The Last MMP of 2008 - What's your resolution?

[anyrose]

I thought since I'd hosted the first MMP of 2008, it's be kind of cool to host the last one as well - so here I am. Nothing specific in mind.
But since 2009 is mere days away, I thought it would be fitting to broach the topic of New Year's Resolutions.
I used to try to be funny and say "This year, so as not to feel guilty when I break them, I resolve to make no resolutions at all . . . oops - broke it already"
Seriously though, I have taken steps to make some major, positive changes in my life. I will reveal more as I progress, suffice to say they've been a long time coming.

Now, about that restaurant. It's called Green Melody and it's a kosher vegetarian pan-Asian place. And it's good. We shared veggie spare ribs that even had a "fat" layer, and cold sesame noodles - the noodles were spinach noodles. I had "Chicken" A-la- King but it was more akin to chicken with cashews in design and flavor. Instead of fried noodles to munch on before the meal, there was mildly spiced kimchie (or perhaps merely pickled cabbage) either way it was yummy. I fully intend to go back there, and soon.

Back to the thread. So, what are your resolutions? Hmmm?

[whiterabbit]

I'm afraid to have one, because last year's actually happened, and it was both quite liberating and also scary as hell -- getting off of Social Security and being self-supporting. For that matter, it still scares me, though kind of in a good way.

That restaurant sounds really interesting. Yum.

[FairyChatMom]

I gave up on resolutions years ago. It didn't take long to realize that all my good intentions of January would fizzle before February was over. But in the spirit of the OP:

I resolve to continue to be nice, dammit!

:D

[dogbutler]

I have no resolutions

[longhair75]

I resolve to take more naps and drink more wine

[Captain Carrot]

I need to start lifting weights again, for two reasons. One, I have the capability to become very, very strong. Two, I need to learn my own strength. I've hurt people unintentionally by hugging them (though not injured), and when I pick something up, I really have no idea how much it weighs if it requires some effort on my part. If it's in that range, it could be anywhere from twenty to sixty pounds for all I know.

[Mindfield]

I try not to make resolutions because, A) I suck at keeping them, and B) I have next to no willpower, which is why I suck at keeping them. Thus, I will not call these resolutions, but rather, stern suggestions. To that end, I would like to,

A) Lose weight. I want to lose 40lbs. I'm not particularly worried about how fast I lose them, but I would like to lose them just the same. Preferably starting primarily with my diet, because gaining weight is a slippery slope: The more weight you gain, the harder it is to exercise. The harder it is to exercise, the less you want to do it. The less you do it, the more weight you tend to gain (without proper dietary changes), and so the cycle begins again. I figure if I can lose enough through diet alone I will regain enough energy to start exercising, thus climbing back up that slope.

B) Save money. Specifically, at least $20 out of every paycheque, so that next year we can do Christmas up right instead of doing it last minute like we do every damn year.

C) Pay for another year of the Dope. I know I technically don't have to anymore, but I want to. I don't want to be a guest!

C is no problem, been on the agenda for the last month. B I might have trouble with if money gets tight -- and it usually does. My biggest problem with A is that I got into the habit of munching to the degree that it has practically become compulsive. Mostly at work, for some reason -- probably stress-related; I don't do it at home very often. I could just stop buying things to munch on, but then I start losing what little willpower I have when I'm at the supermarket and end up picking something up to snack on, going through the usual self-justifications.

I must try harder in 2009.

[Captain Carrot]

Preferably starting primarily with my diet, because gaining weight is a slippery slope: The more weight you gain, the harder it is to exercise. The harder it is to exercise, the less you want to do it. The less you do it, the more weight you tend to gain (without proper dietary changes), and so the cycle begins again. I figure if I can lose enough through diet alone I will regain enough energy to start exercising, thus climbing back up that slope.
I think 'vicious cycle' is a somewhat more appropriate term for that, since it is a positive feedback loop; 'slippery slope' is a different thing entirely.

[Lissla Lissar]

To complain less. Actually, I'm still thinking about what my resolutions are going to be, since I don't make New Year's resolutions often, but I really think I should complain less, in general.

It's our six-year wedding anniversary. We've just drunk champagne and watched Prince Caspian, which was pretty different from the book version. Thinking about the story changes, in a kind of fuzzy way, because of the champagne. And Nat is complaining in the bedroom because he's only been nursed once tonight, and No One Really Cares About Toddlers Around Here.

It's very sad for him.

[dogbutler]

To complain less. Actually, I'm still thinking about what my resolutions are going to be, since I don't make New Year's resolutions often, but I really think I should complain less, in general.

It's our six-year wedding anniversary. We've just drunk champagne and watched Prince Caspian, which was pretty different from the book version. Thinking about the story changes, in a kind of fuzzy way, because of the champagne. And Nat is complaining in the bedroom because he's only been nursed once tonight, and No One Really Cares About Toddlers Around Here.

It's very sad for him.
You are a harsh and cruel mother.;)

[Dolores Reborn]

I haven't really thought about it, except that I'm not promising to lose weight again this year. I'll work on it in my own way, but not "announce" it.

I would like to continue to be a "nice person." I like to give to the needy, it makes me feel good. I've been volunteering though my company, and I like the comraderie. I like to help people in stores, for example, when they can't find stuff and I overhear. I bought some McDonald's gift cards that I will give to the homeless guys begging on street corners.

I like Li-Li's resolution. I shall complain less.

And I really need to respond more to you guys, instead of just posting about my life and acting like I don't care about yours. I really do! It's not that hard to pay a little bit of attention.

Thanks for being here for me, and for everyone who needs an ear or a shoulder.

You guys are great!

[Mahna Mahna]

Oooh.. full circle. That's cool, rosie.

My resolutions are these:

1. Go to the gym twice a week. I used to do this, but then I lost the habit two years ago and have gained nearly 15 lbs since then. Since I have no plans on cutting back on cheese, butter, chocolate or pastries, the gym is pretty much my only option for avoiding the dreaded 200lb milestone... so there's my motivation. Besides, regular exercise is as necessary for my mental health as it is for my physical health.

2. Learn to knit. I've already started looking up good Knitting 101 courses at local yarn shops, so I hope to have this one checked off well before spring rolls around.

3. Learn to drive. I meant to do it last summer, but I was working such nutty hours that it didn't seem like a good idea to pile on even more stress. That said, it's getting a little embarassing to have to explain to all and sundry that yes, I'm 30 years old and I still don't have a grasp on a skill as fundamental as driving.

4. Be more sociable. The past couple of years have turned me quite antisocial, what with buying a house, bouts of insane overtime at work and 4 hr daily commutes for a year... this year, I shall resolve to spend less time at home, and more time out and about (no matter how little time I might have).

Congrats on 6 years, LiLi. I hope to get there someday too, but that's a resolution for another year (I'm aiming for 4 this year).

[picunurse]

My New Year's resolution is to live through 2009.

I'm going in for an angioplasty at 9:00 AM. I know, it's routine, I've assisted with dozens. The thing is, it isn't routine for me to be the one lying down.

Hubby has been doing everything he can to keep my mind off it, but I'm still scared. Stupid, but unshakable.

When I post on Wednesday, all will be well.

[gardentraveler]

Hi rosie! Thanks for hosting. Cool idea for an OP, too.

I'm logged in to do a moment of work and thought I'd stop by and wave hi. Haven't even thought about resolutions yet because I've spent the last week surviving the niece and nephew whirlwinds and Mom visiting. We've been together for 10 days straight, except that niece stayed at her mom's one night because she was sleeping poorly and had reached peak grumpiness levels.

I think my resolution will run toward being more organized and productive so that I'm less stressed overall. I hope. Seems to me that was my resolution last year.

I like LiLi's resolution as well. Seems like I whine a lot more than I used to, especially at work. So maybe I'll add that one to my list too.

Gotta finish getting work done so that I can crawl into bed. Have to get up at 6:30 or so because Mom needs to be at the airport around 8:00. It won't take me too long to get ready, but Mom is.....not fast.

Hugs to all and a belated Merry Christmas.

ETA: can't believe I forgot to wish picu all the best with her angioplasty.

GT

[SmartAleq]

{{{picachu}}} You're going to be fine--if you didn't have some control issues you wouldn't be in your line of work, right? :p

Yeah, I need to get my activity level back up and stop letting this stupid knee dictate what I can and can't do. I'm also going to be much more aggressive about getting some work done on the house--this means saving up so I have the cash to tackle stuff AND to budget time and effort as well. I've been putting too many things off and it's time to get going before the place falls down around my ears! I'm also not going to flake off the garden this year--I totally blew it off last year and it sucked not having all those nice fresh veggies so this year there will be gardening... After that, we'll see. It would be nice if Himself were to get to making enough that I only have to work part time so I could work on other stuff instead. Fingers crossed, I think that's a pretty likely outcome.

Happy Anny, LiLi and LiLi Husband! *flings confetti and truffles*

[Mama Tiger]

{{picu}} I hope your angio is as dull and boring as Papa Tigs' was a few years ago. And that, believe me, was dull and boring. No problems with anything. We still haven't figured out why the doc ordered it in the first place.

Resolutions? A few; we shall see how keepable they are.

(1) Plan out next year's Christmas list immediately, consisting of knitting projects for all and sundry (to keep $$ down, and also because I enjoy it), and then actually get the stuff knitted before Christmas.

(2) Buy no more yarn** unless (a) it is for a specific project for which I can find no even moderately substitutable yarn here amidst my far too large stash, or (b) it's for a project that requires a certain specific yarn and no other will do.

(3) Get the (*&#$@& house cleared out and organized! Which I actually may be able to start on this week, unless through some miracle some work actually arrives on my doorstep. I'm afraid I may be out of luck with that, so may be stuck working on this one whether I want to or not.

**Please note: Sock yarn does not count as "stash." It's the permanent exception to the "no more yarn" rule.

[Hazle Weatherfield]

I resolve to lose those last eight pounds!

I resolve to finally lay it on the line to my husband. If things don't change, I will leave.

[Taters]

Hmm, I don't do resolutions, mainly because I start out with good intentions, but they seem to fall by the wayside.

However, I like Li-Li's resolution about not complaining so much. Although I don't complain much at home, rarely really, I have become a bit of a Negative Nelly at work and I don't like it one little bit. I'm going to try and be better about that.

To be honest, I really open up to only one person at work, because we're both in the same boat, and she uses me as a sounding board as well. I don't think it's good for either of us, so I'm going to ease back the throttle on it and just learn to try and accept what comes my way with regards to the myriad changes they're imposing upon me.

picu, I hope the procedure is truly non-eventful.

[kaiwik]

Good OP idea rosie!

picu you are in my thoughts and prayers. {{{hugs}}}

I resolve to finally lay it on the line to my husband. If things don't change, I will leave.

I laid it on the line, he said, again, that things would change. They haven't. I guess I am leaving him. I am a very sad and unhappy little grey duck.

[jabiru]

I plan to recycle last year's resolutions. Heck, they were barely even touched. Good for another year at least.

1. eat more heathily
2. more more - not the gym, just more every day moving around
3. get organised.

[3acresandatruck]

My New Year's resolution is to live through 2009.

I'm going in for an angioplasty at 9:00 AM. I know, it's routine, I've assisted with dozens. The thing is, it isn't routine for me to be the one lying down.

Hubby has been doing everything he can to keep my mind off it, but I'm still scared. Stupid, but unshakable.

When I post on Wednesday, all will be well.Good luck, picunurse. It's never routine to have something like this done to you. For the one who's lying down, the procedure is a little wierd and uncomfortable, but any pain is normally quite brief. I concentrate on breathing slowly when they roll me into the cath lab, and that helps me stay calm. I also like to watch what's happening on the TV as a distraction; you can generally see it throughout the procedure. (My cardiologist sometimes points out the interesting parts: "See that?!? That's why you're here.") They don't leave the guide tube in you for a day like they used to and that's a huge improvement. And they don't have you lying on a cold, bare steel table for the procedure these days, either...it was really hard to stay still when you were shivering the whole time. Anyway, I hope it's uneventful and a roaring success.

I'll join you in your first resolution: to live through 2009. More of a goal, really.

[Jaglavak]

This year I resolve to face all my fears
Coz they can run way faster than me

[Hazle Weatherfield]

Good OP idea rosie!

picu you are in my thoughts and prayers. {{{hugs}}}



I laid it on the line, he said, again, that things would change. They haven't. I guess I am leaving him. I am a very sad and unhappy little grey duck.

Me, too! I actually spent the last three hours composing a letter/cheat sheet of everything I've been feeling for the longest time. I almost wish he was a terrible, terrible person, rather than just not meeting my needs. It's heartbreaking! PM me if you feel like commiserating!

[SurrenderDorothy]

Good luck, PICU

For me, this year I turn 18. So my resolution is to become more proactive as far as the charity/whatever-type work I want to do. Like there are a few volunteer opportunities in different parts of Africa that I want to do that I can't yet. I do what I can (writing letters and such, mostly, and things like trying to avoid food with palm oil. I don't know how much actual good that does, but it can't hurt), but the big stuff is mostly theoretical so far and that doesn't do much good. So I want to be focused and driven and do as much good as I can.

I also want to put more effort into getting people to help me. I've tried and haven't had much luck so far (nobody has any time or money, apparently) but I think if I came up with specific ideas and asked people to do specific things, I might have more luck than just saying "hey, do you want to help me put together a fund raiser for AIDS clinics in Africa?"

Oh also- I want to really work on learning French because they speak a lot of French in Africa.

edit: kaiwik and Hazle- :( I'm sorry

[FairyChatMom]

{{picu}} - hope you have an uneventful angioplasty with a little twist to make a funny story. Like a doctor wearing a clown nose or something...

{{kai}} - be strong and spend your efforts being excited about the new grand baby. On Christmas, my uncle asked if I was a grandmother yet - good grief, the kids just married in May!! :eek: But I hope I'm not too far behind you in the grandbaby race.

Is too a race. According to Rue in his LJ, everything is a contest! :D

And all of you people resolving not to complain - I sure hope you don't explode. That would be messy. Maybe you could just try selective complaining, because some things are worthy of a bitch-fest!

And Happy Last Monday of 2008 to you all. I was having a bizarro dream all last night about being trapped in an episode of The Sopranos. It started out with Sil, wearing a brown suit and (as usual) perfectly coiffed hair, and weaved around to include Tony bitching to some guy about how much he was paying in rent, and little notes about suspects, which incorporated Jethro and Jenny from NCIS into the story, plus I was trying to keep this psycho guy calm so he wouldn't kill me. There was also something about a huge motor yacht in the dream, and someone trying to drown someone else in a swimming pool. Not a very restful night.

So I rolled out of bed about 6:45, brushed my teeth, and took the doggies out. In an hour or so, I'm going to dress properly and go out to do my errands, before coming home to resume the assault of the studio from hell. It's chilly out, but it doesn't look like we got rain yesterday. I should haul out the leaf sucker and clean the last of the tree debris from around the house. I really should. Dunno if I will, tho.

First, I need caffeine...

[VunderBob]

I resolve to do get off my ass and start building my model railroad. I do way too much in the way of household stuff, and it's about time I did something fun for just myself.

I also resolve to spread The Message Of The Morning Blurf to benefit all mankind.

[tarragon918]

Hugs to Picu, prayers and good thoughts for the procedure. You'll come thru with flying colors. Hugs too for kaiwik; I'm so sorry, hon. You're in my thoughts too.

I am going to resolve to get more exercise - that is, to get to the indoor pool and do that water walking thing. As it is, I am barely able to move; I really need to get the exercise but in a way that won't stress my knees out too much. My original goal may not sound like much - once a week, but it's better to start slowly than not start at all.

Hugs to everyone else who needs them.

[mmouse9799]

Monday morning again. My boss is out today; she's only working Tuesday and Wednesday this week. That must be nice.

Hawkeyeop's sister is coming to visit sometime this week. I hope he figures out when her flight gets in for sure so that I can reserve a zipcar to pick her up at the airport. She's flying into Manchester, NH rather than Boston because SouthWest has a better policy on changing tickets than most other airlines.

I generally don't do New Year's Resolutions. When I did, they ended up in the trash before Feb. anyway. I'm just that terrible, I guess. Good luck to all of you who are making them, though.

Knitters, I've been thinking about getting a set of circular needles. (like this (http://www.amazon.com/Boye-70477-Needlemaster-Kit-200/dp/B000WURGNC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230560914&sr=8-7) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Denise-Interchangeable-Knitting-Needles/dp/B00182ENIY/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230560979&sr=8-19)) Does anyone use these or a similar set? Any suggestions or opinions?

Good Luck, picu!

(((Kai)))

(((Hazel)))

Bobbio, the trains sound neat. Pics please.

[Tupug Anachi]

My New Year's resolution this year is that I am going to get healthy. Not that I am not healthy, but I think I could be more proactive about it. We shall see.

{{{picu}}}. Please come back as soon as you can and let us know how it went.

Hugs to all hazl, kai and rigs as well. Marital problems during the holidays is Teh Sux.

Mr. Anachi has the crud and the last couple of nights sleep have been Teh Sux as well. All that upper respiratory gunk only amplifies his normal snoring and keeps us both waking up. I finally gave up at 4:00 am and was quite cranky about it when he got up. Poor thang. I did tell him that he needed to go have a sleep study done because it does contribute to heart disease.

The Princess (http://nolesports.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CD&Date=20081227&Category=FSU03&ArtNo=812270807&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=23) and I went to see Twilight on Friday and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Eh, maybe I'm eternally 17 at heart.

Tupug

[Mahna Mahna]

{{Hazle}} {{kai}} I'm sorry for your troubles. I hope that, no matter how things turn out for each of you, that you find yourself in a happier place when it's time to evaluate resolutions for 2010.

picu, I hope the procedure goes/went well. May it be blessedly uneventful and completely successful.

I have a whole day to myself to putter. Yay! I'm munching on a goose and cranberry sauce sandwich, sipping tea, and trying to decide what task to tackle first... should I do laundry and tidy the bedroom, or should I tackle the mess in the kitchen?

[Mama Tiger]

{{Hazle}} and {{kai}} I've been where you are; it's no fun. But you can get through it, and things can indeed get better.

mousie, don't get the Boye set; get either the Denise interchangeable set or the KnitPicks Options set (http://www.knitpicks.com/interchangeable+circular+knitting+needles_NL300312.html), which comes in either the nickel-plated or the Harmony wood. I love, love, love my Denise needles, but I use the Options set far more, to be truthful -- I got the nickel-plated before they came out with the Harmony wood set, but have been adding the Harmony points because I love the feel of the wood and the sharpness of the points; the points on the KnitPicks needles are much, much sharper, which makes for cleaner knitting. But the Denise set is a lovely synthetic that is very comfortable on your hands, and the cables are very soft and flexible (actually, they are in the KP set, too). Either set, you can get replacement points/cables/extras, which can be very useful. I've got quite a collection of both, and use them in all sorts of lengths/sizes on a regular basis. So it really depends on if you want the sharper KP points.

