Eiffel Tower Shawl is Finis!

I didn't cross the finish line on time (combo of broken arm + super hot weather slowed me down), but I finally finished my "Tour de France Knitalong" project, the Eiffel Tower Shawl.  It turned out quite nicely, and will make a pretty and lightweight wrap for cooler weather.

Almost Made It!

The boys have been playing "Slug Bug" for the past few years, and up until this summer, I've managed to keep secret the 'punch' part of playing. (When you see a VW Bug, you yell "Slug Bug" and slug the guy next to you). 

ONE MONTH with the Manny, Jon, and they are slugging each other mercilessly.  Makes car trips a real pleasure :-)

One more Jon anecdote: I walked in the other morning to find them eating breakfast and listening entranced while Jon regaled them with stories of all the people he's seen who are dead...with gory details.  Of course, they LOVED IT.  And were real disappointed with me when I wasn't able to add my own memories of impaled, decapitated, squashed, and/or mangled bodies.  I've lived a sheltered life, I guess.

I'm Melting!

OMG it is HOT.  We must be close to 100 today.  I know, the Virginians have it MUCH worse, their temps are over one hundred, with the hideous humidity.  Nonetheless, I'm going to complain.  I'm trying to finish the last 10 rows of my Eiffel Tower Shawl (has to be completed by midnight tonight to qualify for the knitalong I've been doing in tandem with the Tour de France), but knitting with a lap full of wool shawl in this weather is pretty awful.

Another First

My life consists of (very) small triumphs these days.  Last night I slept in my very own bed (as opposed to the couch or recliner) for the first time since June 1st!  Bliss.  Of course, my arm was sore all day as a result, but it was so fab to sleep in a  bed, I am willing to suffer.

It's On Like Donkey Kong!

the Longinotti family Christmas trip to exotic island location, that is!  We are going to Roatan, off the coast of Honduras! 


I've never heard of it either (in fact I kept thinking of "Croatan" of the lost Roanoke colony...) but it's warm, the water is blue, our house has a swimming pool, and after that, who cares?  All I need is a stack of books and some suntan lotion and I'm good to go.

Now I HAVE to get serious about Weight Watchers, so I don't get mistaken for Moby Dick and harpooned by some Honduran fisherman.

Arm Update

I'm improving!  While I'm still unable to sleep in my bed (for some reason, it's super-hard to find a comfortable position in bed), I have finally cast aside the sling.  I have pretty good range of motion in the 'up and down' area, but have a long way to go before I'm going to be able to scratch my back with the left arm. 

Happy Birthday, Boys!

Riveria and Mikey celebrated their birthdays this week.  Hard to believe, but RJ is 11 and Mike is 5!!!!  Seems like just yesterday Riveria was toddling around in diapers, and a blink of an eye ago Mikey was a newborn. 

Team Kent!

Katie also has sucked me into "So You Think You Can Dance", which I've had to add to my 'must watch' list (damn you, Katie! Between your trashy tastes and my broken arm/forced inactivity, I've become a total reality tv whore!).  Anyways, I'm totally Team Kent!  I think this guy is absolutely adorable, plus I can totes see him flourishing as a Broadway dancer.  Katie is being contrary and claims to 'hate' Kent.  I don't believe it, bc you'd have to be dead inside not to love this kid.

Gotta Love Summer TV!

Katie & I enjoy watching the most random TV shows...lately, we are obsessed with two shows on the Travel Channel:

Bert the Conqueror "Whether Bert's attempting to walk across "The Greasy Pole" in Gloucester, MA, catfish noodlin’ in Knoxville, TN, or taking on Cedar Point’s "Fearsome Foursome" roller-coaster challenge in Sandusky, OH, he'll stop at nothing to showcase what the locals do for fun."  Hey, Katie, it's called CATFISH NOODLIN'.  I can't wait for the ep where Bert visits Dollywood!

Our other fave is Man v. Food, where our round but adorable host Adam travels around the country, eating himself to death by attempting 'food challenges' at various restaurants.  Our fave is the place in Cleveland where he ate a 5 lb. grilled cheese sammy (and if you have a grilled cheese tat, you get a lifetime discount!  Win Win!!)  Yesterday, Adam was in Seattle!  Have any of you eaten at The Crab Pot?  They dump a whole pot of shellfish and other yummies on your table and hand you a mallet.  YUM.  I have to take Riveria (aka Mr. King Crab) there, he would totes die of happiness.

