Yesterday, the pool was *finally* serviced... I was so shocked, I walked outside to see the clean pool.... and managed to slip and break a toe. *sigh*

There's really nothing that can be done for a broken toe (which I learned back in 1980-something, when I broke my big toe and the emergency room X-rayed it, sprayed it with some kind of numbing stuff and taped it to another toe to keep it straight. Thank you, $300 please!). So, I've been taping it to another toe to keep it kinda straght, but it still hurts. Ugh. Leave it to me to break the weird things.

My broken toe....

...let me shows you it.

We're still waiting on the freaking lawn guys to come and get the lawn under control---it was bad when we signed the lease. And then we turned the water on and it became a jungle. One of the neighbors commented that the only reason the owners didn't lose the orange trees is because of the heavy rains the area has had this winter.

I've mentioned our old house. I've mentioned that it's vacant. Now, let me mention the MLS # for said beautiful house: 2885387. It's down to $241,500...but needs at least $10k worth of work, depending on how picky the new owners are about lights and appliances. We originally installed almost $5k worth of lights. I forget what we spent on the range and dishwasher (we kept the fridge).

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in buying it again. We wired that house from one end to the other with ethernet. You can sit in the master garden tub and have a computer jacked into the internet. You can be working in the garage and check something online without having to go into the house. I think we even put network jacks in the pantry! Plus, we (well, Randy mostly) installed beautiful laminate floors everywhere there wasn't linoleum or stone tiles. Yeah, I miss that house. I just don't know if it's big enough for us, with our massive IKEA desks now. How funny is that?

Randy's enjoying the "walk to the bus stop, ride the bus to work" convenience of where we live now. And I do like that it means he's leaving me with the car most days. Perhaps I could get a part-time job, doing something fun/interesting (and pay off my credit card!).

We're ticked at American Express now. We contacted them, to let them know we'd be moving---and that charges would start showing up in new places. We charged the move, we traveled across the country (hotels ain't cheap!) and once we signed the lease, we bought a washer and dryer. They security flagged it and it took 20+ minutes to get that resolved. Fine. I'm glad they watch that stuff. But the following week, Randy was at the store to get cat food and litter---a whopping $21, mind you---and the card came back declined. What??? So, he gets home and they've cut him off. Now, this isn't a card with a set limit on it. You spend it, you pay it once a month. Turns out, they're "concerned" about the amount of money he's spent on the card in recent weeks.

Uh, duh? We told you guys this was coming. So, he makes a payment to them to make them happy---no payment is yet required on the account, mind you. But, now he's a little iffy about using it. Then, the night we had to euthanize Maya, they put a security hold on the card. *sigh* "Unusual charges", they said. Uh, yeah. The day holding a pet while the vet administers heart-stopping drugs is "usual", just kill me. Okay? Randy read them the riot act and they finally approved the transaction. But he hasn't calmed down about this yet. He's removed his American Express card from his wallet and we're rather tight while we wait for the paychecks to start flowing in again.

He's so fed up with them, he decided (with my agreement) to cash in all his points for Barnes and Noble gift cards. As soon as he's paid the account off, he's closing it. I'm debating doing the same with my card. My newest LYS doesn't take American Express and that's the card I put my allowance on right now. So. I'm debating getting a new card, rolling my AmEx amount into it and closing my AmEx account as well. I wonder how many points I have? More Barnes and Noble shopping, perhaps?

When I spoke to an American Express representative about this whole thing, she said they've been busy, "With the downturn in the economy". Ah, so pissing off the customers who've been behaving is how you handle that? Bad move, American Express. I'm sure your mega-company won't miss the paltry amount of money we bring in, but you do this to enough people and you'll find that people *will* leave home without it!

I'm still working on this stole design. I don't know how the designers out there do it... I'm stumped. Randy's working on a program that will take an XPM and convert it to row-by-row instructions. But, I have to have some concept of how to scale the image first. One image I was playing with started at 615x600 pixels. If I do a stitch/pixel, that's a lot of stitches. But at laceweight, is that a lot of stole? I have no clue. Really, I don't.

I'm down to a size 1US (?) needle (one of my sock needles) and I'm not sure I'm going to get enough definition still. Maybe I should go up to fingering weight? Will that be too heavy? *sigh* This makes my head hurt. And I really want to see this come together. I can do this!

So, to that end, I should step away from the computer and do more actual knit-testing, eh?

I'm here....just not for long. I've been home since Tuesday evening and completely wiped out. I love my Mom, I love visiting her, but this big girl (and her big guy) spent four nights on a double bed. I don't think I slept well a couple of those nights. Then Wednesday I was up early and busy all day, exhausted to the point of wanting to sleep if I sat for more than a minute. I crashed around 00:30 hours (which would be Thursday AM) and I didn't crawl out of bed until almost 17:30 hours Thursday! I ached all over and that meant a migraine from the tension in my back.