Oh, and in case you want to spend a LOT of money on an interchangeable set, Addi is coming out with a set shortly. Except that'll cost like twice as much, which means it won't be under my Christmas tree (if I had one, that is) any time soon!

Is that more than you wanted to know? :D

Anyway, back to SIL's hat. And caffeine. I made some good progress yesterday evening, so I need to try to get it completely finished today. And then I have several things that need blocking. And a house that needs cleaning. And a pile of laundry. But the caffeine comes first!

[HazelNutCoffee]

Good thoughts for picu!

Hugs for kai and Hazle.

I stopped making resolutions yeeeeeeeeears ago. Right now I just want to get through this month alive. 21 essays to grade before Friday, and five teachers to watch on CCTV and write up reports for. Eek.

And I work the morning of New Years Day! So much for getting drunk on the 31st.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

My New Year's resolution is to live through 2009.

I'm going in for an angioplasty at 9:00 AM. I know, it's routine, I've assisted with dozens. The thing is, it isn't routine for me to be the one lying down.

Hubby has been doing everything he can to keep my mind off it, but I'm still scared. Stupid, but unshakable.

When I post on Wednesday, all will be well.

{picnurse} good thoughts to you and I know we'll hear how smoothly it all went.

{Kai and Hazle}... it's tough...

My resolutions:

1. Get my financial house in order. We spend way too much on stupid stuff so we can't get the important stuff.

2. Be more social. Get together with friends, outside of work, at least once a month.

3. Diet, exercise, blah. blah. But this year I have a plan... so it might just work!

[Karyn]

This isn't exactly a New Years resolution but I'm going to learn how to be retired. I want to lose those last vestiges of being hyper-organized and overly productive and get it though my head that I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want so there isn't any reason to rush or plan out my weeks with chores to stay busy. I need to stop feeling like there are deadlines for everything. There isn't anything wrong with sitting on my butt and reading all day, watching TV isn't (necessarily) a horrible waste of time, I don't have to finish whatever sweater I'm making anytime soon and if I don't feel like touching it for a few days, I don't have to. I'm not the least bit bored but I still have that work drive to get things done and I don't need it anymore.

[Dolores Reborn]

{{{picu}}} {{{kai}}} {{{Hazle}}}


What did I say about complaining less? Hmm. But I'm really disappointed. I took my new car in to have the leather seats installed. They gave me a rental. It's a tiny little nothing car with crank windows, manual mirror adjustment and no keyless entry thing. No armrest, no drink holder. No plug to plug my new MP3 player in. I only have to drive it for 3-4 days, but jeez! I just bought a new car from them! You would think they would give me a nicer car.

I'm thinking of calling up the salesman to see what he can do. (He wasn't in yet when I got the car.) I hope I'm not just being an entitled ass, but damn.



Our new monitor is in. This one has had issues, and was still under warranty, so we got a new one. It's an upgrade, too! I have to go to the UPS store and change it out.

No other errands to run today. I'm going to take the tree down since it's so dry it's a fire hazard. ;) And I'm making chicken pot pie for dinner! That will be a first.

Later, gators.

[FairyChatMom]

Morning errands are done. I turned in the unused transponder, deposited a couple of checks, and got some groceries. Among other things, I got a big pack of stew meat - half for today, and half for the freezer for another day. I also got TP on sale (hi, swampster!), milk and cereal and makin's for punkin pie. Yay!

I need to empty, then fill the dishwasher, then I'll bake the pies. My sweetie will be happy and surprised. After that, I guess I'll have to hit the basement again. At least now I have space to store some stuff.

Well, this isn't getting my dishwasher emptied.

Oh, and Rebo - it's not the new year yet, so you can whine as much as you want! You have till Thursday! :D You're welcome.

[Dung Beetle]

1. Be more productive at work. I say this every year; it already has the flavor of doom.

2. Read ten minutes a day. I really want to do this and I think it would help stave off my occasional depressions as well, but I haven’t yet figured out how I can make it happen. I’m thinking crazy stuff like pulling into a gas station each day on my way to work*, or locking myself in the bathroom at home with fake bouts of diarrhea. (*If I go all the way to work, I’ll have to find a hiding place.)

[whiterabbit]

{{{{{Mumpers}}}}}

It is snowing like crazy! I nearly got stuck trying to turn onto the highway to get to work. A kind soul stopped and let me try three times until I made it onto the road. So I am here. It's not even cold, it's just below freezing, and snowing. If I hadn't had to drive it would be a perfect day, weatherwise.

[VunderBob]

47 hours and counting until VunderKind arrives at the Norfolk Airport...

[Mama Tiger]

Just what you need, snowbunny, more snow! Because we all know you don't have enough!

:D :D :D

Seriously, next time you want to beg the whole country to send you snow? You might think twice first. :D

Laundry is going, knitting is progressing, and life is fairly quiet. While I prefer earning $$, it is nice occasionally to have a totally valid excuse to just sit here and knit and goof off online.

[Stauderhorse]

1. To lose ~20 pounds and keep it off for once. My whole life I've gone through cycles of losing weight (eating semi-healthy and working out regularly) and gaining it back (getting really lazy and eating a bunch of junk food). I'd like very much to break this cycle and have a healthy diet (and do at least a little exercise) if possible.

2. Learn to drive and get a license.

3. Meet more people and go outside my comfort zone.

[eleanorigby]

Me, too! I actually spent the last three hours composing a letter/cheat sheet of everything I've been feeling for the longest time. I almost wish he was a terrible, terrible person, rather than just not meeting my needs. It's heartbreaking! PM me if you feel like commiserating!



I see I have a sock... Just kidding, mods! Don't ban me.


I'm sorry for your troubles, and kai's, too. I will say this: we have agreed to file and as soon as that happened (within a day or so), all my anger, and resentment and pissiness was gone. Ok, maybe not all of it--I'm no saint. But it truly felt like a huge burden was gone. I hadn't realized I had been carrying it around or how much it weighed me down. I hope the same for you both.

That said, the divorce is on hold while his dad is in hospice. IF he was an abusive bastard or an alcoholic or similar, I would not wait (well, I'd like to think I'd have kicked him to the curb a long time ago), but we are civil, even friendly at times--I see no reason to create drama at a funeral etc. And we all know his mama will make it a Drama. So, we're waiting a bit--mutually agreed on and I'm supporting him (as best I can) during this sad time with his dad. I think I may love TH afterall, I just can't live with him. :)


Resolutions: I don't really make them. No sooner is a rule set then I want to break it (real mature of me, no?), but I do resolve to keep the weight off that I have lost (about 5 pounds) and to find a way to exercise that doesn't hurt my foot (which is killing me today). Also, to remember to look for the good in things. My glass of water tends to not only be half empty, but someone spit in it as well--I need to work on that. The world is not a bad place and people are not horrors (usually).

How introspective I am this morning. Must go do something shallow.

[Quasimodal]

1. Fitness Fitness Fitness...I just registered for a full marathon. I hope to eat way better too.

2. Be a bit more frugal. Those semi monthly wine runs have been hurting my wallet.

3. Get back into practice (guitar). I slacked off for a bit, time to get back in it.

4. Get out of my shithole town.

5. Somehow continue to work my crazy schedule and 3 jobs, yet find time to invest in a relationship...hell find someone to have a relationship with.

6. Save and maybe buy my dream acoustic guitar...then finally I think the dream music acquisitions will be complete.

[FairyChatMom]

There are now 2 punkin pies in the oven. I've got to sit here till they're done - if I went to work in my studio, I wouldn't hear the timer buzz and the pies would burn, and we can't have that! :D

FCD is having a lot of fun setting up his workshop in the garage. He'll have even more fun when we finally build the new garage in front of the current one and he gets the whole space to himself. That's this spring's project. Our garage is an oversized 2-car dealie - probably 25' wide and 26' deep, with well over 8' ceiling. He'll have less square footage than in the basement, but more useful space overall. There are no support posts in the way and the basement ceiling was around 7'. The only downside I see is that he'll have to walk thru the house to use the bathroom - I foresee lots of carpet cleaning at times.

Now, how shall I pass the next 40 minutes or so???

[VunderBob]

<snerk> A recipe experiment that failed. <snerk>

Last week, warming up to Christmas Day, VWife was really jonesing a sugar cream pie. Problem was, she had no heavy cream, and no desire to scrounge the change cup I keep in Manland, nor the desire to get off her butt to go to the store to get any.

Looking through the fridge, she spotted the quart of eggnog she bought, and thought it would be a noble experiment. It wasn't. The eggnog was loaded with sugar from the get-go, plus had a good amount of nutmeg. The resulting pie was nearly inedible, and caused me to spike my blood sugar just from being within 5 feet.

Oh well.

[SmartAleq]

Bobbio, I did not know you had a kid--how old and where has he/she been? Nosy old women want to know!

kai, Hazle, I'm sorry for your troubles and I say that as one who's been through the marital wars a time or three. Yes, three. Himself and I have separated several times over various issues and each time it's been beneficial for us to spend that time apart because we did a lot of learning and growing and had to confront the fact that we really do love each other and that we really don't want to be without each other so we'd better learn how to get along better. We've been living together for about 3.5 years now without interruption (well, there was that one week when he was being a total butt and I tossed him out--a week staying with our crazy disabled 'Nam vet friend set his head straight and he figured out I'm nowhere near as annoying as THAT!) and we're getting a lot better at conflict resolution. I personally think we could benefit from couple's counseling and now that we have health bennies I think I'm going to push for it--maybe that's another resolution all on its own! Any rate, I'm saying that sometimes men are dumb and need a 2x4 to the back of the head to get them focussed. If they won't listen to you while you're there, quite often they start listening after you're gone and they find out how much that sucks. Good luck however it ends up, though...

It's raining and sleazy out and I really want to go exchange my van (which needs some work done) with my other car (which ought to be ready to go) but we have so many deliveries coming in today I think I'd better stay home to keep the dogs from driving Himself insane when they knock on the door. It gets a little hard to do tech support with dogs freaking out in the background... The illusion of "call center" doesn't survive such events... :smack:

I also need to get more vacuum cleaner bags because my floor is feelthy... yuck.

[VunderBob]

Bobbio, I did not know you had a kid--how old and where has he/she been? Nosy old women want to know!

He's 20, hits 21 in March, and lives with my in-laws in Indianapolis so he can go to IUPUI, one of my alma maters.

Also, after seeing the picture of Puggy's Princess, I think a little MMP matchmaking is in order... ;)

[gardentraveler]

We now have a tag for failed recipes on the Mumpers' Recipe Blog, by the way, Bobbio. :D

Hugs to kai, Hazle, and rigs and anyone else with relationship troubles.

Is that really your daughter, Puggy? I suspect the boy Mumpers will say that she's hot. And, on preview, I see that Bobbio has already taken notice.

I am free!!!!! Have my house to myself and have little brother's back-up computer so that I can restore my iBook files (mostly my pictures).

Gonna figure out what I need to do about the PC laptop to get it fixed up and gonna do laundry. Also need to vacuum.

Back later. Hugs to all....

GT

[SmartAleq]

Pug's Princess is indeed a hotty, I mean whew! :D Wouldn't that be amazing, to have a second generation Doper relationship? Teh Intarwebz iz kewl...

So, Bobbio, post a pic of Bob Jr so we may judge his hawtness as well... ;)

[Tupug Anachi]

Yes, that is indeed my baby girl. She is 27, single, a college graduate, home-owner and works for FDLE as a Critical Infrastructure Analyst. Maybe I should start my own online "Bachelorette." :D

[VunderBob]

Yes, that is indeed my baby girl. She is 27, single, a college graduate, home-owner and works for FDLE as a Critical Infrastructure Analyst. Maybe I should start my own online "Bachelorette." :D

Kewl. He likes more mature wimmin...:D ;)

Smartie, I got pictures, but at home so it'll have to wait.

[gotpasswords]

Knitters, I've been thinking about getting a set of circular needles. (like this (http://www.amazon.com/Boye-70477-Needlemaster-Kit-200/dp/B000WURGNC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230560914&sr=8-7) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Denise-Interchangeable-Knitting-Needles/dp/B00182ENIY/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230560979&sr=8-19)) Does anyone use these or a similar set? Any suggestions or opinions?

I got DH a set of the Denise needles last year and he's not complained. When I was checking these things out last year, I was seeing a bunch of people having problems with the Boye needles perpetually unscrewing themselves or snagging where the needle screws onto the cable. Another plus for the Denise is they claim to be airplane-safe.

VWife was really jonesing a sugar cream pie.
... The resulting pie was nearly inedible, and caused me to spike my blood sugar just from being within 5 feet. A what? Just the name is making my blood sugar rise. What is it anyway? I can only envision some variant of an egg custard pie, which is fairly sweet on its own.

Had fun upgrading our Macs to the current version of OS X over the weekend. DH's laptop has been semi-happily soldiering on, running the same thing it was born with (Panther? Ring-Tailed Lemur?) for over four years, and was so old that he could no longer access eBay or Paypal - they'd say "Safari 1? Shoo!" So, it was time to update to Meerkat or whatever they're calling it now.

His upgrade went absolutely flawlessly. My iMac is not quite three years old, and went...well...pretty much OK, except for Mail, which was a trainwreck. And I had troubles with the drawing tablet and the media server. (Worth noting that these are both non-Apple devices, and there was no non-Apple stuff connected to DH's laptop.) But, I eventually got it sorted out with a patch for Mail, the tablet needed a new driver and the server just needed to be reminded that it exists.

Now, I just need someone to remind me that I exist. I absolutely hate this week of the year as everyone "important" has the week off but the people who are actually important do not have the week off. Can a Senior Vice President bounce a server? Only if it's wrapped in 50 layers of bubblewrap... :p The bad part is that because so many of the "important" people that can approve requests are out, our work volume plummets and the day's schedule becomes something like:

8:00 - 10:00 - read email. Even the spam.
10:00 - 10:30 - methodically scrub my coffee cup.
10:30 - 11:00 - clean and polish my monitors.
11:00 - 12:30 - dust out the printer.
12:30 - 3:00 - lunch.
3:00 - 3:30 - go to drugstore to get cheap toothbrush.
3:30 - 4:30 - clean keyboard between the keys.
4:30 - 5:00 - Contemplate what to do tomorrow since I've already cleaned my coffee mug, monitors, printer and keyboard.

It's not really that bad, and there is work to be done - just not all that much of it.

I was supposed to have the week off. I finally got the the right spot seniority-wise to be able to win the "raffle" to get the week off, and I had to go and get sick two weeks ago, which meant I had to take the PTO then and work this week. :( :MAD: :mad:

Good news from our photographers - our wedding pictures have been "developed" and they emailed a handful of low-res samples to us. Sounds weird, but pro cameras produce files in a "raw" format that you can either convert to JPG as-is, or you can take the time to adjust exposure, color, contrast, resolution, etc. In our friends' professional hands, a little tweaking makes a huge difference.

[Mama Tiger]

I got DH a set of the Denise needles last year and he's not complained. When I was checking these things out last year, I was seeing a bunch of people having problems with the Boye needles perpetually unscrewing themselves or snagging where the needle screws onto the cable. Another plus for the Denise is they claim to be airplane-safe.

According to the TSA's own website, all knitting needles are supposed to be airplane-safe. But just to be careful, I only carry Denise or wooden needles aboard, either circulars or teensy sock needles that would break if you tried to stab somebody with one. What amazes me is that I've been able to carry my needle-sharp tiny scissors aboard many, many flights -- they fit all the rules, metal scissors/pointed tips/but less than 4" in length, but I wouldn't put it past some officious TSAer to take them away anyway. The fact that I bury them in my little bag of knitting tools, which has all kinds of odds & ends of wood and plastic and metal in it, may help, of course; the scissors may not even be visible in their x-ray! In any case, I don't use them except for a quick snip now and then and then put them away quickly. As the Yarn Harlot points out, who has had Canadian flight attendants make her put away her sock needles during takeoffs and landings, pens are just as dangerous as small knitting needles but nobody takes them away. It's a conspiracy, I tells ya!

[VunderBob]

Erstatz Scotch Eggs, V1.0 (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10494448&postcount=61)

Time for an update. I've made this following version a couple of times now. It has all of the structural integrity of the original, plus it's spicy enough that you don't have to choose between boredom from blandness vs. starvation.

Ersatz Scotch Eggs, Part Deux

4 hardboiled eggs
1 raw egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs, or similar amount of crushed saltine crackers
1 lb hot bulk sausage
powdered garlic
rubbed sage
black pepper

Mix the bread crumbs with the sausage and raw egg. Divide the mixture into 4 parts, forming into patties. Dust the sausage patties with the sage, pepper, and garlic to suit your taste. Take a hardboiled egg, place it in the middle of the sausage patty, and cover the egg evenly. Put in a baking dish (elevate on a rack if you desire) and bake at 400o F for 30 minutes.

I make a batch on Sunday night, and carry one to work Monday-Thursday, so they keep well. I eat them cold; never tried nuking them for some reason probably related to testosterone.

ETA: Gotti, sugar cream pie. (http://whatscookingamerica.net/Desserts/SugarCreamPie.htm)

[VunderBob]

I wouldn't put it past some officious TSAer to take them away anyway.

Probably afraid you'll make an Afghan...




















:D

[FairyChatMom]

The punkin pies are beeyuuteefulllll! I just had some leftover pizza, and now I'm heading down to tidy the studio some more.

Back laterz...

[mmouse9799]

Page two already! Wow!

Thanks for the needle tips, Knitters. When I said that I wanted to learn to knit, my Aunt gave me two five minute lessons and a set of straight needles in sizes 2-13 and two sets of DPNs. Over the years I've gotten some additional needles, but I've never really bought a lot, because I had most everything I needed.

Work has been kind of odd today-- usually it's either very busy or like Gotti's day described above, but today has been an odd mix of the two--periods of boring and periods of busy. Go figure.

Sugar Cream Pie sounds interesting.

[gardentraveler]

I'd like some pumpkin pie, plz. (We didn't have any for Christmas, so I didn't get my fix.)

I've had one little leftover sushi roll, 2 potstickers, some grapes and tomatoes and am still hungry. This is leftovers from last night's dinner, which included the above as well as pizza leftovers and guacamole and chips (Whole Foods makes AWESOME guacamole, btw; even Mom loved it).

Scotch Eggs have been posted, including the link to V 1.0.

Off to find buttons for coat and also make a stop at Trader Joe's.

Hope that files are done restoring by the time I get home. Need to do some laundry, but that might wait till tomorrow night.

Back later.

