keep your mouth closed.

And this is why your insurance premiums are so high and keep going up http://www.stellaawards.com/2006.html

Over all, October has been going fast. Too fast. I have taken 2 out of 3 Toe-Up sock classes down in Columbus and can I say that my socks are beautiful? Of course, I don't have any pictures to prove it, but maybe later. Just don't hold your breath on that thought!

did you read a banned book this week?

Yes, it's that time of year again, when it's a good thing to go against the grain!

I read through the list and I am sad to say that there are a number of books on the banned/challenged list that I have not yet read. Surprisingly, a number of the books I have read off of the list, I didn't read until college. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison is a great book, but I didn't read it until I was at least 20. Heck, I'm not even sure I knew who Toni Morrison was until I got to college, let alone read her work. And there are a ton of other great novels out there that should remain out there.

So do your part and visit your local library and read a banned book today!

guest writer: Cousin Jamie

One day, little Tuff was trying on his new hat that Aunt Laura knitted for him....

"Dang, I look good!"

He started to enjoy his new look and decided to dance a little....

He was really jamming along, but he was relatively new to this whole sitting thing....

.... and tipped over. But, never fear, his big sissy was there to help him!

"Arrr, there bubby! Have no fear! You big sissy, Jilli, is here!"

So, she checked on him to see that all was OK...

"I think that we should take a nap," said Silly Jilli.

"Just kidding!"

"We'll just lay here while you recover."

Well, Tucker was feeling better and decided to sit up with his new hat on and not overdo himself with the dancing...

"Whoa! That was scary!!! I'm glad that Jilli was here to save the day!"

The End

*for some reason the pictures won't stay where I placed them... darn floating pictures! ~lrf

crack me up and then some

how did i not know?

There was a 'Craftin' Outlaws' meeting in Columbus and I did not know about it until after the event. I think that is the saddest thing so far today. I will have to try to make it to next year's festivities. Especially since I have taken the needle back up. That's right, you heard me... Needles Up! I have finished one sock in TOFUtsies and this close to finishing a shawl I started last winter. 20 more rows and the shawl is mine!!! Then I have to finish the second sock and then come the baby hats. One is for Tucker in a Bulldog color montage and the other will be for Jilli and the Jilli hat will be super cute! Then I am thinking about finishing the other projects that are still on needles and lying about my house.

Speaking about future plans.... Sweetie, SuperMeg and I are going to New York City for the marathon. Yes, I know that I am letting everyone and their brother know when I'll be gone, but since I have very little to steal (with the exception of the hamsters), I'm ok with it. Besides, my grandma would let everyone who reads the Herald when I'm gone anyways, so what does it matter? Oh, and just to let everyone know... SuperMeg is the only one running in this marathon. The rest of us are just her personal cheerleaders.

a saw a tree turn

This morning, on my short little commute, I saw trees start to turn colors.

I think that it is time to say that Autumn is really here to stay.

sigh

I'm going to miss summer. :(

But I'm ready to pick some apples!

i got my nerd on

So today I have gotten my nerd on! I signed up for 'Toe-Up Sock' class at the Knitters Mercantile in Columbus. And I can't wait. That's right, I'm going to drive 1.5 hours for a 2 hour class and drive back 1.5 hours on 3 different Mondays in October. And I know exactly what I'm going to knit. I have this lovely, self-striping pink on pink DK weight yarn that is going to be made into big girl socks. I even think that I'm going to have a large cable running up the back of the leg.

*sigh* I can hardly wait! I'll let you know how it goes. I will even try to remember to take pictures. That is, as soon as I remember to buy batteries.

cars, tests, and the fair

First things first! Happy Birthday, Grandma D!

Now, for the rest of the story (Who knew? I'm chaneling Paul Harvey!)

I studied for the GRE. I took the GRE. I'm pretty sure I did horribly on the GRE. I've rescheduled to take the GRE. I thought the fella proctoring the GRE was going to give me a dunce cap when I walked out the door, but luckily for him he was out that day. But never fear, I lived to test another day. grrr...

So, I have realized (actually I've known all along, but others haven't gotten the memo), that I know bumpkus about cars. I love to drive them, but a car is a car is a car. All it needs is 4 wheels and an engine that goes and I'm set. Ask me about my car and I'll say "It has 4 doors and its white" Maybe I'll remember to mention that it is a '98 and I'll have to stop and think about the make and model. 9 times out of 10 I get it right. Then I get my insurance license and I've got to know about V6 and V8 and liters and that Ford makes F150s and not Chevy. And I have to ask other non-car people these questions. Or worse, I ask car-oriented folk dumb questions, like "so, is that a car-car, an SVU or a pick-up or something else?" Grumpy old farmers love those sort of questions, let me tell you!

And in other news as of late, the Hardin Co Fair is in full swing. Cousin Jamie and her family have set up residence there for the week. Her two oldest girls have won prizes in showing some of their animals. Hope actually won the Grand Champ for rabbit meat pens! And Shelby won a trophy yesterday for her rabbits. Way to go girls!

My participation at the fair, however, is not quite so lovely. It started with Grange and ended with grease. The Hardin Co Grange has a food booth located under the grandstand, where, since time began, they have sold burgers, fries, sausages, hotdogs, beef and noodles, chili, pie and cold drinks. Ever since I was old enough to walk without holding someone's finger, I have been working at this food stand every fair that I was able to attend. I've picked up trays, wiped down tables, yelled out orders, prep buns for the grill cook, cooked noodles, and just about everything under the sun that needed to be done. Last night was no exception. I handed out hotdogs and sausages, fried french fries with partner in crime Amy H and ended up the evening grilling burgers. So, by 8:45 last night, I was red-faced, hot and greasy walking back to my car. And my mother wonders why I don't have a beau. I just need to find a fella who like a girl who smells like burgers and fries.