Happy Birthday, Susna!

It's my big sister's birthday.  My big sister who always had the best clothes for me to "borrow", who taught me everything I know about knitting and made me want to have a little girl or two (or three), who lets me visit her and makes me watch every CSI show, Bones, Criminal Minds and basically any show that involves dead bodies and crime solving.

Happy Birthday Susan Mary!  Hope the Serial Knitters treat you to cake and ice cream!

Dark Shadows!

The B reminded me that the new movie version of "Dark Shadows" is coming out soon.

Both of us are pumped for this.  We RAN home from school to watch this soap. LOVED IT.

And I am reminded that when it came time to choose my name for confirmation, I wanted (desperately) to have "Angelique".  She is (I think) that blonde lady in the front there, a real minx.  Father McGirl put the kibosh on that, as I had to have a saint's name for some crazy reason (I believe Angelique was the resident witch on D.S., so perhaps not the best choice).  I went with Bridget instead.  And I think I left the church right about then.

News Flash: New Heart Rejects Patient

Dick Cheney got a heart transplant. It's great that he enjoys excellent healthcare at public expense.  Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of us enjoyed the same privilege?

Remind me to update my organ donor card at the DMV to say "anyone but Dick Cheney".

ba da bing!

The Best Part of a Sunday Morning

If I were a better person, I'd say it's going to church.

But no.  It's "Disaster DIY" with Bryan Baeumler.  He's the best.  Love him even more than I love Holmes.  Which is a lot.

The Blahs

Spring can not come soon enough.  We had snow this week, ugh.  The yard looks terrible.  I'm going to pay the price for failing to finish raking all the leaves and pine needles last fall.  And it's just generally dreary outside.

So I'm sort of stuck in the winter blahs.  Winning the British Airways ticket this week was definitely a boost to the spirits, but that trip isn't in the near future.  We're in a holding pattern waiting for nice weather and the chance to do some outdoor stuff.

My current knitting project is slogging along (The Gent's Knickerbocker Stockings in Blantyre Plaid -- that's a mouthful).  I've been working on it all month and it refuses to allow me to finish it and move on to something new.  Damn You, Gent's Knickerbocker Stockings.

The house is in dire need of a good spring cleaning.  Katie got a Groupon for housecleaning, which is great.  But you KNOW we have to clean before we can allow a stranger to come in and clean.  Everything needs dusting, washing, vacuuming, etc.

So, how to motivate?  Suggestions welcomed :-)  I think I'm going to have a second cup of coffee and think about it.  Then maybe take a nap.

Lucky Pup 2.0!

OMG you guys!  I don't know WHAT is happening in my life this year. 

I JUST (FOR REAL) WON A ROUND TRIP TICKET TO ENGLAND.

It's for reals!  No, they didn't ask for my soc. sec. number or credit card!  I entered British Airway's contest on Facebook and was picked as one of the daily winners.

You may know that I love everything British.  So I'm over the moon!  The Longi's are planning to come with, so we are already working on a date we can all go (probably Christmas)  And I'll be saving every penny until then, as I still have to have a place to stay and have to eat while I'm there.

Guess maybe I should start buying lottery tickets.

And here's the real question:  Should I stroll the streets of Foggy Londontown wearing The Barrister's Wig?:

Knitting: The Next Generation

Here's Tate with the Monster she knit HERSELF.  9 years old and she already knows how to do all kinds of knitterly things.

So glad the knitting tradition will continue in our family!

PS Tate I want a monster!

Are You Watching...

"Game of Thrones" on HBO? 

Season 2 starts April 1, and Pia, Katie & I are v. excited.  This series is really well done, with some totally unexpected plot twists (see poor Sean Bean's head on a spike over there)

I'm furiously reading Book 2 in the series so I'll be able to follow the action when the show starts up again.  You practically need a written cast of characters to keep everyone straight.

Quick!

I need to celebrate while I still can!

I am currently in FIRST PLACE in our family NCAA tournament bracket contest!  I only missed on 2 games yesterday.  This is big for me, as I generally start out in last place and stay there.

Since I have the Zags winning the national championship, I imagine my day of glory will be very short-lived.  But I vote with my heart.  Just like all those moms of Gonzaga players who filled out their brackets.

I KNEW Suri Couldn't Let This One Pass Her By

Poor Shiloh, she does NOT have a chance with Suri.  Zaharah got no love for the blue braids, either.

A Day Brightener!