GT

[VunderBob]

Scotch Eggs have been posted, including the link to V 1.0

A little bit of editing requested for the blog version, please. The superscript o for degrees did not translate well to HTML; I don't know about the rest of y'all, but my oven sure can't bake at 4000 degrees Amurrkin.

[olivesmarch4th]

Given the wingey nature of my posts lately, my New Year's Resolution is to work on being more grateful for what I have. I haven't set up the structure of it yet, but it will probably involve making daily lists of things I'm grateful for.

Since we're all here if I can just complain about my poor physical and mental health that would be great...

What I mean is, I'm grateful that I get to take 7 paid days off work to go back to Michigan and see my loved ones this January. I'm grateful for my absolutely gorgeous, incredibly loving husband, and my adorable cat. I'm grateful I've been to Europe. Etc.

[The Blue-Sighted Shadow]

My resolutions are to be more positive and not be so stubborn about things that aren't important.

I like Denise for really slippery yarn, but I use KP Options & Harmony needles for everything else. Boye makes decent crochet hooks.

I'm almost through knotting the fringe for one side on Lady Eleanor. I should have practiced first, since the other side is going to look much better. The fringe really does make the stole, though, so I'm glad I did it. I should be completely finished by quitting time.

[gardentraveler]

Recipe edited, Bobbio. I wasn't sure how to tag it. It's currently tagged as snacks and miscellaneous. Anything else I should add?

Decided not to go out after all, as I have blueberries in the freezer and a hair appointment at 5:30 - almost forgot. Off to make coffee cake.

GT

[Mahna Mahna]

Honeys, I'm hoooooome!

(okay, fine, you probably had no clue I even stepped out... but whatever)

Gaze upon me with awe and reverence, for today I am Productive Woman! After cleaning up the kitchen this morning I:
* ducked out to grab some cash at the bank
* went to meet The Boy for lunch at his office downtown
* ambled over to the photo store to buy a tripod for my camera
* picked up cut-to-size foam pads to reupholster my dining room chairs

I think I just might have enough energy to manage a batch of cranberry jam and a load of laundry before The Boy gets home, and possibly start on a new sewing project. Tidying the bedroom will be saved for tomorrow, methinks.

All of y'all with pie and coffee cakes need to send some samples over this way. kthx?

[FairyChatMom]

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but my oven sure can't bake at 4000 degrees Amurrkin.Even my kiln can't go that high. I don't think it'll hit 3000ºF even.

Veggie beef soup is simmering. FCD has quit for the day. Doggies are waiting to be fed. Such is life at FairyChatEstates. I wish I'd thought to throw the fixin's for a loaf of bread into the machine, but if I do that now, we won't be eating till later than we like to. So crackers will have to do.

And pie for after. Yum.

[FairyChatMom]

Once again, in case you may have forgotten - I make gooooooooood soup! :D Veggie beef with barley - yummmmmm. And the punkin pie is also yummmmmmmm.

I now have a happy tummy. Life is good.

[Hazle Weatherfield]

Hey, thanks everyone for the hugs and good advice. It does, indeed, help to know that other people have gone through the same thing are are happier now!

[swampbear]

{{{picu}}} you're in my thoughts and prayers even though I just know you'll be fine. Please check in as soon as you can.

Howdy Y'all!

I don't do New Year's resolutions. They don't work for me. Plus I am weak willed and stubborn and anything that says I have to or should makes my inner child want to scream... "No I don't and you can't make me!" :D

I met ol' y'all know who after work for some dindin at that paragon of fine dining known as Three Squares Diner. Then he went to his place to do laundry and I came home. I should vacuum or sump'n but it ain't happenin'.

His bday is Firday. We'll be the same age again until my bday in July. I am a cradle robber for a little over five months every year accordin' to him. We don't do presents cause the way we figure it, we pretty much do stuff we want to together and that's better than a gift. He does however get a bday supper. He has until tomorrow to say what he wants for dindin on Firday or he gets canned chicken noodle soup. That's what I told him last night. That's a dire threat, btw, because he despises canned chicken noodle soup. When I do threaten, I make evil threats. :D

Ok, off to surf around and do other stuff.

Later Y'all!

[eleanorigby]

I'm sorry, but even the name of Sugar Cream Pie makes me want to vomit. If it had been made from eggnog, I probably would have! :eek:


Called my mater to say "thank you" for the gifts. Yeah.


No plans so far for NYE, but it's early days yet. And my plans come down to this: weepy movie or fun movie? I may get a bottle of bubbly, though. #1 son has been invited to another family's "do" (at their lake house. Their LAKE house. I should be so lucky), #2 son will most likely torture me into staying up and who knows what Daughter will get up to. Daughter is out to dinner in Oak Brook (posh shopping mall) tonight.

My kids live higher on the hog than I do....

[anyrose]

Have any of you ever tried that "5 Hour Energy Shot" or any similar product? Reviews, please. I spent the better part of the day yawning which cut down on my productivity - and made all the cow-orkers yell at me to stop it, it was contagious. Plus now my jaw aches a little so when I yanw, it hurts.

[mmouse9799]

Have any of you ever tried that "5 Hour Energy Shot" or any similar product? Reviews, please. I spent the better part of the day yawning which cut down on my productivity - and made all the cow-orkers yell at me to stop it, it was contagious. Plus now my jaw aches a little so when I yanw, it hurts.

I have not tried it, but I know a couple of guys that were really into them for awhile. Their reports are that the first couple are good, even thought they taste awful, but if you make a habit of it they make you feel like crap. They also seemed compelled to drink them, even after they felt like crap when they took them. FtR one guy is in his early twenties and very fit, the other is mid-forties and has a myriad of health problems.

[Mahna Mahna]

rigs, your NYE plans sound a lot like ours. The past couple of years, we haven't even managed to stay up to midnight.... yup, party central, that's us. :)

I ordered crappy Chinese food for dinner, as The Boy is working late, and boy is my fortune ever snerk-worthy. See for yourselves:

Helping a friend is like helping yourself

...IN BED! *snerk*

ETA: rosie, from what I've heard, those little shots give you an instant boost but the crash once they wear off is pretty deadly.

[Mama Tiger]

Last load of laundry is in the dryer. I think it was 6 loads, but I lost count somewhere along the line. Remind me not to let it pile up this much again, okay? I mean, it's not like it's far from the bedroom to the laundry room -- not like in the townhouse we lived in 2 houses back, where it was 2 flights up and down each way, or in our last house, where it was one flight. Nope, here's it out the bedroom door, hang a sharp left, and right into the laundry room. I have no excuse. So why do I keep doing it?

I've never tried those 5-hour energy drinks, or even tried a Red Bull. Good ol' coffee is just fine by me, thank you. If I ever get told I can no longer drink coffee, I may just have to off myself -- at least it would be less painful than living without coffee! :eek:

We probably won't do anything for NYE, either, except maybe watch a DVD or something. We never do; we definitely don't want to be out on the roads, especially since they tend to run a sobriety checkpoint just on our side of the South River Bridge, which means an extra hour sitting in pissed off traffic with nowhere to go except swimming if we don't like it. Totally not my idea of fun.

[Man With a Cat]

Each year I am wildly successful at making one resolution only and never breaking it:

I resolve that this year I will not make any NY resolution

[gardentraveler]

Look!!!! It's a rare MBG sighting!

::waves::

GT

[FairyChatMom]

I just knitted a dishcloth - took about 2 hours, with kitteh interference. The site I found had several dozen patterns - guess I'll have to try them all.

But that's all for tonight. I think it's bedtime...

[whiterabbit]

I don't have a washer and dryer, MamaTigs. If I did I would use them. I have no idea what your problem is!

It got so warm today that the snow turned to rain for awhile, and the roads turned to horrible brown slushy crap. And it's supposed to get colder tonight and stay that way -- as it should be! I'm grateful I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow. It's going to be an icy horrible mess out there.

The last few New Years I have made it to midnight, then I turn off the TV and say "screw it, I'm going to bed." Yep, an exciting life I have...not. But I like it fine.

[The Blue-Sighted Shadow]

Here's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12190567@N08/3148684473/in/set-72157601656878445/) the fringe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12190567@N08/3148684497/in/set-72157601656878445/). I don't think I should quit my day job to knot fringe. Lady Eleanor in all her glory (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12190567@N08/3148684519/in/set-72157601656878445/). Here's my current Lady E (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12190567@N08/3148684507/in/set-72157601656878445/). Gratuitous stash picture here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12190567@N08/3148684469/in/set-72157601656878445/). My next project, the Forest Path Stole (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33722602@N00/42680133/), since I'm obsessed with entrelac, but really want to start knitting lace. I'll make knitting (and finishing!) at least one lace project one of my resolutions.

[dogbutler]

Home. Worked all day [x]Yesterday [x]Today [x]Tomorrow. I had a drunken derelict threaten me at work tonight.

smowbunny, You can use my washer and dryer, I'll just run an Ethernet cable from the DSL box to the washer, and you can download your load.

MamaTigs, I drink a pot+ of joe a day.

{{{{Hazle}}}} {{{{kai}}}} : gropes rigs :

You'll do fine, picu, I'll keep you in my prayers.

Welcome newbies! Youre first resoltion should be to post like mad in the MMP. :D The second one is to not scream when we "initiate" you with Chuckles the squidgoat.:eek:

[Sticks and Scones]

I don't do New Year's resolutions. They don't work for me. Plus I am weak willed and stubborn and anything that says I have to or should makes my inner child want to scream... "No I don't and you can't make me!"

Yep. This is me EXACTLY.

[Mama Tiger]

Gorgeous Lady Eleanor, Shadow! What yarn did you use? And what are you using for the new one? That fringe is definitely a bear. The one I did for snowbunny, since she's so short, I fortunately could do the fringe with fewer rows of knots. But it still took a loooong time and I'm not sure it came out looking much better. Ah well, she loves it anyway. :)

And I am quite envious of your lovely stash storage! What are you using? Those look like some type of cubes with clear doors -- what are they exactly?

[whiterabbit]

Awesome! *sending doggio a load of dark stuff*

You realize I could still kill you for working on that in front of me for all that time and not letting me know that it was for me, right MamaTigs? Especially after all the drooling over it I was doing while honestly not knowing? Someday I will get you for that!

[Zoe]

I resolve to dance more.

[Mama Tiger]

You realize I could still kill you for working on that in front of me for all that time and not letting me know that it was for me, right MamaTigs? Especially after all the drooling over it I was doing while honestly not knowing? Someday I will get you for that!

Of course. Why do you think I did it? I mean, torturing one's children is the whole point of having them, isn't it? After the years of torture you subjected me to, it seemed only fair.

:D :D :D

[Dolores Reborn]

Gorgeous knitted stuff!

I went to the UPS Store to pick up our new monitor. Between the rental car with a key to open the trunk, and dogs in the car, and a big bulky box that the new monitor didn't fit in - I managed to leave my purse there. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: It was only for 10 minutes but - OMG! :eek: Nobody offered to help me, either, the bastages.

So - got the new monitor set up - it's awesome!

I made a chicken pot pie for dinner. It was awesome, too! But I sliced my finger so bad it took two sets of bandages to stop the bleeding. I tried not to bleed all over the food. ;) Y'all should see the typos I'm making... :) Stupid me - I was wiping off the knife blade and was not careful at all.

I called about getting a new rental, but I blew it off. I would have to go in early tomorrow, and I really don't have to go anywhere this week, except haircuts for Ernie and me on Wednesday. And a gyno appointment Friday at 10 am. They are going to counsel me as to the treatment for my osteoporosis! I'm not that old, dammit. :(

I should be asleep, but we just had a 40-minute power outage for no reason at all, and now I'm wide awake after turning out all the lights and resetting all the clocks.

See ya!

[Taters]

Why am I still awake, dammit? I was so tired today and now I'm wide awake. Arrgh! I have to get up early and work tomorrow. My body clock better straighten out or I'm gonna kick its ass.

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin' here. Also feelin' a little ick. I'm really hopin' I am not comin' down with teh sick. I feel a little achy which has me worried. That seems to be one of the early symptoms of the version of teh sick that's been goin' on around here.

Oh well, teh sick or not I gotta work. Time for more caffiene and some brekkies me thinks.

Later Y'all!

[anyrose]

Each year I am wildly successful at making one resolution only and never breaking it:

I resolve that this year I will not make any NY resolution
it's already broken - see my OP

eta: Hi MBG, {{{:)}}} how the heck are you?

[gardentraveler]

Awake. Donwanna.

That is all.

[FairyChatMom]

Also awake, having dozed on and off for a couple of hours before crawling out of bed. Critters have been tended to and dishwasher is washing dishes. I really should have run it last night. That could become a resolution, I suppose - ensure dishes are washed before bedtime??

FCD needs to run to Lowe's for some bolts or something, so he's taking me to breakfast... once he's out of bed... and we shower... and dress for going in public... details, details. ;)

I've come up with a plan for finishing the disaster that is the non-apartment basement. I shall mount an attack after breakfast, and do my laundry at the same time. The kids actually listened to me and set aside a bunch of empty boxes, so I have the means to sort and remove or store all that crap that's strewn about down there. I may actually get it done today.

Think I'll mosey back to the shower and get my sweetie to get his buns in gear. I want breakfast. I's hongry!!!

[tarragon918]

G'morning all, up and half-caffeinated here. LOL I've only had about a half cup of coffee, that is. I think this morning at work I'll have some tea along with my brekkies.

OMG, Shadow, those Lady Eleanor shawls are gorgeous! I especially love the one you're currently working on, all those vibrant colors, so beautiful.

Thinking of SpecialOne. and was glad to hear from him - such a tragic situation in Gaza. :( Prayers for all there. Good thoughts sent to Picu, too. And prayers and hugs for anyone else who is in need. CutiePie, hope things are going okay for you; you're in my thoughts too!

Gotta get something to eat. Rebo, be careful with those knives today!

[HazelNutCoffee]

First day of morning intensive classes. I've decided there is really no way to make grammar fun. I say this as a person who loves grammar - either you already like it or you don't. I'm just pleased none of my kids fell asleep in class.

Reunion scheduled for Saturday. There are a handful of people I do want to see, but for the most part I feel like reunions are weird affairs. Mostly I'm just surprised at how little people have changed.

[VunderBob]

Blurf. That is all.

[mmouse9799]

Mornin'

FCM, my Grandma loves knitted dish towels. I made some for her for Christmas. Where did you get the patterns?

Shadow, that shawl is beeyootiful! How hard is the pattern? I am also quite jealous of your yarn stash.

Poor Doggio, that is way too much work.

More later. Probably.

[Dolores Reborn]

Good morning!

Haze, I like grammar. I have no idea how to teach it and make it fun, but I like it! Maybe you could show them youtube videos of Schoolhouse Rock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo)!

The aminals let me sleep until almost 7:00! Yay! Today is Take the Tree Down Day. I have decreed it. The only other thing will be making sketties and meatballs, plus some homemade foccacia bread I found a recipe for. I'm not much of a baker, but this recipe calls for yeast and letting it rise! We shall see.

I need one more cup of coffee, and then I shall have some leftover chicken pot pie for breakfast. Yum!

[Mahna Mahna]

Blurf. Mornin'.

Gorgeous knittin's, Shadow. Your Lady Eleanor looks every so cozy - I just want to cuddle up with it and a mug of tea. Also, your stash is eminently covetable. Want.

Congrats on not lulling your students to sleep, Haze. I think you're right... that's probably the highest you can aim for when it comes to grammar. :)

Glad your fingers are OK, Rebo. Chicken pot pie tastes better without human blood, tho, just so you know for next time.

On that note, the microwave is beeping to let me know my Chinese food is now at an edible temperature. Mmmmmm... breakfast.

[Karyn]

I just blasted someone on another forum before I had even finished my first cup of coffee and now I'm going to be stuck in a dumb argument with a braindead twit for the rest of the day unless I muster up some self-control and stop responding to her. I wish I could remember never to post anything bitchy until I'm caffeinated and can decide if I want to get into a quicksand argument or not.

And the cat threw up : (

[Tupug Anachi]

Morning all and Happy New Years Eve Eve. ;)

Love the shawl! I am also envious of the neat and tidy stash bins.

Yo, mbg! How's it going?

My laundry gets done every Sunday, whether it needs it or not. :D

This is going to be a long day. Department head is out, Team Leader is out. Cow-orker is out this afternoon. Yawn....

Oh, well, at least I got some rest last night by sleeping in the guest room. Mr. Anachi is still sick but he got more rest, too. I made him sleep with the goggies, though. Tee, hee.

I've been worrying about nooney, too. Good vibes headed his way.

Tupug

[taxi78cab]

I'm back but I haven't caught up yet. So hugs, yays, boos, etc. as needed.

Christmas was good. Travel was fine with only minimal weather-related delays. We missed the worst of it. If anyone here got stuck at an airport somewhere, I'm really sorry!

I still have the @#$&* cold that I've been fighting for 3 weeks and this morning I broke out in hives. So I'm full of post-Christmas cheer right about now.

KT's off for 2 weeks because his company's doing a full shut down to try to save money. But despite that, they're still going to lay off almost 25% of their workforce in 2 weeks. So we're holding our breath on that front.

Hmm... given the above, I think my resolution should be to be more optimistic. ;)

Back later after I try to catch up!

[SmartAleq]

Gnrflrmph... G'mawnin' alla y'alls...

*points and laughs at Karyn* [Nelson Muntz] HA-ha! [/NM] Yup, never get into a flame war before you've had coffee--that's Intartoobz Bad Move #14! Got a link to the incipient train wreck so we can all watch and kibitz? :p

Tigs, I couldn't agree more--and the more hell the kid put you through growing up the more vengeance it entitles you to exact throughout the rest of their lives. My poor daughter will never get a rest, since she was the wild one, but her brother gets his fair share too!

I'm going up to get my side mirror replaced today and the headlights as well, I think I'm gonna act all cute and see if he can pop the ball joints and upper control arm bushings in at the same time so I don't wobble when I brake. That would be teh kewl, and I could finally get the alignment set right so I don't totally trash my tires. My little car is still getting the doors put on right, apparently it needs some welding to get it all to work properly or summat. I don't mind driving the van, especially now that propane has dropped to a reasonable level, but with the weather as it is I definitely prefer not to have a wambly front end.

Dang, Shadow, that pattern looks fiendishly hard to knit, is it? Is verra purty though, fershure...

Bear is convinced that our entire reason for existence is to throw things for him to run fetch. It must be nice to have such a simple POV--where do I sign up?

[VunderBob]

Bear is convinced that our entire reason for existence is to throw things for him to run fetch. It must be nice to have such a simple POV--where do I sign up?
When you find out, let me know. I keep asking for childhood innocence and youthful idealism for Christmas and birthday, and nobody seems to have any. :mad:

[SpazCat]

Just popping in to say 'allo. I'm visiting my mountain friend this week and we had an Adventure Sunday night chasing bears. Not the kind that swampy likes, the furry kind that gets in your trash and claws your trees.