Of course, we remain loyal to "Toddlers & Tiaras", that show is UNBEATABLE.  And I am quite fond of "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant", pure drama week after week.  Ladies, have your baby in the K-Mart bathroom, instant reality show material!

Back to Work!

Finally!  I am gainfully employed!  I started back with my nanny duties on Monday.  I'm not sure who was happier with this turn of events: me, the boys or 'Manny' Jon.  Maybe we were all equally delighted.

We are busy bees, as usual.  Speech lessons, movies, the park, and much more.  Yesterday, we had eye doc appts for the big boys, then mom dropped us off at the park.  We strolled home, stopping for ice cream cones on the way.  Bliss.

Bits O Fairy Business Lives

When we were kids, we used to hop on the Greyhound Bus in Bothell and ride to downtown Seattle, where we would then walk to our granparents' florist shop for a visit (can you IMAGINE letting your 3rd grade child do this??! Times have changed.)  Once safely arrived, we'd usually want to make some sort of creative mess.  Our great aunt Irene would help us put together a marvelous mixture of styrofoam blocks, cards, glitter and some sort of spray glue that today's huffers would adore.  Reenie lives on in the heart of Zaide, who helped Tatum put together the most enchanted fairy cottage this weekend at the cabin.  They scouted for all kinds of materials out in the woods, and I donated a lace swatch, a garter stitch piece and a little braided rug.  Voila!  Instant Fairy Land!

Cabin Fun

Lucy Lou and I spent the weekend at the glorious CABIN. It was grand. B, Mimi, Susan, and the Narode Gang (Pam, Josh, Tate and Logan) were also there. Here are a few pix:

You Asked For It!

Our cabin weekend included a short discussion as to who has the world's longest fingernails (and how disgusting that is).  I promised to blog about it:  Lee Redmond is/was the record holder.  She had a tragic car accident, tho, which destroyed the WLF's record for her.

What To Do Now That the World Cup is Over

1. Become acquainted with my new fave website Kickette , all about hottie soccer players and their WAGS (wives and girlfriends)

2. Watch the Tour de France.

3. Go to a Sounders game, I hear they are fun.

4. Buy your own vuvuzela.

Oh Happy Day!

The happiest days are the days new babies are announced!  Congrats Megan, Ryan, Hadley and Rudy on the Turkey Day arrival of your new little bean!  We cannot wait to meet the precious pup!  I'm (not too secretly) hoping it's a boy so poor Bennie won't always have to be the dog/Ken when he plays house with all of his girl cousins.

I Heart Don Draper

I'm currently obsessed with "Mad Men" and eagerly awaiting the Season 4 start-up (July 25th!)  Meanwhile, here's a video for us DD fanatics:

They're Having a Heat Wave...

Poor Cara and Tony!  The Virginians are suffering!  I talked to Cara this morning (9 am her time) and she said it's already 93 there...with humidity of course.  My children weren't born to withstand this sort of heat!!!!  The poor girl hasn't slept in a week.

I urged her to 1. buy a wading pool so she can go sit in it at 2 am and soothe her restless legs/heat stroke, and 2. purchase a hat with a fan in it.  Who cares if she'll look like a geek, at least she won't have heat stroke. 

Then there's suggestion #3: MOVE HOME.  It's a pleasant 80 here today, with NO humidity.  Miss you doll!

New Torture Device

As part of my physical therapy, I need to work on lifting my broken arm.  So Jonathan gave me this pulley system to use at home.  It's hideous.  But better than having a frozen shoulder, I assume.  I never really appreciated being able to lift/move/turn my arm before now :-(

Happy Independence Day!

Our great-uncle Billy (from 1914) wishes you a happy 4th of July!  No big plans here at Fluther HQ.  Katie and Lucy Lou are off to camp so I'm on my own.  And since fireworks are illegal here in Spokane, I guess I won't be setting anything on fire or blowing off any digits.  I may be able to see the fireworks from the front yard, so will be camped out there after dark.  Hope your holiday is a lot more action packed than mine!

Joke of the Day

BP has stopped the leak in the gulf.

Apparently, they put a wedding ring on it and it quit putting out.

Exciting News!

I submitted a sock design to Three Irish Girls for consideration, and it was selected for publication!  This is still exciting to me, I even get paid for it!

Happy Canada Day!

In Honor of Canada Day (and to cheer up my two Canada-despising children), here's a timely article to read: A Few Famous Canadians We Wouldn't Mind Seeing Deported

Happy Canada Day!