Baa Baa Black Sheep

I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait!!

I think I may be too excited to sleep tonight. Over sheep, and wool and goats and fiber. Silly I know, but it makes me exceedingly happy to be headed to Eugene tomorrow to the Black Sheep gathering. The best part is I made a new knitting friend at WWKIP day and so we are traveling together which makes it double the fun.

See you all at the show!

On another note entirely, the painting of the kids rooms is done (not by me!!!) It looks nice. Next it to clean the carpets, bark dust the back yard, finish cleaning up the leftover sod from the lawn installation extravaganza.

I need a cold drink and some time in a comfy chair with a good book.

SahWeeeeeeeet

Checking kids in online the day before flight - Free
Airport parking to drop kids off the next day $3.00
Snacks, drinks, breakfast, gum and incidentals for day of flight $30.00


Shoving the kids down the jetway and skipping through the concourse shouting I'm Free, I'm Free, I'm Free

PRICELESS


Naps mid-day, no breakfast to fix, no fighting to listen to, the house stays clean, belly dance classes again (ahhh) WWKIP day with no pressure to leave early (AHHH). My knitting er um crap spread all over the kitchen island and no reason to move it.

These are just a few of my favorite things. Just call me Julie Andrews. More later. For now I'm having some power fun!

My Niece's Wedding

I left in less than my usual whirlwind on Friday because my Sweetie was in town and was a huge help to get all parties into the car and down the road. We had some minor traffic craziness on the way in and an issue with the dumbass rental car company - but after that it was golden.

My niece was radiant and the ceremony was short, sweet and funny. Very touching. They appear to be made for each other. The party was a blast, the hotel exquisite, and the best part was it was my family and no drama. Well no drama aside from my poor Mom and Dad looking for food that was not a)sushi b)vegetable c)heavily spiced or d)heavily sauced. I enjoyed the food immensely.

We managed pictures of all of the 5 siblings together. Something my half brother and I managed without speaking a word to each other. Why would anything change in 17 years? We also managed a picture of all 11 of the grandchildren. It was an historic moment and one I am glad I didn't miss.

I don't know that I have smiled and laughed that much in months. It was great to see my brother and he and my Sweetie got along sharing their IT geek stories. It made me feel so good to see everyone enjoying themselves and my sister - the mother of the bride - more than anyone. She looked gorgeous as well. I'll try to post pictures later.

I can keep my boobs for another year

Well the mammo came back clean and so I'll visit with the breast surgeon next week. That appointment is the day after I have a chunk cut out of my face on purpose. Add this to the list of appts including a second opinion on the dental implant.

It's expensive getting old.

Surprise!!!

This post should be accompanied by a picture of my oldest daughter losing 10 years off of her life from the fright we gave her on Sunday.

I still can't believe we managed to pull it off. We had a surprise party for her 17th birthday. It was all my youngest daughter's idea. I have to admit to massive amounts of skepticism at first, and a fear of the party animals spilling stuff all over my house and breaking things.

It's absurd really, they are all good kids with manners and they are 17 and 18, not 3. No sippy cups are necessary.

So we lured her out with the promise of lunch at Chipotle, and her friends snuck in while we were out and set up the party. When we came back to the house I ran in with my camera at the ready and went to the kitchen island and waited for her to arrive. The kids were hiding back there with me and were as quiet as the proverbial mice. When she came in they popped up and yelled surprise. I pushed the button on my camera only to find that I had had a firm grip on the power button, not the take the picture button.

Sigh!

She had such a good time it did my heart good to see her. Sorry there won't be a picture of her face, but maybe some good ones of the party.

Zen and the Art of Lawn Maintenance

I mowed the lawn last night, for the first time. It was quite good to push the little human powered mower around the yard. I was pretty lathered up when I finished and I didn't pollute anything - either noise or carbon footprint. Just a whirring sound and me huffing and puffing. It was a lot of work because the ground was wet and the grass was tall, and the foxgloves were blooming. That last part, that only made it hard because my eye was drawn to the flower beds.

What a treat! I have this image in my head of a little fox wearing these lovely gloves. The picture doesn't do the actual coloration or pattern justice. There is this fine outline around each of the spots in the throat of the flower. It's so magnificent that it brings me to tears.

It also gives me ideas about future knitting projects. Unfortunately I need to knit from my itsy bitsy stash for a while longer because I have big expenses coming up and I need to spend my money there.

The Drama Club

There has been lots of drama around my house lately. None of it relating to the titular Drama club. All of that was put aside for a moment last night when the estrogen haze hanging over the house lifted briefly to attend a Red Carpet event. The Kudos night for the drama club.

My daughters sat next to me most of the night and I got to meet the super woman who runs the department. I see why they love being there so much. It's like a big warm family, the kind I'm not able to give them because I'm mental and because my family is more mental and spread out along the West and East coasts (and Hawaii).

When I say I'm mental I don't mean that I'm abusive or I behave badly (most of the time). I'm broken in some ways, and I feign an air of serenity and sanity that is really just a veneer sometimes. But I digress.

Anyway I would love to hang out in this place if I were a kid. It makes sense now, seeing them all together. I made a decision which I hope I can follow up on. I want to volunteer for sewing and stage construction next year. I asked the kids permission and they both said it was fine with them.

I'm a good seamstress and I can follow pattern instructions and paint with the best of them. I'll also get to see my kids more often, before they fly the nest.

I've all but finished Marc's second sock. It needs a bind off that is done with a needle. He will be here on Monday and I'm looking forward to having him model them for me. I'll post pictures!