My resolution is to be a selfish bitch. If someone wants me to do something for them, my first question will be "what's in it for me." The only exception is work. I'm tired of "friends" taking advantage of me and it shall end now.

rosie's sig to all! I have a high altitude to enjoy and a North Carolina snow day to cause. I am Snowbringer, dammit!

[FairyChatMom]

FCM, my Grandma loves knitted dish towels. I made some for her for Christmas. Where did you get the patterns?I found the one I wanted on this site (http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/dishcloths.php) - I made the "Idiot's Dishcloth" (nice name... :rolleyes: ) My mother in law had given me several of them that a friend of hers had made. I finally got around to looking for the pattern, and there it was! I intend to try a few of the others - I've got lots of yarn scraps to use up.

Back from our morning of running around. I'm about to head to the basement and get some organizin' done. These few days off have given me a taste of what retirement will be like. In think I can deal with it... Too bad I have to wait 7 more years.

[Taters]

Good morning my little chickadees.

Well, it appears that I will indeed be in San Antonio, Texas for the period 12-16 January. I'd actually fly in sometime 11 Jan, but that's a minor detail.

I'm going there to attend a course. Blech.

Oh well, at least it'll be knocked out for the year and I'll have met one of my performance objectives. Timing is kind of bad though...

Other than that, I got nuttin'.

Hugs, smooches, gropes to all.

On edit: FCM, at least you don't have to wait 11, like me. Even then, I hope I can afford to retire. I'll be the MRA with 37 years of service then.

[SmartAleq]

Bobbio, I suspect that to get Bear's attitude would require a radical transformation into a canine myself--rather Kafkaesque, that... :p I'm already a bitch, though, so it's not too much of a stretch. Saving everyone the strain of having to sprain their fingers to be first to make that comment. Yer welcome, y'heathens...

Hey, where's the pic of your kid? We have to inspect him to make sure he's hawt enough to have a chance at the Princess!

ETA: Ooh, Taters, Dopefest in old San Antone!

[Karyn]

SmartAleq, I don't think that the argument would make sense to anyone else and it's spread over a number of threads in a crappy local newspaper comments section. I started a homeless shelter back in the late 80's and she was a self-proclaimed activist who has spent the last 15 years making a spectacle of herself, accomplishing nothing, attacking everyone in sight that tries to help homeless people and generally giving homeless people a black eye every time she opens her mouth. I had to put up with her ankle biting shit for a decade because as an Executive Director I had to be above all of the squabbling and stay professional. Now that I don't, it's on. I get to slap her around for every stupid comment that she makes and every time she makes it clear that her own notoriety matters far more to her than advocating for homeless people does. It's therapeutic in a mean sort of way but every now and then it feels like I'm winning the special olympics of the internet.

[FairyChatMom]

Taters - I'll be MRA with 35.5 next January (not next month) but thanks to my TSP balance going down the cosmic toilet, I'm going to hang around till I'm 62, hence the 7 more years. I'm hoping the market will creep back up, plus a higher high-3 and the 1.1% multiplier at 62 will make it worthwhile. What the heck - I was going to keep working anyway - may as well do it as a senior engineer rather than as a junior WalMart greeter. :D

[The Blue-Sighted Shadow]

The stole with the fringe is La Lana Wools Forever Random Worsted (http://www.lalanawools.com/yarn.php?id=29&list=1) 100% Wool in Kachina I. I splurged at Stitches West last February and the owner of La Lana picked the skeins for me because I couldn't decide. Since the fringe looks wimpy, I'm considering using their Lincoln Thickspun (http://www.lalanawools.com/yarn.php?id=53&list=1) in either kota or pale madder or a combination of the two. It would definitely be striking! My current Lady E is Noro Kureyon 170. I'm not normally a big fan of orange and yellow, but I think they work in this colorway. It's nice and cheerful for a winter project.

Entrelac looks more complicated than it really is. I like being able to finish a square and have something completed. Lots of people think entrelac is really tedious, so in that sense, it's difficult. It's really just knitting little squares and triangles.

My stash storage is an Ikea bookcase (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086) on its side. The boxes are these (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30150192). The boxes were far more annoying to put together than the bookcase, IMHO.

[VunderBob]

Bobbio, I suspect that to get Bear's attitude would require a radical transformation into a canine myself--rather Kafkaesque, that... :p I'm already a bitch, though, so it's not too much of a stretch. Saving everyone the strain of having to sprain their fingers to be first to make that comment. Yer welcome, y'heathens...!

I've often said that should reincarnation exist, I want to come back as a dog in my house. As far as bein' a bitch, ya wanna trade the Left Coast for the Right? ;)

Hey, where's the pic of your kid? We have to inspect him to make sure he's hawt enough to have a chance at the Princess!

So I screwed up (and around) last night by loading a hunter that fell out of his treestand and broke his back into the helicopter, instead of finding a pic of my Rugrat to post for you. Sue me.

I just looked in my Photobucket account and didn't see any of him. At the worst, you'll just have to wait until tomorrow when he gets here from Indiannoplace. :p

[Mama Tiger]

Howdy, all. I'd say morning except I just noticed it's past noon, which makes it afternoon. Not that I just got up; eve I'm not that lazy. Most of the time, anyway. :D

I've often said that when I come back, I want to come back as one of my pets. Talk about a rough life. :rolleyes:

I'm so pleased you agree with me about torturing one's children, Smartie! Actually, snowbunny's brother was the truly crazy-making one - crawling through a third floor balcony railing and hanging off it, climbing like a little monkey at age 3 or 4 to the very top of a huge ladder truck when we were taking the Girl Scouts for a tour of the fire station and I turned my back on him for 2 seconds, etc. He'll be in for his share one of these days, I'm fully confident. :D

Ikea boxes, eh, Shadow? That's a great idea. I'll have to wander by our local Ikea one of these years and see if they carry them. With my luck, they'll have just sold out of all but one when I go there, and I see they're not sold online. Oh well, I'll figure something out. Someday, when we move into our retirement house, I'm going to have a whole room devoted to my knitting and sewing, with lots of work space and storage space and all. In the meantime, I'll cope. I'm impressed that you splurged for La Lana yarn, however -- I've drooled over their website on many occasions, but the prices always put the fear of Og into me. At least of the yarns I really want.

Back to knitting. Plain knitting, round and round in circles, and then in a couple more rows starting the final set of decreases. To my amazement, this yarn actually has lasted, although I'm nearly out of the light-colored, so I made the tassel before going to work on the part of the hat that'll be on the inside towards the head in any case. And then I've got several things I need to wash and block later, once I finish the hat, which I should some time this afternoon. Yay! I'll take several photos of it so you can see it in all its glory. I've done a pretty darn good job if I do say so myself. But I have a barely-started pair of socks from a knitalong calling me to come finish them, so I'd like to at least have a chance to get back to them before the New Year! I really am enjoying being able to just sit here and knit, however; I know I'll need to get some work shortly so we don't starve, but in the meantime, this is really pleasant, just getting up, pouring a cuppa, and sitting down to peaceful knitting. Speaking of which...

[picunurse]

I'm back! With good news! and an amusing anticdote for FCM.
I tend to make jokes when I'm stressed. I walked into the procedure room, then laid myself on the table. A gaggle of nurses followed me in, one covered me with a warm blanket. Before they dispersed to their various jobs, I called them all together. I said, "I'm a critical care nurse, so we're all colleagues here. I really don't want to be naked, so if I have to be naked, it would only be fair if you be naked too. It's really cold in here, so let's all stay warm, 'k?"

I got a big laugh and stayed well covered throughout.

My good news is my coronary arteries are as good as some 18 year olds. I have a less than 25% occlusion in one small area. With diet and exercise even that should resolve.

I'm so happy!

I also talked about Pink Floyd as they gave me the drugs. They were all so young they didn't get the "comfortable numb" reference.

[SmartAleq]

Sorry, Bobbio, I've been to the Right side of the country and it's too crowded, grubby and weird for me! I like my trackless forests and good weed and amazing beer and clean rivers and laid back attitudes and really wild coastline too much to ever move away--but if you ever get tired of that side of the world there are a ton of VFDs out here, a drastic shortage of health care professionals and significantly less naggy wimmens... PNW women will just shoot you if you get too far out of line, they won't peck you to death!

Okay, Karyn, I thought you meant around here--but if you want some help freeping your nemesis lemme know because I have a turn of phrase for flaming when I get motorvated... :p

Yay for picu! See, toldja everything would be just fine!

You sound so relaxed, Tigs, keep it up...

[FairyChatMom]

Yay, picu!! Glad all is well. But I really didn't need a mental image of a bunch of nekkid nurses, especially thinking of the nurses at my Dr's office... <shudder> Don't get me wrong, they're very nice and competent professionals, but, nekkid? Thanks, no...

Taking a break after a couple of hours of sorting crap. I'm waiting for FCD to get to a point where he can break so we can discuss the remaining crap. Some will come upstairs, most will stay downstairs, and some will probably be tossed. I'm just not going to make those choices with regard to his tools and supplies. Once he decided what stays, I can organize and store it. But I'm not going to put a lot of effort only to have him say "But, that box in the back on the bottom - I need that upstairs!!!"

We've got a bazillion outlets and switches in assorted colors and styles. And cover plates. We'll be able to use some in the new garage and I'm sure more plugs will be installed in the current garage/future workshop. Still, I don't see us using them all. But some are brand new in the box, so we can sell them.

All the work we've been doing - him upstairs and me down - and neither of us feel as if we've accomplished anything. I know we have, but there's still so much mess. Stoopit tidying fairy...

I need to do some priming and painting, too. Yep, nice, restful vacation.

[Dolores Reborn]

I've been productive! All the decorations are packed away, as are the ornaments. The only thing left on the tree are the lights. I got sidetracked a couple of times, and cleaned out a couple of drawers.

You see, last night when we had the power outage, we only had one flashlight that worked. We have four! So I put batteries in the flashlights, and sorted through all the loose batteries in the drawer to see if any were bad. There were a few! So they're all organized, as are all the charging devices that live in that drawer. Yay me!

Yay picu! I'm glad all went well.

I want to retire, too, but I'm only 50. :p ("Only" 50 - what a concept! :D)

[Lissla Lissar]

Ya, picu! Sorry, haven't read much, am too sleepy. Hello, everyone.


Mr. Lissar says he still loves me even though I'm eating fruitcake and cheese for lunch. Isn't that nice?

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Yo. Unemployed and eating Cherrios.

'Sup?

[VunderBob]

Sorry, Bobbio, I've been to the Right side of the country and it's too crowded, grubby and weird for me! I like my trackless forests and good weed and amazing beer and clean rivers and laid back attitudes and really wild coastline too much to ever move away--but if you ever get tired of that side of the world there are a ton of VFDs out here, a drastic shortage of health care professionals and significantly less naggy wimmens... PNW women will just shoot you if you get too far out of line, they won't peck you to death!

In all seriousness, my dad was born in Woodburn during the Depression, so there's sort of a tie to the Left Coast and Oregon. The whole family came back to Indiana sometime before Pearl Harbor. My grandmother did not like to talk about the time much, because it involved her health problems. I thought they went out there looking for work...

You must have been to that part of The Right Coast north of DC, which I agree is The Suck. There's nuttin' crowded 'bout Cottonfield County... ;)

[Tupug Anachi]

bobbio, if he looks anything like Rob Pattinson (http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii202/brightangel90_2008/Twilight/RobertPattinson.jpg), he's in! ;)

smarty, I meant to tell you earlier that I got a big kick out of your frisbee in the snow video.

Yay, picu!

[FairyChatMom]

We've decided tonight will be our delayed anniversary dinner. We're going to the Japanese steak house. Can't wait. yum. :D

[gotpasswords]

Hooray for uneventful angioplasties!

Seems like everyone's knitting today. My crafty task at the moment is making a small picture frame. It's not the style I really wanted to make, but I wasn't given sufficient lead time...it needs to be ready to give as a gift on Saturday. What I really wanted to do would be impossible as my workshop is buried under stuff that needs to be sold off on eBay and displaced non-christmas decorations. Once the house is de-christmassed, the decor will go back to wherever, the christmassy stuff gets packed away, and I'll still have a workbench covered in vintage sewing machines. :( And, it'll still be cold out there.

[Mahna Mahna]

Hai everybody!

Glad all went well, picu. I'm shocked and appalled that the "comfortably numb" joke went over the nurses' heads though... how young could they possibly be? (wait... no... don't tell me, because then I'll have to freak out that even full-fledged nurses are babies compared to me)

LiLi, fruitcake and cheese sounds like a perfectly reasonable lunch to me. In fact, I could go for some fruitcake right about now. MMmmmmmm.

I've had a lovely day of not much at all... nibbled on some chinese food, then puttered around until it was time to meet up with one of my friends from work for lunch. We successfully managed to sit around for 2 hours without talking about work even once. I'm proud of us. :) I'm sure the half-bottle of wine we polished off probably helped, but let's just ignore that, shall we?

And now, I do believe I need to get my butt in gear... that breakfast casserole for tomorrow NYE brunch just doesn't seem to be assembling itself, for some odd reason.

[taxi78cab]

Whew! Caught up.

Glad the procedure went well, picu!

Speaking of marriage problems, I got an email today from a friend from grad school who got married recently and then separated after 7 weeks! They're getting divorced now. I don't know him well enough to be like "WTF??" so I don't know if they rushed into it without getting to know each other and discovered major incompatibilities in under 2 months or what. How does one give up after only 7 weeks?

I'm jealous of everyone who's off right now. Work's very quiet, which means it should be a great time to get a lot done, but somehow my motivation tanked after lunch. I really wanna go home. Or go out and play in the snow. But instead I'm going to see if I can get back in the swing of things as soon as I finish posting.

I've flown lots of times with knitting needles - even metal ones. No one's ever given them a second look. On my Christmas trip I had 2 scarves and one baby blanket in progress for a total of 6 needles in my carry-on with no problem even when I was flagged for special screening (because my return flight looked to Delta like a one-way that was not a credit card purchase because I'd bought the ticket through NW using a voucher from a previous trip... complicated but the point is that it raised red flags but the knitting needles didn't). So in general I think the TSA is good about letting knitting needles through, but that's just my experience.

OK, I'm going to try to get some work done. Yippee.

[gotpasswords]

Sometimes Amazon just gets a little weird... Two weeks ago, I placed an order for something like two books, two DVDs and some software. At checkout, they say it will be shipped in three separate shipments. No biggie - I have "Prime" so I really don't care how many boxes will be involved.

Two days later, UPS drops off one box. Inside is my full order, all neatly stacked and shrink-wrapped. :confused: Brilliant packaging, BTW. It's all tightly held together so the book jackets don't get scuffed up, and doesn't need five cubic feet of styrofoam peanuts.

Today, I order up the makings of a networked storage drive so we can back up our Macs with "Time Machine" - two one-terabyte drives, a case for them, and a DVD. At checkout, they say the DVD will ship today, and the computer stuff will arrive next Tuesday. An hour later, the email comes saying that the drive cabinet has shipped and the DVD and the drives will be shipped later. Eh, whatever. I know they'll get it to me sooner or later.

Saw something unusual at lunch - a full-on bare knuckles fistfight on the sidewalk. My office is in such a lovely part of town... can't wait for us to move into a nicer building downtown.

[Tripler]

Me: Read a book a month. Why is this such a big deal? 'Cause I don't read enough.

Tripler
. . . and I mean books, like from a library. Not the Innerwebs.

[eleanorigby]

Ok, so I want to knit another scarf. I want VERTICAL stripes, though. How to do this? I am :confused: I have the yarn, the will and the time. I need knowledge....




Help, please.

And yay for uneventful angios and other good news. I am making cookies for this departmental meeting tomorrow (which has turned into a political nightmare--we have another dept head coming to OUR meeting to talk to us about courteous behavior. This is the same dept head who was grossly unprofessional to one of our staff. I have no idea where our dept head's balls are, but I think he no longer owns his own set. I could tell you stories!)


So, I thought we should have some cookies for our meeting. Morale is important and I'm bored.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

We bought a fab sofa table today picture of it (http://stickley.com/OurProducts_Details.cfm?id=6522&referrer=search&q=sofa+table&Collection=&SearchSubmit=SEARCH&finish=)

Love it- it was too expensive (by my count, but I think everything is too expensive), but we ended up getting it anyway.

[anyrose]

Reunion scheduled for Saturday. There are a handful of people I do want to see, but for the most part I feel like reunions are weird affairs. Mostly I'm just surprised at how little people have changed.you're young yet - wait until you go to your 25th or 30th (or higher) Not only have they changed, but most, if not all, of the petty crap that was so important back then is gone, and you all actually like each other.

<snip>rosie's sig to all! <snip>::head in hands:: what have I wrought?

I'm back! With good news! <snip> . . . my coronary arteries are as good as some 18 year olds. I have a less than 25% occlusion in one small area. With diet and exercise even that should resolve.

I'm so happy!very good news indeed

I want to retire, too, but I'm only 50. :p ("Only" 50 - what a concept! :D)right there with you, sister

Yo. Unemployed and eating Cherrios.

'Sup?a rare LOUNE sighting! Wow! How've you been?

Evening blurfiness will send me to bed real soon now.

[tarragon918]

Yay, great news, Picu about the angio! So good to hear things went so well too.

I turned 56 last September and am retirement eligible (I've got going on 32 years in service and am in the old CSRS so can retire at 55), but with this economy I definitely cannot afford to retire yet. I'd only have to get a part-time job so why not just stick it out? So I am definitely feeling it sometimes, the keen desire to retire. LOL I think at least some of you know what I'm talking about.

It's been pretty quiet at work; a co-worker's mother passed away on Sunday and we've sent her a plant. Her mother had melanoma and had been suffering. I ended up leaving work early; I'll be in tomorrow but most of my co-workers are off for the holidays, and I'm not sure if anyone will be in on Friday.

The reason I left work early was to make a trip to a local Jo-Ann's craft shop, where I got enough yarn to start at least one project, possibly two. And thanks to the suggestions of other Mumpers, I got some nice, soft yarn and it's blue variegated, which I just love! I've already started on that project, which will be an afghan.

Happy New Year, one evening early. :)

[Taters]

That's great news on the results of the angio, picu!

I missed being in the old retirement system by a month and six days, although my service comp date is Sep 83 because I worked as a summer temp the summer of '82. Confused yet?

I started my active federal service on February 6th, 1984. I feel totally ripped off.
The FERS (Federal Employee Rip-Off System) is not going to be good to federal retirees. Okay, it really stands for Federal Employee Retirement System, but I like my name better.