I donate $10.00 a month on DonorsChoose.org, which funds classroom projects.  I try to pick projects from teachers at Linwood School, which is where the boys go to school and is in an area with high needs (I'd pick Freeman schools too Pia, but there aren't ever any projects from your district)

One of the projects I helped fund was to buy Nooks for Mrs. Huschke's classroom.  She was Riveria's 4th and 5th grade teacher and he loved her to pieces.  As does Mike P, because he went to her room after school every day with his big brother and got candy :0

I just received an envelope of thank you notes from the class and they make me so happy!  Here are a few excerpts (with original spelling and punctuation):

"I really like the nooks, because, I could change the pages without getting a paper cut.  The nooks is more practice for responsability, and respect for something that isn't yours forever.  So all I'm saying is thank you for the nooks you didn't have to buy them for us but you did.  Sincerely, Peyton"

"You could of used your money for something else but you didn't"

"Thank you for the Nooks.  They're vary fun to read on.  I love how you change the pages with boutins. Als-o how they change font size.  Sincerely, Dakotah"

"Thank you for the Nooks.  I realy love them becaus they are AWSOME and fun to read on.  From Kelly"

"Thanks so much for greatiously sacerficing your money so our class can have a chance to use these fun Nooks"

So sweet!  Seriously consider donating on Donorschoose.org, it's such a worthwhile project and a great chance to directly help a teacher.

And for another, yet more sinister, day brightener, do check out "Hi, How Are You Doing in Hell", a collection of demented drawings from kids.  Mom Snot, Ray Sont 4Ever!

Oh Xtina, You Have Won Me Over

With this fascinator that looks like a vinyl record of craziness.

I'm still not pleased with who she kept and who she sent home last night.  But I'm fine with her boobs spilling out and her horrible hair and makeup.  As long as she keeps the fascinators coming.

Can't Wait!

The NCAA Tournament is almost here!  Katie is taking Thursday & Friday off work and we'll be parked in front of the TV getting our fill of basketball!

In our family pool, I (as always) am opting for team loyalty over common sense, and have the Zags winning it all.  This approach has never gotten me higher than 4th place, and I was dead last in 2011, due to using "auto-select" to fill out my bracket.  Just relying on gut instinct, who has the better mascot, and which coach/program I hate more to make my selections.

Go Zags!

You Missed Him, Patty!

Patty Longinotti (yes, I'm naming names) has a deep, undying love for ROD STEWART.  I had no idea there still were RS fans in this world, but P-Diddy remains loyal to the old rocker.

Patty, he was IN SPOKANE last night.  His son Liam plays for the Chiefs, our local hockey team and old Rod was in the house.

P, you can see him here.  And buy the photo for only $19.00.

Love you, doll :-)

March Madness

of sorts...Katie kindly added me to her Oz Fitness membership, so I can work out with her.  Today was my first day.  I am pretty sure I impressed NO one with my 30 minutes on the treadmill and some Cybex work.  But it's a start.

Their schedule of classes includes "Aqua Zumba", which sounds like it might be fun.  Fat ladies in the pool!  That's for me!

Green!

I just got 4 skeins of this gorgeous yarn from Sundara Yarn (I am signed up for their Luxury Collection, a surprise in the mail for 3 months, yay!)  The color is called "Slip Slidin' Away" and it is so pretty.  A bit darker than the picture.  And so soft, an alpaca/silk blend.

I don't usually go for greens, but this really is very pretty.

I have 1200 yards of this green loveliness.  What to knit with it?  I will need to find a special sweater pattern.  Maybe not a Weldon's crazy Victorian sweater, so I may have to cheat on my commitment to ONLY knit from Weldon's this year.  Don't tell.

And I found the sweater I want to knit with this yarn:

"Hallett's Ledge" from Twist Collective.  Oooh, I want to cast on RIGHT NOW.  Must resist until I have finished my plaid socks and the tea cosy I'm making for Piecework Magazine...

Portland is for (Yarn) Lovers

Pia & I met up  with Susan, Pam and Tate for a fabulous weekend in Portland!  The occasion was the Rose City Yarn Crawl.  19 yarn shops in a weekend. 

We didn't make it to all 19 stores, but we managed to visit quite a few (11, by Tate's count)  Our favorite was the wonderful Twisted.  My new favorite is Close Knit, because I just got word that I WON one of these:

People, these baskets were LOADED with great stuff.  I am so excited (esp. since, as my faithful readers know, I haven't won anything since I scored a hundred bucks playing Safeway Bingo back in 1978)

Here's a picture of three of our yarnies:

Tatum was the best participant, she insisted P & I come over to their room and knit.  She was gung-ho for going to all the shops on the crawl, and she (in true knitter style) had several projects going plus bought more yarn.

It being Portland and all, there were annoying "Portlandia" moments.  Here's Pia at the world's worst bakery/coffee place (in my opinion):

Vegan, blech.  I about had a stroke when the barista suggested "coconut cream, soy or hazelnut milk" for my coffee instead of half and half.  Never a Starbucks when you really need one.

And Pam graciously modeled the Ladies' Undervest for me, after it was suggested that I find a model with boobs and a waistline:

So much fun!  Let's do it again next year!

My Current Favorite Word

I love the word "whinge".  It's my favorite Britishism.  So much better than "whine".  I really must make an effort to tell someone to stop whinging every day.