So, here it is Friday and we're headed back to Mom's tonight---only I'm driving our car and Randy is driving a car for work (long story). My tummy's rumbly and I'm not sure if it's stress or something I ate. Fun.

Hopefully, I'll have a more interesting update come the New Year. Thanks for sticking with me, you faithful readers, even for the boring stuff.

I'm here. I'm alive. I've just been.....knittingeatinggamingeatingstayingupallnighteatingraveling. Whew. Yeah. It's been like that!

I'm down to the two sleeves of the Retrograde Pulloever for Nick...and my knitting queue keeps getting longer! I've found a half-dozen things I'd love to knit-and-gift for Christmas.

And I've bought so much roving already----I must be insane! I'll see if I can get Nick to spend a few minutes with the digital camera and take some pictures of my roving goodness *before* I mangle it beyond recognition spin it into yarn.

Oh, and today I joined the Pay It Forward exchange on Lucia's blog. I get a little something sent to me and, in return, I promise:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So, whether you're a long-time reader (what? I have long-time readers??), a new reader and/or a first time commenter, join in the fun!

And if you're into knitting / crocheting / weaving / spinning -- basically anything textile-oriented and you haven't signed up for Ravelry yet----What's wrong with you? *grin* Seriously, I love this site! It could easily become an addiction!

This says it all best:

An excellent solution to the *&%$ gecko

How do you celebrate the birthday of a loved one, when you're miles (and miles!) from friends and most of your family? Randy doesn't make a big deal out of his birthdays usually---he hates those "sing the birthday song" things that restaurants do. And he's always said he doesn't like surprise parties (and then a few days ago said that for his 40th, he probably wouldn't have minded....Argh! Now he tells me!!!!)

So today, with only one thing on my plate to try to accomplish (make kheer), did I? Nope. I woke with....eh, let's just keep the details vague and call it "intestinal grief". Ugh. I've hardly been able to move today---I feel like an old lady! (Wait, *whose* 40th is it????)

How could I make up for this???? FLASH! Like a strobe of lightning in the dark I had an idea..... I'll order flowers delivered to his office---yeah! With balloons floating above, so they'll be visible above those crappy almost-walls that make up cubicle farms in offices all over the world. Perfect.

I located a florist just down the street from his office and called. I spoke to the owner (!) and she was absolutely amazing about it. I ordered a medium dish garden, with 2 latex balloons and a mylar "Happy Birthday" balloon. ::rubs hands together with glee:: I gave my Amex card numbers and eagerly awaited the call from Randy that he'd been pounced on at work.

Only... I got the call a lot sooner than I expected and he didn't sound too happy. For a second, I thought, "NO! Please tell me he didn't get laid off on his birthday!" Turns out, he wasn't feeling good and was coming home early!

I called the florist back and Paula was, once again, simply the best. She headed out immediately for our townhouse and was here and gone before Randy could get home. Look at the wonderful job she did.

One dish garden

Paula put in a couple cut flowers for some temporary color---and she picked well 'cause the orange tiger-lily reminds us both of when we were just engaged.

One Mylar, Two Latex Balloons

The Full Deal

Now, we just need to find a home for it where the ferrets can't paw through it.

Happy 40th, darling!

My Mom's been working like a dog lately---80+ hours in a week at times. She has a friend from Ohio visiting with his new ferret girl Nimshi. I really wanted to meet this new girl and wasn't sure if we'd be going up to visit Mom or if they'd come down to us.

So, Monday morning I'm dozing in bed not wanting to face the horror that is my kitchen and the wreck that is my house (especially the laundry that "magically" appears whenever Nick decides to start cleaning---but never finish!!!---his room). My phone rings. The conversation goes something like this:

Me (looking at caller-ID first, speaks perkily as though fully awake): Hi, Mom!

[Aside: why do I always feel guilty that I'm sleeping when she calls? I mean, yeah, I get up late....but I also *stay* up late!!!!]

Mom: Hi hon. Were you sleeping?

Me: No, just laying in bed, being lazy.

Mom: Want some company?

Me: Sure!

Mom: I thought we'd come down today and leave tomorrow.

Me (hoping "joy" has not been replaced by "panic" in my voice): That's great! Don't forget to bring Nimshi, or I'll make you turn around!

Mom (in the traditional "mom-voice" known around the world): You're sure it's no trouble? I don't want to put you out or anything.

Me: No, Mom. Come on down. We'd love to have you.

Mom: Okay, we'll see you in a little while.

We disconnect and I fly from the bed and over to Nick's room.

Me: NICK! GET UP!!!! NANA'S ON HER WAY!