My chest hurts. I think that cold I thought I had successfully fought off is coming on strong. Two of my office mates were coughing, sneezing and snuffling all day. I'm sure I'm next.

I completed my TDY orders for my trip to San Antonio. At first I couldn't get a flight that was more advantageous to the government and almost lucked out and got a direct flight from Seattle to San Antonio. Unfortunately, our DTS guy made me try the cheaper flight again, and now I'm stuck on it. I depart Seattle, fly to LA, and then fly to San Antone. On the way back, I depart San Antone, fly to Denver, and then fly to Seattle. Blech.

I'm peering anxiously at my CD drive, but I do not see any cookies popping out for me, :p

I guess I should figure out what I'm making for dinner. Strangely, I'm not hungry, but I'm sure the hubby is.

[FairyChatMom]

Once again, we had a wonderful dinner at the Japanese Steak House - I had the filet and scallops and FCD had filet and shrimp. Our cook was a real firecracker - certainly the most fun of the 5 or 6 times we've gone. But the guy at the table next to us, I swear, he didn't speak. He did the juggling and the flaming onion and all the stuff, but in silence. Weird.

I wish it was a little less pricy, because we'd go more often. Still, it was nice. And afterwards, we went next door to Penney's where my sweetie got 5 sweaters for waaaaay cheap! He needed then - one sweater he still occasionally wears is one I made him 24 years ago. It's kinda ratty looking.

I'm tired. Hope I can sleep thru tonight. As long as Taz doesn't hog my side of the bed...

[Mama Tiger]

Yay for uneventful angios, picu! See, I told you one like Papa Tigs' was the kind to hope for. :)

Pretty table, Soapy!

Tripler, referring to your comment to me about the helmet liner at the end of last week's MMP, are you sure I was the one who sent it to you? Because I remember someone else volunteering to send you one, and I then got the pattern and knit several, but I honestly don't remember sending it to you. So I'll accept the thanks on behalf of whoever knit yours, but I can't take the credit, I don't think.

Rigs, to knit a scarf with horizontal stripes, it's very easy -- just knit the scarf long way across rather than short way. And if you're really lazy, you can leave a 6" to 8" tail at both ends of each row, then start the new row with another color with similar tails, and voilà -- you have a scarf with fringe all built in. This page (http://zona.livejournal.com/2008/09/11/) has a recipe for a horizontal scarf with a really attractive woven pattern, and here is another one (http://knittingtidbits.blogspot.com/2008/12/week-of-scarves-day-2-lengthwise-woven.html). Or you can just do garter stitch if you don't want to do something fancy. I've been meaning to knit myself one ever since I saw a woman in the credit union with one last year, so I'm glad to find these patterns for myself! You don't have to change color each row, but if you want to not have to worry about adding a fringe later, you can still cut the yarn for each row and you'll have it anyway.

I've only got a few rounds to finish this hat -- I decrease 4 stitches each round, and I'm down 32 stitches total, so why is it taking effing forever? I want to FINISH this hat! I've been knitting on it more steadily than I have on any project in recent memory -- I'm usually far, far less monogamous project-wise! Plus I've got some other things that are just begging me to get back to them. Grrrr!

I just finished some yummy homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Not that I made them myself -- Papa Tigs stopped by the amputee center to say hello to the dogs (Sergeant Major George, the golden retriever, is on vacation, so there was a substitute golden and two labs filling in for him) and pick up as many goodies as he could carry for me. I've trained him well. :)

So which yarn did you end up gettting, herbs, and what's the color name or number? I adore blue variegated yarn; I'll look it up online and admire it if you give the info.

[Mama Tiger]

By the way, GT, check your PMs.

[HazelNutCoffee]

Yay picu!

:: hugs for Taters ::

You knitters are ridiculously talented. Every time I try to knit a scarf it looks like it's been chewed up and spit out by Olive.

rosie - maybe you're right, although I can't imagine us still having reunions 30 years from now. It's not a school reunion, actually - when I was in college I was part of this huge student organization - we had members from all different kinds of universities - and for two years I was one of the handful who ran the whole operation. We were very active for a few years but after the class of 2001 graduated for some reason the whole thing petered out, and now we really don't do anything other than get together every now and then. We have a LOT of history/drama that still hasn't quite managed to bury itself yet. But in 30 years, who knows.

Last night Irish Coworker and another friend of ours, Musicman (he was a music major and is a walking encyclopedia of songs) came over and had some beers at my place. I asked Irish Coworker if he wanted to stay over but he had errands to run in the morning - going to the bank and stuff. I teased him about how I took it personally that he obviously found the bank more interesting than spending the night with me, and he basically fell all over himself apologizing. He's always very sincere so it's terrible of me to make fun of him like that, but he's so cute when he squirms. :p

[eleanorigby]

Tigs--those scarves are gorgeous, but intimidating. I did buy a pair of circular needles. I am not at all sure how to change yarns, but I'll get there. Keep in mind I'm doing all of this piecemeal and slowly. So far, I haven't used a pattern yet--I find all those directions a bit much. Daughter's scarf I just knit until I ran out of yarn.... I understand the design of the lengthwise scarf, but the execution of it is something else. One wonderful thing about yarn and knitting--you can just unravel the whole thing and start over. I knit Daughter's scarf 4 times (and was heartily sick of it by the end, but the stitches were much better and even in the end).


I suppose in time I'll be doing the pattern stuff etc. I really like it, but I'm lazy as hell and also not all that ambitious.

I do have 2 skeins of yarn that I thought looked good in the store but I find their weight is too light (weave, whatever--the yarn is too thin) for me to comfortably knit right now. I'll save them for something else (lost the receipts long ago). I do hope this isn't the start of yarn storage for me. I find I like the pretty, pretty colors in the store and then I have to do something with them! Gah.

[Mama Tiger]

Of course it's the start of your yarn stash, Rigs. Welcome to the dark side. Muahaha!

Seriously, just cast on a whole bunch of stitches and start knitting for a few inches, then bind off. Adding fringe is easy -- just wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard or a book or something, cut at one end, and then grab a couple hanks at a time and, with a crochet hook, fasten them into one stitch at the end of the scarf. Rinse and repeat. That'll give you an easy lengthwise scarf -- and guess what? It's following a pattern. Just a really, really easy one that I just wrote out for you. :D

[gardentraveler]

Got your PM and wrote you back, MamaT. Thanks!

Just finished skimming through the old MMP. I added the recipes I came across (Lemon Cream Cheese Pie, B52 cheesecake (including link to a normal-scale recipe), Corn and Zucchini Medley).

Hope everyone's healthy now and weather has improved. I have lots of responses to last week's posts, but no time, so...rosie's sig. Also, hope you're staying safe, SO. (Yeah, I know, it's fairly far away from you, but still....) Thought of you when I heard that they were starting to call up reserves.

Also made the coffeecake LiLi shared a couple MMPs ago, this time with peaches and blueberries on top. It's out of the oven now and should be cool enough to try shortly. Yum.

All the knitting is making me want to relearn. Maybe soon.

Back tomorrow.

Hugs.

GT

[Tripler]

Tripler, referring to your comment to me about the helmet liner at the end of last week's MMP, are you sure I was the one who sent it to you? Because I remember someone else volunteering to send you one, and I then got the pattern and knit several, but I honestly don't remember sending it to you. So I'll accept the thanks on behalf of whoever knit yours, but I can't take the credit, I don't think.

I thought you did, but it was a while ago, and I could have been mistaken. If you're sure you didn't, then I have to thank whomever did. But I have to tell you, they'll enjoy it as much as I did. A preemptive thank you from me on behalf of the recipient!

Tripler
I am obliged. Thank you guys and gals.

[dogbutler]

Home. Blurf. Can't wait for 08 to end.

Great news, picu! mmmmm.......naked Mumper nurses.........

LOUNE!!!!!!!! Sorry about the unemployment. Cheerios are nice, though.

[Mama Tiger]

I thought you did, but it was a while ago, and I could have been mistaken. If you're sure you didn't, then I have to thank whomever did. But I have to tell you, they'll enjoy it as much as I did. A preemptive thank you from me on behalf of the recipient!

Tripler
I am obliged. Thank you guys and gals.

Cool. I'll be sure to have my mom tell him it comes highly recommended from one who should know. I'm just glad your was so useful, no matter who knit it! And January is a miserable time to be heading to Afghanistan, so I suspect if I pass word along that I'm willing to knit more, I may get slammed with requests...but that's fine; as someone who hates being cold, I have nothing but admiration for you guys and gals who are willing to put yourselves in such uncomfortable situations for extended periods in order to try to bring peace and stability to such a messed-up place!

[SmartAleq]

You must have been to that part of The Right Coast north of DC, which I agree is The Suck. There's nuttin' crowded 'bout Cottonfield County... ;)

Well, I've been to NYC which was interesting but too freaky for me. Then I made a trip through the South--Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. Saw some interesting stuff and some pretty country but I don't think I'd feel at home there... Nope, I like Oregon, it's where I fled to be rid of California and I felt like I'd come home as soon as I got to Portland. Woodburn, huh? Right down the road--they have a WallyWorld nowadays!

Glad you enjoyed it, Pugs, I can assure you that the goggies enjoyed making it!

The van is very happy now that it has a bright shiny new passenger side mirror, headlights and door handle, yay! I'm taking it in early next week to have the upper ball joints and upper control arm bushings replaced, which will make it all perfect again--just in time to replace the tires since they've gotten all worn weird due to the suspension being off. The little car is still having difficulties since there was some other weird body damage from the effin' garbage truck that's gonna need welding and some fabrication work. I has grr for this.

The doggies had fun running around chasing a ball all day at the shop and out at my partner's house--luckily the donkeys were up in the barn already because Bear has an unholy fascination with them and is gonna get his skinny slats kicked in by one or both of them if he doesn't quit messing with them. Try telling a brickheaded lab/husky cross that, though. Yeah, I'll wait!

[Mama Tiger]

Remind me not to knit dishcloths with double strands of worsted-weight cotton on size 6 (4 mm) needles again, or at least not until after I've had the joint replacement surgery on my right thumb. Because it is really Not Fun. Unfortunately, I need to get the second requested dishcloth knitted for SIL to get sent to her with her hat, and since it's her Christmas present it seems only fair to get it to her as quickly as possible. But I realized today that I am sick of deadline knitting. It takes a lot of the fun out of it. So my resolution to plan better for next year is alive and well and shall definitely be followed! Just so I don't end up finding myself spending more time on one project than I like, when I'd much rather set it aside for a few days and do something else. I have learned that I'm an exceedingly flighty knitter, alas.

Papa Tigs had his thyroid ultrasound today, and will hopefully hear (good) results either tomorrow or Friday, so do send good thoughts out to the universe on his behalf, if you don't mind. I refuse to worry about either of us, although I did put in a call to my doc to make sure none of my medications contribute to higher eye pressure, just a common sense measure. Nope, he and I are going to be alive and well and bickering well into old age. And bicker we do. Just ask snowbunny. :D

Oh, one sad piece of news: We're going to have to cancel going to the inaugural ball that we were able to get tickets for. Papa Tigs has been informed that he will be reporting for work at 0700 that day, and will be working until whenever they decide he will. So we have no idea if he'll be free that evening or not. :( I am very disappointed, obviously, but I also understand that he's needed, and it's just a wee bit more important than us going out and partying. But I still would have really loved to go. If snowbunny were closer, she could have been my "date" to the ball, but otherwise, I just can't see going. :(

Off to catch some Zs. Tomorrow something amazing is happening -- I'm getting some actual paying work! I'm actually a bit sorry I am, but Papa Tigs is much relieved, so I guess I'll have to be a good girl and get it done. I was enjoying just being able to putter, though, and was hoping to be able to do it until next week!

[swampbear]

Mornin' Y'all! All sick and stuffy here. Caffiene and brekkies helped a bit. Soon I shall go stand under a hot shower.

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Sick or not to work we go!

picu yay!!! Glad everything is ok!

Later Y'all!

[tarragon918]

Up and caffeinating here as well ... and off to work too. LOL Last work day of 2008 though at least, right? ;)

Enjoy and Happy New Year, y'all. :)

[FairyChatMom]

Nope, he and I are going to be alive and well and bickering well into old age. And bicker we do. Just ask snowbunny. :DWait a sec - I've been around the 2 of you at least twice, and I didn't witness any bickering. Unless you count that suckerpunch to his gut a bicker... :p

If you need an extra pair of hands to help make the helmet liners, email me details and instructions. I'll be glad to knit some. Or was it crochet? Either way, I can do it. I have talented digits sometime.

And I'm up early, thanks to my bladder and my little doggie. But that's fine - I don't want to suffer too much come Monday when I go back to the office. I need to break this cycle of staying up late - my body is getting used to 11PM and that's not good when you need to get up at 5AM. I can't function long on 6 hours of sleep. Stoopit circadian cycle.

Is anyone partying tonight? Do share the details so I can party vicariously. Honestly, we haven't stayed up for the dropping of the ball in more years than I can remember. More than a decade ago (maybe as much as 15 years), we went to our last NYE party - an evening of trivia games with friends that was a riot. But since then, we stay home, chill, and fall asleep long before midnight. Woo and hoo! :rolleyes:

Now get off my lawn and enjoy the last day of 2008!

[kaiwik]

I had most of a reply typed out when the big kids came over. tea was handed to me, and as I was taking her coat off she reached out and pushed the power button on the laptop. So now it's gonna be a short note, and keep in mind that I am slightly impaired*.

Oh yeah, BBBobio, my favorite aunt and uncle lived in Woodburn for several years not that long ago. They helped run a nursery specializing in rhododendrons and azaleas. On further reading, so that's where you are at, huh smartie?

I really can't remember anything more right now, so hey everyone, have a good New Year's Eve if I don't get back here before then.

Oh, and I do have a resolution. I'm gonna be like taxi and work on looking for the silver linings.

Thanks for being my friends.



*this is something along the lines of an obligatory drunken post :p


Whoa, I am crashing late, it's true, but y'all are getting up and beginning your days? Time zones always astound me. G'night for now from way up and over here.

[VunderBob]

I am filled with much grrrrrrrrrrr. VunderKind called me from the airport to say the flight from Indy to Motown was cancelled, and I had to fill him in on re-ticketing. I'm now waiting for him to call back with revised flight info. Harumph.

Busy night for Cottonfield County emergency folks. Two different ambulance calls for strokes, and a small fire in a transmission line causing a blackout. I didn't go to any of them because it was bedtime, I took a fistful of melatonin, and the fire wasn't in my district.

Brekkied and WTHU #1 down. Must call the Rugrat.

[tarragon918]

I forgot - MaMaTigs, I got some of the Red Heart soft yarn, that one is a purple variegated called purple mist. But my big batch was some Rainbow soft, Jo-Ann's own brand, I think, the big skeins because they were 30% off. I have already made a start on that--that's the blue one, but I don't recall the name of it, and I'm at work now, so can't look. :(

Hope Vunderkid gets to visit, safe and sound, BBBBobbio. I'm sending my son back to Little Rock tomorrow morning. Sad as this sounds, I'm ready for him to go! LOL I love my son, but he has some aggravating habits. Like using up my deodorant!! :p

Happy Wednesday all - last work day of the week and year for me....woo hoo!

[3acresandatruck]

I'm back! With good news!
...I walked into the procedure room, then laid myself on the table. I'm glad it went so well for you. I'm amazed they let you just walk in, instead of having you on a cart and rolling you in. Do they normally do that or were you a special case?

[VunderBob]

VunderKind hits ORF at 1530, instead of 1145. So much for blowing off half a day at the office... :(

[Karyn]

My partner is a wonderful man but I'm not very happy with him right now. He waited until 8 o'clock last night to tell me that our new stove is getting delivered today and then yanked the old one out without giving me a chance to clean it before it gets moved into the little cabin that we rent out. Scary things lurk behind and under stoves that haven't been moved in 5 years and I had to get all of that cleaned up before bed, and now I have to finish cleaning the old oven out in the yard instead of inside where it's warm and there is hot running water. But, he got us a new oven and it has a flat top so it will be easy to clean so I'll keep my annoyance to myself. Does anyone know if you can use oven cleaner on the heating elements of electric stoves?

[mmouse9799]

Mornin'.

I sucessfully* drove to Manchester, NH last night to pick up Hawkeyeop's sister.

Mama Tigs Those scarf patterns look very interesting. Methinks it would make a good afgan pattern also. I am also willing and (probably) able to knit helmet liners. How complicated is the pattern? (I have not much experience following patterns, and even less with difficult ones. But, I'm trying to get better.) What kind of yarn do you use? (Hopefully it's pretty cheap.) We can have our own little "Knit for Soldiers" club here in the MMP.

Snowstorm today--6-8 inches expeced during working hours. Who the H3ll decided that New England was supposed to get soooo much snow? I would like to have a not particularly pleasant word with them.

*kept the getting lost to the bare minimum. This is always good as my sense of direction is terrible and Hawkeyeop's is worse. Thanks Google!

[FairyChatMom]

Karyn - I'd read the oven cleaner label to see if it would damage the elements. I've got a self-cleaning oven, so I haven't bought cleaner in years.

I'd like to ask for a moment of silence in tribute to my dying iced tea maker. It's actually an old coffee maker that FCD got the first time he married (that would be 1975.) Neither of us will drink coffee, but I found it was the easiest way to make iced tea for him - fill the reservoir, 4 teabags in the carafe, plug in, TEA!! Of late, the step between plug in and TEA is taking longer and longer. I expect the elements are about to fizzle out. Guess I need to shop for a cheap coffee maker soon.

I need to get dressed and get motivated. I did make breakfast and empty/fill the dishwasher and clean the sink. I also helped FCD rip some OSB to make shelves for his shop. I've got to finish my laundry and finish the disaster that is the back corner of my studio. I just don't feel like it. Plus I need to get a coat of primer on the kids' microwave shelf so it can be installed before they get home. And I really should get out of the fuzzy robe and slippers and don some real clothing.

I should.

I really should...

OK, fine. I will...

[Mahna Mahna]

Mmffphhg.

Awake. Would rather be in bed. What possessed me to invite people over for brunch when I knew full well we wouldn't get home until ridiculously late.

Latest Chapter in Little Sister's Wedding Fiasco - they've decided to get married in a small intimate ceremony in Halifax next May, surrounded by her real family friends. Invitations will be sent out to all immediate family, and it'll be up to us to sort out who gets to go based on the status of various ongoing feuds. Joy. Bliss.

Soooooo... pending arrival of this invitation, I now need to decide whether or not I even want to go at this point. I'm not impressed by the fact that we're expected to drop everything and fly to freakin' Halifax to wish her well on short notice... especially after her little "you're not invited" speech last June.

Besides, it's not like she's pregnant or he's going off to war, so I just don't understand this mad dash to the altar. I worry how this will end. :(

[SpazCat]

Yowza! They weren't kidding when they predicted wind gusts of up to 50 mph! I hope I don't blow away. This place is rattling like a tin can. Which it technically is. (It's a single-wide trailer being upgraded to a log cabin. I don't think I'll be heading downhill to the Greek coffee place today. I'll wait until Mountain Friend comes back.

Speaking of, I was appointed an official third wheel on a first date between MF and a Nice Guy he just met. We went bowling, which as I have learned, is a great first date for Members of the Family. ;) I went along again last night to a movie house/pizza place to watch W (the Oliver Stone movie about Dubya). It was a pretty decent film, but I kept having to duck the little hearts floating around. I'm glad. MF deserves to find a Nice Guy after years of crazyasses.

Also, I seem to have adopted a new cat. There's a white-and-tabby cat that's been hanging around on the porch (the same one we chased bears off of). I was reading a book out there the other day and she hopped up on my lap and nuzzled me for hours. Her name is now Duchess and I'm going to have to come back up here with a cat carrier after I get Petercat checked out at the vet to make sure his teeth and liver are fine. Then the fighting will begin.

MF's Naracat just got in front of the screen and is showing far too much interest in my pizza. I must deal with this.

[FairyChatMom]

Muppet - if you attend the wedding, you're a better person than I.

Still not dressed, but I'm on my way - I promise! Really! Right.............. NOW!

[picunurse]

I'm glad it went so well for you. I'm amazed they let you just walk in, instead of having you on a cart and rolling you in. Do they normally do that or were you a special case?

If you don't have symptoms, and their using your arm, they let you walk. If they have to prep your groin, first, you get a ride.

They were worried that I might lose my radial artery, but my pulse is back and strong today. My arm ached yesterday, but, I feel back to normal today.

[taxi78cab]

Those scarves do look pretty, but I hate casting on so the thought of having to cast on that many stitches for anything other than a blanket/throw/afghan just doesn't float my boat.

The hives have gotten worse today, spreading from my legs to my stomach and arms as well. Yippee.

Work's really quiet today and a couple of my coworkers were talking about leaving by noon. (Work technically closes at 3 today.) I'm trying to decide if I can justify not coming back after lunch. Which would probably require actually doing some work first and not just doping, huh?

[Mama Tiger]

Morning, all. It is WINDY here. So windy that when the Idiots went out for their pre- and post-breakfast trips to the yard, I kicked 'em out and shut the door, instead of leaving it cracked open with the thermal curtain pulled over the gap. Otherwise, the whole house would be freezing about now!

Check your email, Mooooom. I sent you the helmet liner pattern. It's knit, BTW. And mousie, it's not a difficult pattern, and I use basic Patons black wool from Michaels; I find that I get exactly one helmet liner out of one 4 oz skein. Any basic black wool will do, however, like Cascade 220 or Elann's Highland Wool or even a superwash wool such as KnitPicks' Swish worsted. If your email is in your profile, I can send you a PDF of the pattern and you can see whether it's something you could do. Heaven knows there's always a demand for them.

Sorry the young'un's flight got cancelled, Bobbio. Airlines are a pain in the kiester at best, and downright evil most of the rest of the time. Here's hoping he's able to get flights home quickly.

And herbs, the best way to keep your son from using your deodorant is to stick to something extra-girly, with a nice flowery scent. Something tells me he wouldn't appreciate that. :D

Back to trying to wake up, thus far unsuccessfully. I don't know why I'm so groggy today, but I have simply been unable to wake up. I think I"m going to take a nap this afternoon. Papa Tigs is coming home at noon; he has an ophthalmologist appointment this afternoon just around the corner, so he'll be available to deal with the Idiots. Works for me. In the meantime, back to this dishcloth, and then <gasp> I might even try going back to making a little $$! I haven't gotten that energetic yet, however. And at the rate I'm going, I may not any time soon, either.

[FairyChatMom]

OK, I'm more or less dressed (sweat pants, t-shirt, sweater, shoes and socks) I've got a load of jeans in the washer and I'm seriously thinking about slapping some primer on the microwave shelf components. (It's in 3 pieces, and after I prime it, the pieces will be assembled into the final unit for final paint.

It's windy like crazy here. Out in the back yard, there's a dead pine treelet (no more than 6" in diameter at the base) that's leaning waaaaaaay over. If the winds continue from the north, I expect it'll be on the ground before the day is over. We've got a lot of dead pines, thanks to borers. There are 2 sorta leaning towards the house, but I don't think either can do major damage. All the rest are in the back yard away from everything except other trees.

I don't intend to go out at all today, other than to get the mail. We'll see how that goes.

Blow them leaves away from the house and into the woods! YAY!

[gotpasswords]

Does anyone know if you can use oven cleaner on the heating elements of electric stoves?
On a regular spiral element? I wouldn't recommend it as the metal is somewhat porous. The cleaner wil soak in and the stove will STINK for days as the stuff burns out.

What's on the elements that you can't get rid of just by cranking them up to max and burning it off?

[Karyn]

gotpasswords, they're a regular spiral elements and they aren't all that dirty now that I look at them in bright light. A quick scrub on a few spots will clean them.

He's forgiven because I love my new stove. It's easy to clean, boils water in less than half the time than my own one did and most miraculously the burners cool right down when I lower the temperature. My days of taking apart burners to clean up the last thing he let boil over are done. It's not gas but it's a huge improvement over the old one and the only reason that I used to want a gas one was because of the ability to turn down burners and get an immediate change in temperature.

[whiterabbit]

I'm at work. Nothing exciting.

MamaTigs, if you can get me a plane ticket, I'm there!

[Mahna Mahna]

The Feline Overlords are MOST displeased with us. Not only did my coz come over for brunch, but we allowed her to bring her filthy smelly pugs with her. And then, as if that wasn't bad enough, we actually fraternized with the enemy by giving them scritches that should have been reserved for the cats. Hmph. We're bad humans. Bad.

(Ariel snarled and grumbled at them for a while, and then slunk off to hide under the bed where Morgan had been hiding all along)

Sqquuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Puggles!

[VunderBob]

Off to get Da Rugrat from the ScarePort. The winds *ARE* that bad right now...

My VFD is on standby because of extreme fire conditions.

Happy New Year.

[gotpasswords]

Uh-oh....

DH wants another dog, and he's found one. Up for adoption is a 2 year old that has to be given up because its owners lost their house and are moving to an apartment.

They're bringing the dog over tomorrow so they can "interview" us and so our dog can meet the new dog to see if they'll be compatible.

[Mama Tiger]

We'll want pics of the new dog, you know, gotti! Because you know you're going to end up with the pup. :D

Fingers crossed that Da Rugrat's plane doesn't get blown outta the sky, Bobbio!

I ended up running Papa Tigs over to his ophthalmology appointment, and a big hardwood was blown over a block from their office. :eek: It did leave one traffic lane open, fortunately, and being a hardwood, it had pretty much shattered into a lot of smaller pieces, so shouldn't be too difficult to clear. But nevertheless, :eek: ! And then when I opened the door to the building, the wind blew it open so hard it nearly took my arm off! And it's supposed to get more windy today! :eek:

But then I sat in the waiting room knitting, where I was promptly joined by one of the docs, also a knitter herself, and we had a simply lovely chat about projects, yarns, knitting styles (English v. continental), stupid people who can't tell the difference between knitting and crocheting, annoying people who tell you you're doing it "all wrong!" because you use a different knitting style, etc.; she finally had to be dragged away to see her next patient. I suspect we'd still be talking if she didn't have patients. :D

When we got home, alas, I had a FedEx waiting for me on the porch with work, so I guess I need to contemplate being a productive person. Later. First I think I'll finish that last dishcloth for SIL, just so I don't hve it hanging over my head. Then I can knit for fun, not on a deadline!

[gotpasswords]

I ended up running Papa Tigs over to his ophthalmology appointment, and a big hardwood was blown over a block from their office. :eek: It did leave one traffic lane open, fortunately, and being a hardwood, it had pretty much shattered into a lot of smaller pieces, so shouldn't be too difficult to clear.
Hmmm... what kind of hardwood? I'll bring the truck and do a public service. :D

I got a case of sticker shock last night pricing out the wood needed to make us a couple of bedside tables. We're de-IKEA-ing the house, little by little, and I want to make something similar to this (http://www.woodsmith.com/issues/155/extras/two-tone-night-stand/). Not that there's anything wrong with IKEA, but it's all scaled for small spaces and apartments, and our bedroom ceiling starts at 8 feet and goes up to 14 feet. Our dining room does the same thing, and our IKEA china cabinet looked puny, so we waited patiently and snapped up a castle-scaled (It's 8 feet tall and 10 feet long!) cabinet from a consignment shop that went out of business for $200.

Back to the nightstands... My plans are more inspired by Stickley, and the wood to build just one came in at about $170. Eeeep! Naturally, we need two, but once the weather warms up so my garage workshop is tolerable, I'll be able to build something that will (hopefully!) be able to be passed from one generation to the next, rather than something forgettable that's half particle board. But when did quarter-sawn white oak get so expensive?

[Mama Tiger]

I have no idea what kind of wood, except the tree was about 1.5 feet in diameter. It was broken at the base, broken again about 15 feet up, and then about 10 feet above that was beautifully self-chunked into nice 2-foot segments. Someone's going to end up with some nice firewood.

Although if you can build that darling bedside table, it might be worth your while to drive across the country for a free tree. ;)

Are there any areas anywhere outside your immediate area where you might find someone offering nice woods for less money? Around here it's the Amish; you can get lovely wood from them for far less than you might pay elsewhere (but still at a fair price for them). Or you can just have them build it for you. They sell insanely gorgeous handmade furniture at the Amish market near us; it sells for less than half what you might pay for a similar quality product anywhere else. Papa Tigs has been drooling over a cherry dining set for several years. Of course, at 3K it's still not cheap, just less expensive. :eek:

ETA: I have an oak dining room buffet that I got years ago at a used furniture shop that sounds like it would work well in your dining room. It's 8 feet long, about 3.5 feet deep, and just massively oversized for most rooms. Not that I care, I love it!

[anyrose]

Muppet I have the perfect excuse for you - tell sis that cousin needs you to pug-sit that weekend, it can't be avoided - it's a familial obligation - now all you have to do is get cousin to go somewhere that weekene that doesn't allow dogs... (or, have her lie to sis for you... whichever) ;)

I am home, having braved another onslaught of dreck coming from above - at least this time the tiled walkway wasn't that bad - but I have Security Guy walk with me anyway. Then when I got home, I saw that Gentlemanly Tenant had shoveled, unfortunately before the freezing rain fell - so I called him from the safety of my car and he came around front with the Ice Melt, and walked me inside. Such a nice GenTen - I think I shall not raise his rent this year.

Forgot to say - -
I have no great plans for today - the party that was talked about has been cancelled due to lack of interest (one friend is out of town, two others are mourning a lost loved one, and I knew I wasn't going to have enough energy after the kind of work week I was having) so it's just me and the cat, watching the ball drop from the safety of a snug bed.
I'll probably be back later before I crash for the night, but in case I don't: Safe, Healthy, and Happy New Year to you all

[ems]

So.....I am in France and hating it (Work transfered me from CA where the hubby is)

I miss my hubby :(

And I have been sick twice since I got here.

On the brighter side I got to go home and have Christmas with the folks - just a short hop from Paris to the 'rents. :)

New Years Resolutions:

Make definite plans/schedule for hubby visiting in 2009
Plan belated honeymoon for late next year
Get active and lose those few pounds (not hard in Paris when I need to walk everywhere) to look good in the slinky underwhere for the honeymoon :D


Paris will OK - I have my apartment keys and my stuff made it across the Atlantic and through customs. Movers are unpacking on Monday

Happy New Year everyone!

Oh! Number the fourth - post here more often! I missed you guys

[Mahna Mahna]

rosie, I like this excuse! Well, except that it may involve me having to dogsit, which I don't think I could do for an extended period of time... for one, those pugs are rambunctious little creatures (even the properly trained kind like my coz's pair), and two, the cats might never forgive me (we found them hiding in the rolltop desk after the pups had left, huddled up in little balls behind our flat panel monitor).

ems, I am horribly jealous. Paris! With all the architecture, and the culture, and the food.... oh my, the FOOD. I'd kill for a proper croissant, actually... they're virtually non-existant here. It's too bad that it means being far away from your hubby, though.

On that note, off I go for dinner, bubbly and games at The Perpetual Student's pad. I intend to roundly kick everyone's ass at trivia games, and we just might stick around until midnight... maybe... :)

[Scuba_Ben]

My resolution? 1024x768, and hoping nobody used that line yet.

[FairyChatMom]

We ran some errands, and when we came home, I finished the laundry. I had a bowl of veggie beef soup for supper, and FCD opted for cereal. What is wrong with that man?? :confused: The soup is always better the next day. Plus I'd bought some Italian bread. It was yum.

We're both done for the day. I'm going to knit another dishcloth and chill tonight. A fine way to let the old year fizzle away.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

Happy New Year!! (almost 2 hours old) to Special One in Israel!

May this year find peace for us all.

Happy New Year, soon, to the rest of us...

[VunderBob]

Happy New Year!! (almost 2 hours old) to Special One in Israel!

Where the fireworks are played for keeps... :(

Keep your head down, Nooner.


VunderKind is in the kitchen cutting the pizza.

[LouisB]

Same one I make every year: Not to make any at all. I have no trouble keeping it, either.

[whiterabbit]

Welcome to the MMP, LouisB! (I don't think I've seen you in here before. But welcome anyway even if you have been!)

Home from work. Off tomorrow. But I have to do three loads of laundry tomorrow, so I can't do nothing all day. Oh well.

[gardentraveler]

mmmmmmmmmmm, nice to see you stop by. So, how long do you expect to be living in Paris? Any chance of hubby joining you? I, too, am envious of the opportunity.

I'm finishing up copying restored files from my old laptop onto an external hard drive. Very exciting way to spend NYE.

Gonna stop typing, though, because the space bar on little brother's spare laptop needs help.

Back tomorrow.

Happy New Year, everyone!!!!!

ETA: Don't think that no one saw that, ScubaBen...... ;) :p

GT

[FairyChatMom]

It's 9:30, FCD is snoring in front of the TV. I just finished knitting. I'm going to take my sweetie back to bed. See ya tomorrow.

Happy New Year!!

MWAH!!

[SmartAleq]

Well, lamb is in the oven, the house is cleaned top to bottom, I've had a couple of nommy coconut rum in V8 Fusion tropical juicy stuff drinks just to rehydrate, will shift to Irish Coffee in a while and two of our dearest friends have suddenly found themselves needing to celebrate with us so WHEE!!! Hippy New Year, all of you--have a safe night and a fun one and I'll catch ya next year... :D

[Lissla Lissar]

Sleepy. Going to bed.

Wish us luck in sleeping.


taxi, ugh. I hate hives. Hope you feel better soon.

Muppet, I vote for ignore the troll your little sister's wedding. Dear lord. The nerve.

[AHunter3]

My resolution? 1024x768, and hoping nobody used that line yet.

dangit....

[dogbutler]

Home. Canes win! Happy New Year!

[HazelNutCoffee]

Ugh, working on New Years sucks ass. At least I have a half day today, although having a bajillion essays to grade doesn't help.

Happy New Year's everyone! :: kisses ::

[Noone Special]

Ugh, working on New Years sucks ass.Me too, so at least your misery has a bit of company :)

Happy New Year, everybody!!!

(And yes, I'm fine -- just not feeling very chatty.)

[whiterabbit]

Off to bed -- Happy New Year, and good night! *yawn*

[Taters]

Well, happy new year everyone. I hope the coming year brings all of you health, happiness, serenity, and prosperity!

My son is at a New Year's party at a friend's house. My daughter is with her boyfriend. It was just Mr. Taters and I tonight, at home, alone, playing WoW.

I think we'll be heading to bed soon, though.

[swampbear]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

That's as excitatin' as I can get.

Good Mornin' Y'all! Feelin' less ick today. YAY!!! Between daytime and nighttime cold/flu remedies I am functioning quite well. Last night I cleaned and cooked collards and soaked and cooked blackeyed peas as well as made up two meatloafs (meatloaves?) Since I have to work, ol y'all know who has instructions when to preheat the oven and stick the meatloafs (loaves?) in the oven and set the timer. When I get home from work, I can make rice and cornbread. Oh and make up a peach cobbler which can cook while dindin is consumed. With a little plannin' New Year's good luck dindin can be done even when one has to work. Go me. :D

gotti lovin' those end tables. Ol' y'all know who has a large affinity for mission style stuff so he'd be droolin' over 'em.

Ok, need caffiene. Need brekkies.

Later Y'all!

[tarragon918]

Good morning! I am up and caffeinating here, even though it is NY day. I've got pumpkin bread in the oven and I've had my coffee. I'll probably surf the 'net a bit longer, then once the pumpkin bread is ready and out of the oven, go back to bed for a bit. This year, I wanna see the Rose Bowl parade.

Happy New Year!

[FairyChatMom]

Scruffy decided to start the new year at 5:56, so they've been out and I'm up and my sweetie is still sleeping. I was watching TV in bed last night, but I turned it off before 10:30 because I was nodding off. If there were any guns or firecrackers going off in my neighborhood, I didn't hear them.

Happy New Year! <flinging confetti with half-hearted enthusiasm> I really want to go back to bed, but I'm awake, so all I'll do is toss and turn and disturb my sweetie. I don't want to do that to him. I've got a ring of fresh Polish sausage thawed and ready to cook - I'll do that in a little bit, since it takes about 40 minutes once it's boiling. Then when FCD drags out of bed, we'll have French toast on Italian bread with Polish sausage - very international, don't you think? :D

It's very cold and still a little breezy outside. Just so any frozen precip holds off till after the kids get back on Saturday. They'll be spending tomorrow in Jacksonville and leaving from there on Saturday, which will make their drive a little shorter. That's always good. I'm hoping they don't leave too late, because we'll wait up for them to get home, and I don't want to be up till midnight.

I should get some caffeine. Or maybe I will crawl back into bed. 'cause I's tahred! Stoopit dog.

How's that for my first post of 2009?

[Hazle Weatherfield]

Better than the second post of the New Year. Cheers!

[FairyChatMom]

Guess everyone else is sleeping in, or hung over, or both. ;)

As for me, I'm showered and dressed and the sausage will be ready in 15 minutes or so. FCD is in pain - his back is bothering him. I suggested he not do anything today. He doesn't seem to like that idea. Sheesh, some people... :rolleyes:

I will definitely get the shelf primed today. Beyond that, no plans. Meanwhile, the caffeination continues!