I don't really know *when* she's leaving, but I know it's a two-hour drive. Two hours??? That's all I have to make my home look only slightly disarrayed????? On a Monday, after a weekend of no one doing *anything*?

I bullied, I prodded and I nagged. I got the upstairs half-vacuumed (my room and the hall, which is where the majority of the traffic is----I'm not even going to try Nick's room!). I ran 3 loads of laundry, swept the entire staircase down (much easier than lugging the Dyson around on the stairs), vacuumed the great room down stairs and prodded Nick to clean up the occasional ferret poop (we've got the catpaper in corners but sometimes they like a different spot). I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and tried to find a little counter space in my not-really-adequate for a chef (which Randy really could be, with some professional training) kitchen.

Another load of laundry as I realize Nick has co-opted the second set of guest sheets for *his* bed. I need the first pair washed and dried, need towels for the guest bath. That's two loads right there and I didn't start with either of them, but some darks 'cause that basket was overflowing. (Does anyone in my house wear anything besides shades of black????) While the sheets were in the wash, another phone call comes in.

Mom: We want to take you all to dinner tonight.

Me: Oh, that's very nice of you.

[Aside: relieved voice as I realize that this means I don't have to uncover the dining room table which I haven't seen completely since...Spring? Or finish the kitchen and figure out what Randy could make.]

We decide to go to Longhorn Steakhouse and disconnect again. I now have to scramble for an outfit as well. My own fault for not staying caught up on laundry.

Of course, doing anything remotely connected to dust and dirt....Nick starts with the sneezing and runny nose, so I urge him to take an antihistamine. And then I regret it as it hits his system and he becomes more difficult to move than a post in hardening cement! Switch the laundry again. Empty the Dyson for the 6th or 7th time.

Finally, I feel like my house is....ah, screw it. That's good enough. This townhouse is a crap-hole anyways. It's like trying to decorate a pig-pen. I shower (!) and put on a fresh set of "house jammies" (why waste good street clothes on sitting in my house, yes?) and pulled out my diamond lace sock.

Whew. I was pooped! And as I look back on it, I realize the Power of Mom. So, why doesn't my son feel that same Power? Why doesn't the risk of my glare result in a clean bedroom and chores done right the first time?

*sigh*

[And Mom, if you're reading this, I know you're about to feel all guilty that you "put me through that. You know I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble." Yeah. Like I could sit in the same room with you, knowing it needs cleaning and *not* feel the urge to clean it up. *grin*

Besides, if I'd done my work, I wouldn't have had to go all time-lapse movement-ish to get it all done! There's only so much I can "blame" on being the only woman in the house.]

To my other readers: Mom can't wait for me to visit, "so we can sit and knit together. My socks aren't any fun to work on alone." But when I get there, she doesn't sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time! And she complains that her place is a disaster that needs cleaning---but you have to look really hard and in the crevices to find that "disaster". *sigh*

Shortly before company arrived, I returned upstairs, donned appropriate street clothes and found my wooden hair accessory Randy bought me when we were in San Francisco last year. There. Not bad.

Back to my sock. Which I've ripped back to the very first m1 about 5 times now. Last night, sitting in bed, listening to A Forest of Stars by Kevin J. Anderson, I ripped it back for the 6th time. *sigh* I need to learn to put lifelines in this thing! Or be more patient and only rip one round at a time.

Yeah. Right.

OH! I almost forgot!!!!! My Blue Kitty Designs knitting bag arrived yesterday!!!!! I haven't recruited Nick to take a picture yet, so I'll post that later. In the meantime, I bought this one, which is bag number 5 of hers! These things are soooo incredibly perfect. One project, one bag. And the drawstrings are (thus far) ferret proof!

I'm so excited. I think I even have enough needles to have a sock cast on in each of my bags! Nick's borrowing this one to hold his Blue Blip socks. I've got this one busy with No Remorse and this one is holding Hedera Helix (which I can't find a link to!!!!). My last bag is currently holding Venerable for my Diamond Lace sock. Socks! I love knitting them!

Oh, have you seen this sock?

Rivendell by Chameleon Colorworks

Does it make me a nerd that I want the pattern? I wish they were selling it solo, without the kit. And speaking of socks I'm drooling over, why didn't I know about Cookie A socks before this? I'm developing a list of sock patterns I want... I saw another sock pattern somewhere, which is what led me to Cookie A, but I can't remember where I saw it.

Oh, I know where.... here!!!! That's 'cause I was on Deb Barnhill's blog, looking at her progress in the 52 Pair Plunge (why hadn't I heard about this sooner????).

I gotta run. Mom should be back from her trip to the beach soon and I still have to finish my leftover Ethiopian food I'm having for lunch. Yum!