[gardentraveler]

I've been up for an hour or so. Am finishing uploading a bunch of pictures to flickr, have some baby quiches in the oven for the party I'm going to later. Am not terribly awake. Might go back to bed in a bit because I was up way too late playing with pictures and such. I could hear the downtown fireworks go off at midnight, but didn't have the TV on.

Very cool nightstand, gotti. I'll take one as well. :D

The image of kitties huddling behind the monitor made me giggle, Muppet. Does this make me a bad person?

Getting sleepy. Think I'll toddle back to bed for a few.

GT

[Dolores Reborn]

Happy New Year!

We celebrated a little early (yesterday afternoon) and I came home and made poke chops for dinner. Mr Rebo fell asleep in the recliner almost immediately, and I dragged him to bed at 9:30.

I was woken up by the fireworks at midnight, and turned on the TV to watch Jay Leno for a few minutes. I don't do New Year's Eve anymore. ;)

Up at 6:00 am - seems normal to me! Caffeinating is in progress, and breakfast will be started shortly.

[FairyChatMom]

French toast using Italian bread was good, tho the bread was too fresh. It's really better when the bread is just a little stale. The sausage, alas, was really peppery. I think it'll be better cooked in kraut - just need to buy some. Anyway, dishes are done, kitchen is swept, and we're watching Mythbusters.

I need to make up a shopping list. I'll probably get up early tomorrow and venture forth. We also need to take the trash tomorrow. I'm going to run the vacuum this morning - honestly, Bernie should be completely bald, to judge by the amount of black hair all over the floor.

I'm thirsty - off to find another beverage.

[ems]

I am having a lazy day in the hotel..........hoping I finally get rid of the second bout of Teh Sick in less than a month.

Nothing is open either and it is freezing outside so it isn't worth going out for a walk!

I am off shopping tomorrow after work for a washer, fridge, microwave, TV & DVD player for the new pad.

Hope everyones 2009 is starting off well!

[Scuba_Ben]

Happy new year!

Due to high winds with wind chills forecast in the mid-teens (and in acutal, sometimes in the mid-ones), I stayed home last night. I watched the Lincoln Center show followed by ABC's Times Square show.

I fell asleep during the news break, around 11:20. I woke up at 11:59:08 -- I know because I saw the ABC clock read that time -- and quickly grabbed a glass and poured mead into it. I was back in front of the TV by 11:59:45 to toast the new year.

Dick Clark does not look good or sound good. He ought to be given a medical retirement from the New Years Eve show.

[Mahna Mahna]

Happy New Year, Mumpers!
******

I am, surprisingly enough, not hung over at all, despite the copious quantities of wine consumed over the past two days. This is an auspicious beginning, no? :)

(My new resolution for 2009... no more alcohol until I return to work)

[ShelliBean]

Happy New Year to all of you.

For those going through marital problems you have my sympathies. I am officially the angel of death to marriages so I'll stay far away if you want to try to work on the relationships...

I don't have a NY Resolution so much as this is a new start for me so I am just going to study hard and work on getting through school. Now my son is finally out of bed (here at almost noon) so I am going to hang with him while I try desperately to find a babysitter so I can work tonight. Bars on New Year's Day are a little dead so it's not like I'll be gone long anyway...

[Taters]

Good morning all.

Up and trying to get some coffee in me before we head off for brunch with some friends. They're supposed to be here any minute now.

I am TAHRED. I could have slept a little longer, actually.

Tonight's dinner will be ribeye steaks, baked taters with the fixings, and some sort of veggie.

I was hoping to have a nice relaxing weekend, but it appears tomorrow is cluttered up with various errands. Plus, I need to take the tree down and clean the house again.

Sunday is my daughter's 19th birthday. We don't know if she has to work yet, so we're playing the birthday plans by ear. Saturday night, we're going to a friend's house to celebrate the friend's birthday.

[Mama Tiger]

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you start it feeling better than me; yesterday afternoon I got felled by something, crawled in bed and slept for 3 hours, was awakened for dinner, then dozed in front of the TV off and on till I flipped channels just in time to see the ball drop, and then turned the TV off and gave up. Papa Tigs was sweet enough to bring me coffee in bed this morning, which was enough to encourage me to at least get up, but I suspect today will be a day spent in my PJs.

Anyway, I got nuttin' except I'm still horrified that 2008 went by so quickly. Time really does go faster the older you get, I swear; I remember when a year was a looooong time, and now one is gone in the blink of an eye. But here's hoping 2009 is a better year for everybody than 2008; it would be kinda hard to have it be much worse!

[Heffalump and Roo]

Happy New Year to all the Mumpers!!

:doing the Roo bounce. . . bounce, bounce, bounce:

:)


Hey LOUNE baby, how's it going? What happened to the Chicago gig?

Yay to picu! Glad things went well.

Haze and Lunch, waving from this side of the planet. Sorry you have to work today. You should move to this side. ;)



ETA: Oh baby! First without even trying. Way to start the new year!

[SmartAleq]

Hey dere! Happy Nude Year to all and sundry... So far this year is going well--we went to bed around 0230 or so, thoroughly trashed. Himself put away darned close to a fifth of Bushmill's, I took care of about half a fifth of rum and there was much, MUCH herbaltainment... We stayed well hydrated, though, and took our painkillers before going to sleep so no hangover beyond feeling silly and kinda disoriented this morning. Went out for brunch with daughter's family, stole the grandboy for the day and we're planning on making cookies and being total slugs. Well, Himself has grand plans for working on putting in an OS on a friend's computer but then again maybe not!

It's raining cats, dogs, monkeys, ring tailed lemurs, bushbabies, echidnas, squirrels, dromedaries and occasional flocks of seagulls out there and there are major flood warnings out for Johnson Creek, which runs near here. Luckily it also runs about 75' in elevation lower than us so I'm not too concerned about flooding. It's unseasonably warm as well, it's about 50oF right now so I'm assuming this is a Pineapple Express storm, it has that kind of feel to it.

I feel all floaty, like a balloon with a cut string. 'S nice! ;)

[FairyChatMom]

Busy day winding down. Today, besides tidying the kitchen, I vacuumed up half a dog, gave the doggies their flea treatment, knitted a dishcloth, brought up a wagonload of firewood, primed the microwave shelf parts, cleaned a cat box, cleaned a paintbrush, and, um, I think that's all. We had big bowls of veggie beef soup for lunch, and punkin pie, so we're not really hungry for supper. But there's some leftover pizza and sketty sauce in the fridge, so if we want to eat, we'll be good. Plus I bought ice cream yesterday. :D

I think I'm going to find another dishcloth pattern to try. Maybe tomorrow, I'll line them up and take pics.

[Mama Tiger]

You can work your way through this page (http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/dishcloths.php) of free dishcloth patterns, FCM, and stay busy till next year!

I've been putrtering. I discovered to my horror today, sitting here in my office in the bright sunshine that the four skeins of dark green heathery yarn I was starting to knit Young Tiger's scarf/hat set with were not all from the same dye lot and, in fact, not even from the same company -- two are from KnitPicks, two from Elann.com. :smack: In my defense, they're very close and actually not easily discernible by artificial light. So I'm using the KnitPicks on the scarf for now and working on a sample hat or three with the Elann.com, and will finish the set for Young Tiger when the new yarn I've ordered comes in. It doesn't have to be the same dye lot since I'm interspersing it with stripes of a slightly lighter green, but it should probably be the same type of yarn, don't you think?

Sigh. That's been the highlight of my whole day. As you can tell, I have not started the New Year off feeling wonderful. At least I'm getting a few small knitted things washed and blocked, so I don't feel entirely nonproductive. But I foresee an early bedtime in my future.

[Dolores Reborn]

Well, my son's first stupid act of 2009 was to just about blow his left thumb off, playing with fireworks last night. He went to the emergency room and they put 17 stitches in, just around the base of his thumb! :eek: He's supposed to see a specialist, but he can't pay for it. He has no insurance. The last stupid act of 2008 was to get fired from his job. <sigh> How the hell can he interview with his hand all wrapped up like that, much less work? Plus he's in a lot of pain, poor thing.

He's coming over to have dinner with us tonight. (Prime rib, yum!) I'll change his dressing and we'll talk about what can be done. I can't afford to handle his medical bills. As it is, he already needed help with rent, again.

Can you feel sorry for your kid and still want to kill him? Stoopit kid...

[FairyChatMom]

MamaTigs - I'm ahead of you - I found that page and I'm already on my 3rd pattern, with 2 more printed off. One that's done is destined for my mom, one in mine, and I found one I'm going to make for my daughter. Beyond that, I don't know.

{{Rebo}} - is he too old to sell to a passing circus?

Back to my needles...

[gardentraveler]

Good evening, Mumpers!

So sorry to hear about your son, Rebo. I'd worry about you if you didn't have both of those emotions.

Hope you're feeling better, MamaT.

Took my brother back his laptop and had brunch with him, then came home and thought about napping, but got distracted and then went to friend's for dinner. Pork, sauerkraut, mashed NOTs, yummy desserts (fruit in orange juice and brandy; chocolate cake), fun company. Nice afternoon.

I would have stayed longer, but I was tired and still need to find my bus pass for tomorrow (I remember it arriving, but it's not in its usual spot, so apparently I did something VERY SPECIAL with it).

Gotta get moving on some clean up, then it'll be an early bed time.

GT

[Mahna Mahna]

{{Rebo}} A parent's job is never done, huh? Hope things start to look up for ReboSon and his thumb.

Good luck finding that bus pass, gt. And thanks for reminding me that I should try to find mine too... I shoved mine someplace while frantically tidying up before Mumsy Dearest's arrival last week. Hopefully I'll figure out where "someplace" is before work on Monday. Gulp.

It's non-stop excitement tonight here at Chez Muppet. We've got a pot of Hoppin' John bubbling away on the stove (it's good luck to eat beans on New Year's Day, apparently). It's gotten bloody cold outside... so we're just gonna curl up on the couch with a big ass bowl of beans and watch a cheesy movie on the tee-vee. If I can stay awake long enough, I might just take a nice long soak in the tub too.

[FairyChatMom]

woohoo - it was a 2 washcloth day! Ice cream has been consumed and we're just watching assorted TV before crashing in bed.

I just took the dogs out - it's coooooooooold - something like 24° at the moment. Guess it's winter, huh? How much longer till spring??

[Taters]

Good evening everyone.

Welll, surprisingly, the brunch was not all that bad. There was a ton of food to choose from, and they would even cook made to order omelettes. This was a buffett, by the way, at a casino. Anyway, we ate, gambled just a little bit and lost, and then came home.

I was awake for about an hour or so, but was tired and took a nap. I just now woke up from the nap. I guess I should see about dinner.

[dogbutler]

Home, pooped. Someone wanna do my laundry for me?

Rebo, sorry about the son. I would never, ever, do something like that (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=389612).

Hope you feel better, MamaTigs.

Ben, I hope I look and sound that good when I'm 10,000 years old and had a stroke.

That's the advantage of being a child slob, Muppet. As long as I don't have dead hookers lying around, I don't have to worry about shoveling around filth for Mom.

[gardentraveler]

Found it! Yay! It was actually in a really logical place, but I didn't see it at first.

Also organized some pics.

Off to bed.

GT

[Mahna Mahna]

Dead hookers, eh doggio? Well, I suppose everyone's got some standards.

Speaking of doggios, I need to share this positively squee worthy puglet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/polkaroo/3158171986/)! (I'm still not sure how a creature so inbred that it can't even keep its tongue in its mouth still manages to end up looking cute... but I guess it's just one of those mysteries of nature or whatnot).

[swampbear]

Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin' here. *YAWN*

So, I managed to make sure folks got their peas and greens for luck and money. Go me. I was glad when they left though. I managed to get people run out of the house by 8:30 last night, loaded the dishwasher and went beddy bye.

It's ol y'all know who's bday today. The weirdo wants breakfast for his bday dindin. So, bacon, scrambled aigs, grits, homemade biscuits and strawberry-fig preserves it shall be. The weirdo. :D

Speakin' of which, I need to call the ol' critter. Plus I need more caffiene.

Later Y'all!

[Dolores Reborn]

I'm up, and have been since 4:00. I'm almost through caffeinating. I woke up at 3:00 and tossed and turned until I couldn't take it anymore.

I have a doctor's appointment at 10:30. Plus I'll pick up some bandages and stuff for ReboSon, ans the rest of his prescription. He only got half of it because it was so expensive. I've decided that we'll talk to my personal doctor about removing the stitches. Maybe he'll give a discount since I'm an established patient, and ReboSon has seen him before, too, back when he was covered under my insurance. An added bonus is that his office is directly across the street frem ReboSon's apartment building!

It doesn't look like he'll need a specialist, to me anyway. It looks bad, but he can move it, and has feeling. We'll wait and see.

Have a great day, guys!

[tarragon918]

Morning all - up and caffeinating here too. LOL Looks like you can set your clocks by Swampy and me ... and usually FCM - where is she? Don't tell me that the critters are letting her sleep in this morning! ;)

I'm hoping that my son made it back to Little Rock okay, because I haven't heard from him yet. :dubious: He's got a basketball game tomorrow, I think. Today I'm gonna watch the Cotton Bowl because my nephew's in the drum line of Texas Tech. Hope I might get a glimpse of him. :)

Oh yeah ... and a HAPPY FIRDAY to all too! :)

Oh, Rebo - hope your son's hand will be okay! Sending healing vibes his way!

[SpazCat]

Well my new year so far has sucked. I came all the way over here to hang out with my Mountain Friend and he decides to get a boyfriend this week. I've been left holding down the fort at the house while he and his new guy gallivant all over the place. If I wanted to hang around the house all day I would have stayed at home. I'm thinking about leaving tomorrow so I don't feel like a constant third wheel. Actually, since he mentioned that the guy may be coming over tonight, I'm thinking about leaving after I get my laundry done.

I'm trying real hard not to cry, but I've been holding it in all week and I've had enough. I'm tired of being the observer of other people's lives.

[dogbutler]

Up, caffeinated, getting ready for work.

[mmouse9799]

It's knit, BTW. And mousie, it's not a difficult pattern, and I use basic Patons black wool from Michaels; I find that I get exactly one helmet liner out of one 4 oz skein. Any basic black wool will do, however, like Cascade 220 or Elann's Highland Wool or even a superwash wool such as KnitPicks' Swish worsted. If your email is in your profile, I can send you a PDF of the pattern and you can see whether it's something you could do. Heaven knows there's always a demand for them.

Send away. I went to Michael's yesterday and picked up a skein of the black wool yarn. :) All yarn at Michael's is on sale this week. Just so everyone knows that--the week is almost over. My yarn stash is out growing its current confines. I either need more space or less yarn. (I only bought 13 skiens yesterday...) Hawkeyeop is voting for less yarn. Boo. What does he know?

Dick Clark does not look good or sound good. He ought to be given a medical retirement from the New Years Eve show.

I know he had a stroke a few years ago. I think he refuses to leave the NYE show... Notice how they're training Ryan Seacrest to take his place when he eventually keels over retires.

Can you feel sorry for your kid and still want to kill him? Stoopit kid...

Absolutely.

((((Spaz))))

[taxi78cab]

Happy New Year!!

We celebrated at home with a nice dinner of homemade crab cakes and then I was in bed by 11. Just can't stay up that late, especially with this cold that's still holding on. Blurgh.

Yesterday we planned to have friends over for a Back to the Future marathon but it ended up being just one friend and just one movie. But it still was fun. KT made chicken and andouille gumbo, rice and corn bread, all of which was really good.

I've finally given in and I have a doctor's appt this afternoon to get the hives looked at. I'm on day 4, and it's really not fun. Plus, this cold has been going on for > 3 weeks now so I guess I'd better have that checked out as well. We changed the sheets on the bed yesterday and aired out the bedroom in case that had something to do with it. The hives started over night early in the week so we thought maybe it was something in the bed. But we'd already slept on those sheets for a week previously so that doesn't entirely make sense. I really can't figure out where they came from. But if the doctor can give me something to help make them go away, I don't really care where they came from. As long as they don't come back! I've had enough itching!

[FairyChatMom]

I'm here - tarra, the critters actually did let me sleep in, tho not this late. FCD and I got up around 7, went to breakfast, then to WalMart for groceries and assorted stuff. $150-ish later, we're home. He's futzing in the garage, I just finished fighting J. C. Penney's stoopit credit website. I only wanted to see what my account balance was - it took freekin' forever!!!

It's snowing here - well, flurrying, and it's supposed to turn to rain later today. All in all, a cold, grey, miserable day out there. But I got the fixin's for stuffed cabbage, and I'll get that going in a little bit. I'll make it with N.O.T. this time and we'll have it for supper.

I've also got to put a coat of semi-gloss paint on the shelf components, but it has to be sanded first, and before that, FCD needs to nip or grind a few nail points that stuck thru. And I bought some red cotton yarn to make my kid a ladybug dishcloth. She's decided she likes ladybugs.

That's all for now. Off to be all domestical...

[Mahna Mahna]

Blurf.

First things first... {{Spaz}} People do really stupid stuff when they're head over heels for someone new. :(

Also, {{taxi}}. Hope the doc manages to figure out what's causing those hives. But waiting four days before finally dragging your butt to see someone, young lady? Tsk tsk. I know you guys don't have socialised medical care and all, but hives aren't something to be fooled around with - that's usually your body's way of saying it's allergic to something in your environment.

Time to get a move on, I suppose... there's errands to be run, minor tidying up to do and food to be made before the Lumbering Git comes over for dinner later tonight.

I'm dreading going back to work on Monday. Sigh. I think I was meant for a leisurely lifestyle.. y'know, eating bon bons for breakfast, puttering around the kitchen making yummy food, meeting with friends for witty banter over cappuccinos and watching lots of foreign films with handsome male leads. Anyone interested in funding my lifestyle?

[Mama Tiger]

Send away. I went to Michael's yesterday and picked up a skein of the black wool yarn. :) All yarn at Michael's is on sale this week. Just so everyone knows that--the week is almost over. My yarn stash is out growing its current confines. I either need more space or less yarn. (I only bought 13 skiens yesterday...) Hawkeyeop is voting for less yarn. Boo. What does he know?

I'd send it but I didn't see your email in your profile. Is it not there, or did I just miss it? Anyway, I'll send it to you. And maybe head to Michael's myself; they do have some nice cheap yarns. Even though I also adore expensive yarns, the cheap ones are useful as well.

I think I'm feeling better today, but I can't swear to it. I slept really, really badly last night, took forever to get to sleep and stay asleep, had all kinds of weird dreams, kept waking up either too hot or too cold, etc. So who knows.

Anyway, here's hoping everybody has a good day. Back to finishing up the last hotpad for SIL, and then her Christmas present can finally be sent off. Only a bit more than a week late; that's not too bad in the overall scheme of things.

[Mama Tiger]

Never mind. I just found your email, mousie. Pattern is on its way!

[SpazCat]

I think I was meant for a leisurely lifestyle.. y'know, eating bon bons for breakfast, puttering around the kitchen making yummy food, meeting with friends for witty banter over cappuccinos and watching lots of foreign films with handsome male leads. Anyone interested in funding my lifestyle?
I can't fund your whole leisurely lifestyle, but I can certainly get behind the puttering about the kitchen bit. :D

Le sigh. I just got off the phone with Mountain Friend and told him I was thinking about heading back today. He apologized for being so wrapped around his new guy's appreciation zone and I agreed to stick around for tonight at least so we can go out--hopefully ALONE.

Now I have to fold clothes. Where is my clothes-folding robot? Of all the household chores, that's the one I hate the most, even more than putting the silverware away.

[mmouse9799]

Never mind. I just found your email, mousie. Pattern is on its way!

I had to enable it this morning so that you could see it. ;) So, you aren't crazy for that anyway. Thanks for the pattern! I'll check it out when I get home. (That email is, of course, blocked from work.)

My problem with most expensive yarn is that it's usually wool and it will make me itch like crazy. I was tempted by a hank of silk, but the thought of having to wind it into a ball made me :rolleyes:. And at $15 it was even more :rolleyes::rolleyes:.

[Taters]

Good morning eveyone.

I've been up for about 30 minutes or so. I kept waking up and going back to sleep and should have gotten out of bed way earlier.

It snowed again, so everything is white. It's only about two or three inches, but there's snow. We may get a shot of snow again tonight. We shall see.

Mr. Taters is at work, my son is still sleeping, and my daughter is upstairs on her laptop.

I hope your son's thumb improves soon Rebo. I also hope he finds a job soon.

Hugs to you Spaz.

Sigh, I should get in the shower, I suppose.

[FairyChatMom]

Our flurries are done and the sun is out. I've got a big pot of stuffed cabbage an N.O.T. in the fridge downstairs - supper will be yummerrific.

I've got to empty the dishwasher, then refill it. And the stoopit sanding and painting still awaits me. I just don't feel like messing with it, but it has to get done.

I'm hongry. Guess I should forage - I have some ground beef, so I'm thinking burgers...

[mmouse9799]

AHHHHAHHHHHH

Work is so boring and slow today!! Someone come keep me company!

please?



pretty please with sugar on top?

[taxi78cab]

Also, {{taxi}}. Hope the doc manages to figure out what's causing those hives. But waiting four days before finally dragging your butt to see someone, young lady? Tsk tsk. I know you guys don't have socialised medical care and all, but hives aren't something to be fooled around with - that's usually your body's way of saying it's allergic to something in your environment.
Thanks. We've considered all the possible allergens we can think of - no recent shellfish, no change in diet, no change in soap/detergent/lotion, no medications other than the Sudafed and Tylenol I've been taking for 3 weeks for the cold. So I'm thinking I'm going to go to the doctor who's going to look at it and ask about all that stuff I just mentioned and say "Well, I can't find a cause for it. Go home and try not to scratch." :rolleyes: So that's why I've waited this long. I did call the 24-hour nurse line yesterday (Since it was a holiday, I couldn't call my own doctor.), and she went through a list of questions, which didn't raise any red flags. I really wish we could think of a cause so I'd know what to change to make it better.

Hope your son's thumb heals up, Rebo! And that he can find a job.

There are expensive yarns besides wool, mousie. Have you tried alpaca? It's really soft and isn't supposed to make you itch like wool does. (I don't have any problems with wool so can't say for sure that it's better.) I'm making my husband an alpaca scarf, and it's just soooooooooo nice to work with. (It is still in the ~$10-11 range / skein so certainly not cheap!

Hope you get to spend some time with Mountain Friend, Spaz. One of my friends is going through that with her cousin who comes out to visit and then spends all of her time with her boyfriend, annoying my friend who wants to see her as well.

Boss said he was going to get out of here soon and that we should leave early as well. Except he said that more than an hour ago and hasn't left. So I don't feel like I can go either. I do have stuff to do, but the motivation's a bit lacking.

I think I may try this (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Blue-Cheese-Crusted-Steaks-with-Red-Wine-Sauce-108816) recipe for filet mignon with blue cheese. I bought some really-on-sale filets - just two little ones - and we have blue cheese and red wine. That looks really yummy!

[FairyChatMom]

I got this in an email from a friend - just had to share it...

Yesterday I was at my local Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Sheriff, the Wonder Dog and was in the checkout line when woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant?

So since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's a$$ and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Wal-Mart won't let me shop there anymore.

[mmouse9799]

LMAO Mooom

[Mama Tiger]

If you want to get nice alpaca for a LOT cheaper, taxi, go to eBay and check out this seller, Interamerica Group (http://stores.ebay.com/InterAmerica-Group_LAVISH-FIBRES-Alpaca-Yarn_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ8QQftidZ2QQtZkm). I've bought a whole bunch from them; they sell packages of ten skeins of sport or worsted weight for $25 to $40 in a nice assortment of colors, as well as assorted blends of alpaca with wool, nylon, silk, and even acrylic. I've been consistently happy with their yarn, their prices, and their prompt shipping; I'd definitely recommend them.

We went and picked up my new glasses, and it's so nice to be able to see again! Both new bifocals (now I can read up close again) and new computer glasses (so I don't have to lean forward and read up close), both delivered faster than expected, both in nice hard cases, and both for great prices. Plus we got reimbursed for them by our MSA before we even got the glasses. :) Now it's Papa Tigs' turn to get glasses, but he's not in as big a hurry as I was; not only could I not see anything any more, but my computer glasses were being held together with duct tape. Yay, duct tape! Between that and WD-40, you can fix almost anything, y'know?

[taxi78cab]

If you want to get nice alpaca for a LOT cheaper, taxi, go to eBay and check out this seller, Interamerica Group (http://stores.ebay.com/InterAmerica-Group_LAVISH-FIBRES-Alpaca-Yarn_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ8QQftidZ2QQtZkm).
Ooooooooooooooooooh! Purty.

There's drool all over my keyboard now.

[Dolores Reborn]

I'm baaack! What a day!

First I went to the doctor to get my Depo shot. Then she comes in and recommends I take Boniva. Joy. She did give me a free sample, though. Then she sends me upstairs to the lab to get blood drawn for a Vitamin D test. Ten people in front of me, and only one guy working. :rolleyes:

While I was waiting, the dealership calls. My car is ready! Yay! Eventually I got the Lab's number and decided I will make an appointment and come back later. I'd already waited over an hour and I was starving!

So I grab a couple of burgers, and head over to ReboSon's apt. He has a friend coming over, so I decide to go pick up my car, then go back and get them and take them to the store to get the script and some bandaging stuff. When ReboSon closed the passenger door, it was loose! The pull handle, not the metal open-the-door handle.

So on to the store, back to the apt, and back to the dealership. They've ordered a new part. On to the bank, and I'm finally back home.

Whew!

I was gonna make soup from the prime rib bones, but that will have to wait until tomorrow now. Instead I'm gonna chill for a while, then make Bacon Jack Chicken with Mushrooms! With a side of spinach, and corn I think.


{{{Spaz}}} - I hope Mountain Friend takes some time for you tonight! That would seriously hurt my feelings and piss me off.

FCM - that was funny as hell!

I'm tahred. It's beer-thirty, methinks...

[Mahna Mahna]

Glad you cleared it with the nurse hotline at least, taxi. I take back all the nagging. :)

I just worry because my coz ignored hives for a couple of days, and then woke up in the middle of the night with her airway half-closed. Good thing she's a light sleeper... someone else might not have woken up until they were in full-blown anaphylactic shock. To this day, they have no idea what set off the allergic reaction because she couldn't pinpoint anything new in her routine, so she carries an epi-pen just in case she stumbles into it again.

(hmmm... Firefox seems to think that "anaphylactic" is not a word, and that I should use "prophylactic" instead. In my books, "prophylactic shock" is what occurs you discover that the otherwise perfect guy you're about to sleep with doesn't believe in using condoms, whereas "anaphylactic shock" is something else entirely)

Also, can I trade you some of the Berbere Braised Lamb I've got in the oven for a little filet with blue cheese? Pretty please? I'll even throw in bonus couscous!

On that note, the Lumbering Git has just called to announce he's around the corner. Huzzah.

[Mama Tiger]

FCM, here's another cute dishcloth pattern, the Ballband Dishcloth (http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/Ballband%20Dishcloth.htm) from the crazy gals at Mason-Dixon Knitting. I may whip up a couple of them myself to go with SIL's Christmas present stuff since it probably won't get mailed till Monday in any case.

[gardentraveler]

So sorry about Mountain Friend, Spaz. I've had that happen with several friends, although not when I was just visiting. New relationships can be so hard to adjust to! (For the people who aren't in them, anyway.) Hugs.

Very cute pug, Muppet.

taxi and Muppet are both making me hungry. I might have to try the filet recipe, too. Let us know how it turns out. And the lamb recipe? Is it available? I've never cooked lamb myself, although I like it when it's well prepared.

Gotta go get some stuff organized. My goals for the weekend are to: 1) sleep lots, and 2) get a bunch of stuff organized. Oh, also, I need to get a new MMP put together. I have ideas, just need to get them written down.

Hope everyone's having a lovely Firday evening.

Hugs.

GT

[gotpasswords]

No new doggies for us.

The prospective pup didn't quite pass the first audition - she was abundantly hyperactive and had a Flailing Long Tail of Decor-Smashing Doom. Think the final count was eight things knocked off of tables and/or christmas trees, and one smashed ornament. (A very generic cheapie, at least) And there was just no getting her to sit still and look at us for more than half a second.

If nothing else, DH seems to be thinking that our current dog will be happier if we stay as a one-dog home.

[The Blue-Sighted Shadow]

Happy Firday, all! I had a nice, quiet morning at work. A co-worker and I went out for lunch and stopped and rode on the carousel on the way back to work. :cool:

When we came back from lunch, there was a super-sekrit, urgent, delete after listening, partners only, voice mail pertaining to next week's layoffs and business realignment. It was sent out to everyone instead. :smack: I imagine vacations ended rather abruptly as they try to contain the damage. Next week is going to be verrrry interesting. (There is always the possibility that the voice mail send to all wasn't an accident.) I'm LMAO, since I don't see a possible win for me anywhere in this clusterfuck, so I might as well enjoy the show. It has the potential to be quite spectacular at any rate. One of my co-workers just closed on a house and she's scared to death. At least I have 6 months of expenses saved up, which isn't much but is better than nothing.

In the meantime, more yarn has arrived. I bought a pretty dark green laceweight (http://www.elann.com/productdisp.asp?NAME=elann.com+Peruvian+Baby+Lace+Merino&Season=&Company=&Cat=ALLY&ProductType=5&OrderBy=&Count=22) for my Forest Path stole. I also have plenty of trashy books to keep me company if I suddenly have lots of free time. Honestly, I just want this to be over. They've dragged the layoffs out for two whole months now, letting people go practically one at a time. The uncertainty is driving everyone insane.

[SmartAleq]

Howdy everybody!

I had a lovely visit with the Grandboy--we kidnapped him yesterday after a nice brunch with him, daughter and SIL. The weather yesterday was epic suxxorz, pouring goddamned rain all. day. long. without a pause. So we made cashew butter cookies, he played some video games, we watched "Up In Smoke" because I think every kid needs to be aware of the drug humor of previous generations (we can't let them think it all started with Harold and Kumar now, can we?), listened to some random music and shot the shit. I got a text message from my daughter at 0430 saying she got a text message from Jr in the middle of the night saying he couldn't sleep, then she called at 0530 saying she wanted to come get him before work--I was all WTF? Anyway, I let her know I'd take him home today and he was sleeping just fine--as a matter of fact he and Himself didn't roll outta bed until nearly ten. I asked the grandboy about the late night text message and he didn't believe me--checked his phone and was rather perplexed--we guess he's texting in his sleep now! So we had the usual blueberry pancakes and he accompanied me on my daily errands since he wasn't overjoyed about spending the day alone at his house. We finished up at a local coffee house enjoying a nice mocha for me (mocha milkshake for him) and bagels for both of us. He's so much fun to be around, just a joy... We got him a new camera for Solstice and he amused himself by taking video of me at the coffee house which I'm sure will end up Crazy Talked into something horrible...

I stocked up on ten pounds of fresh garlic cloves so I can do the epic roast garlic paste thing tomorrow morning, om nom nom. Right now I have lentil soup with the leftover roast lamb chopped up in it simmering on the stove waiting for Himself to get done with the retard he's helping and have dinner. Fresh sourdough bread to go with, slurp. I bought the Grandboy a loaf of artisan Italian bread as well, since he's a bread junkie and was thinking of buying it himself--that's what grandmas are for, right?

It dumped snow last night and today large sections of the Southeast part of Portland are impacted with flooding from the Johnson Creek watershed--the small creeks are overrunning their banks something fierce... This weather is so freakish!

Hugs, trouts and yeehaws as appropriate--gotta go stir me soup!

[Mahna Mahna]

Here (http://www.starchefs.com/features/easter/disney/html/recipe_01.shtml)'s the recipe for the lamb shanks, gt. They got a five-star rating from The Boy and the Lumbering Git tonight, so I do believe I'll add them to my regular rotation.

I did make a few changes, though... first, I had the butcher slice the shanks up into 1" pieces, because I find whole shanks can be a bit unwieldy. I also marinated them in the Berbere Marinade for an hour or so beforehand, rather than browning and then basting with the marinade afterwards like the recipe calls for. And lastly, I used a small can of plum tomatoes instead of fresh, mostly because the fresh ones at the store looked and smelled like green cardboard (ugh).

Sorry the pup didn't work out, gotti. Good thing you were able to decide he wouldn't be a good fit so early on, though... it's better for all of you this way. I'm sure they'll find a family that's a perfect fit for destructive rambunctiousness.

shadow, that yarn is gor-gee-us (and the shawl pattern they used to show it off is awful purty too). It makes me jealous of all the mad knitting skillz contained in the MMP, which somehow seem to have passed me by.

[Mama Tiger]

Pretty yarn, Shadow! Which dark green did you get, Cypress or Sherwood Forest? I like them both; actually I like all the colors. Just out of curiosity, how does the yarn compare to Misti alpaca? Not quite an equal comparison since Misti is alpaca and this is alpaca/merino, but I've been pleased with all the other Elann yarns I've bought so if I'm in the market for laceweight any time in the future, it would be nice to know. Although currently I've got 6 oz (1800 yards total) of Blackberry Ridge merino/silk laceweight to use for my niece's wedding shawl, and it would be hard to find a laceweight that's lovelier. Feels like pure heaven.

Ten pounds of fresh garlic cloves? Wow, that's enough to keep vampires out of the whole city of Portland! :D

Is it bedtime yet?

[FairyChatMom]

It should be bedtime. I made a ladybug dishcloth for my kid. The doggies have been out to pee. FCD is watching Heavy Metal - what a stoopit movie that is! I'm going to watch something else in bed.

I guess my vacation is now officially over. <insert deep, sad sigh, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and copious whining>

:(

[dogbutler]

Limped home again. There's freezing fog outside tonight.:dubious: I'm nuking Chinese food from Wally World.

Shadow, Sounds like it's gonna be an interesting week at work.

: smacks FCM with wet sardine :

[Nava]

¡grñeeeeeeec! (that was brakes, they're Spanish brakes)

Not back in my place yet but I figured I'd drop by and wish y'all a better new year than the last.

We're baptizing the kidlette today. She's going to be the Baby Jesus in the big Mass on the Epiphany - the Proud Parents thought that, since there are other babies of appropriate size around, it might be someone else, but the priests questioned their sanity: "no no no, we're not asking anybody else, actually we're not asking you guys either, y'all are going to be the Holy Family and that's it unless you happen to have a hotel booked somewhere. Do you have something to dress the Kidlet up as one of the Shepherds?"

Since she's #2 and in perfect health (plus these three years of having his inlaws at home have made Middlebro start appreciating his bio family), we're being able to handle her a lot more than the Kidlet. When I make her grab my thumbs and lift her torso, she doesn't let her head loll, she follows the movement and looks around when she's up. Her favorite spot is leaning against anybody's shoulder, as high up as possible. Excuse me while I go clean up the drool from the keyboard...

*vroooom!*


ETA: I don't do resolutions.

[anyrose]

love that email, Mooom
I'm beginning to dislike four-day weekends - by Friday night, I've rested so much I can't get to sleep. Now it's 2am and in order to sleep I'll have to take another pain pill, which means I won't wake up early enough to make going in to the office for overtme worth it.
I'll be thankful for Monday, but a full week after two half weeks is going to be rough

[FairyChatMom]

Up and semi-functional - at least enough to get to the MMP...

If the kid was accurate in her message to us yesterday, they're on the road now - they intended to leave Jacksonville around 7. If traffic is normal, that would get them here between 6 and 7 this evening. So I need to be sure to cover their bed with wrapping paper late enough that the stoopit cat won't mess it all up and early enough that I'm not doing it as they walk in the door.

Big fun today - we're going to the dump. Rah. We've got a bunch of scrap wood to be rid of - the kind you can't burn safely for firewood - and several full trashcans. I intend to do 1 or 2 loads of laundry, depending upon how much I've got, since the kids will likely monopolize the machine tomorrow. Yeah, I know, you wish you had my life...

I woke up to find the pantry door and one base cabinet door wide open - stoopit cat! All Brandy ever did was open the bottom hutch drawer. This guy gets into everything! He'd be really annoying if he wasn't so funny.

Off to caffeinate. Happy First Saturday of 2009! :D

[VunderBob]

Drive-by...

Big tale coming Tuesday, starring Da Rugrat.

[mmouse9799]

Shadow that yarn is lovely. :)

I was looking at some Misti Alpaca on Alpaca Direct, since I need something to push me over the $50 free shipping threshold that the Denise needles are just short of. 5 cents short, to be precise. It's either the yarn or extra cables/end caps/connectors for the needles. At the moment I have about 4 projects waiting to be started once I get these things. They had better be good. Hmmm. But, I'd hate to get fancy yarn only to find out my skin is too sensitive to use it.

I had a run-in with the cutest puppy yesterday. (OK, not really a puppy, but they're all puppies to me.) As I was walking to the train, the dog kind of blocked the sidewalk and sniffed me. So, of course I started petting him. Then he jumped up and tried to put his paws on my shoulders (he was too short) for more attention. He was so funny. His owner looked pensive when he jumped, but relaxed when he realized that I wasn't mad at the dog. I have no idea what kind of dog he was, but he made my day.

Whoops battery is about to die...Must find plug. Later all!