just call me dusty

Man, the thin dust that covers everything when you work with drywall is unlike any dust I've met before. It coats everything it touches in a fine film that is gritty, but almost invisible to the eye.

I've cleaned the cabinets and dusted our pots and pans (will really clean them when I have a working sink and dishwasher prior to using them, of course). I have washed the floors. I still have to clean my desk in the front room (trust me, we have a curtain over the door and everything). I also must pick up the lounge as since I'm hosting knit night tomorrow night...I need a dust free environment.

That room didn't get dusted by the drywall, so it will be the room for the get together. Not as conducive to chatting since the giant tv is in there, but it will work just fine. I'm looking forward to it, even.

Okay, must go shower and deep condition my hair before the template makers get here!!!

Dusty, out.

progress

roosters, RIP

Well, phase one of the deconstruction has come and gone. I am now clean and tired.

Jill came over as planned, at 9:00. We got straight to work since I'd prepared the area last night. She is an amazing friend. It was not as easy as we'd hoped, but it wasn't too hard. We do have a couple of rather major/minor patch jobs to have done before Tuesday, when the template makers are coming. I am amazed by what is going on in my kitchen right now.

We had a slight mis-judgment on the sink and I had to take it back for it's little brother. I'm a little sad, but the lines are the same, just smaller. And they didn't have the same color so we ended up having to go with white. It was not my first choice, but desperate times. And honestly, against the Beige Olimpo Silestone counters...and with the back splash tile...It will be beautiful. (I was trying to link to the tiles for you all, but it's being dumb and their site is really annoying to navigate)

Is it Tuesday the 3rd of June yet?

We could save some of the hand painted vegetable tiles, but sadly the roosters did not make it. Jill felt terribly and she tried her best. Those ladies used industrial strength adhesive or something. I also did save some of the counter top tiles. I got enough to do some cool table for outside or something. That makes me happier than I thought.

Okay, must retire to the basement until it's time to go to our friends for a cookout. Friends are amazing. When they become like family, it's even better.

what lies ahead?

Tomorrow morning after my dear Kevin goes to work, my friend Jill will arrive to help me remove the kitchen counters. I just can no longer deal with grout. We've had tile counters in the past and I've never been a fan. I do love the color, however. We found a great Silestone that is very similar. But we'll talk about that later.



You can't see it in the first picture, but there are two tiles that I am hoping Jill and I can salvage.

They are from the city where one of the women who used to live here grew up in Italy.

I will hopefully get some shots throughout the process (or at least after our hard day of work tomorrow). Speaking of that work, I should get to bed. Must get some good rest before the excitement begins.

Wish us luck.

isn't she refined?

The one we hardly speak about...

Chloe is really our dignified kitten, can't you tell? She sits so prim and proper on top of an old magazine bearing the picture of a black lab. Alia gave it to me because she felt I was creative and it reminded her of Josie.

But I digress.

Chloe just had her 11th birthday, well we celebrate it on May Day. To witness her at times, you wouldn't think she was the elder of the house. She flits about, chirping at the birds, us, the other two.

She loves the mantel. It's her perch. The highest spot in the house she can get to. It brings her joy to sit up there and get scratches on her head. When we try to lean down to pet her, she will run and flee to the mantel where she allows us the pleasure of giving her some scratches on her head.

Isn't she so pretty?

What's that? Is she standing on her tail?

Why yes, I dare say she is...

We see her do this often, but this is the first time I've actually gotten it on "film" to share. I think this would be a sweet image to print and put in a frame. It's very much her. Although, perhaps the first one where you can see her beautiful face as well as her silly self would be better.

Chloe, our matriarch of the family...

hello?

Where is my phone?

Have you seen it?

The last time I used it I was downstairs calling you to figure out how to make the dvd player work, I mean you know, it's a bit confusing with all the things plugged in...

I must have turned it off since it's going straight to voice mail when you call.

Damn!

Wait, what was that sound when I moved the pillow?

HOLY CRAP!!!

We're renaming Simon, Vortex. It seems as though he nudged it off the nightstand and into the pillow that I leave standing in front of the night stand in hopes of keeping him from going under and bugging me in the mornings.

Yeah, damn cat. :)

He looks upset about it all, doesn't he?

Ah, life with cats....

what you think?

before:

after:

every single day

I get to look out my kitchen window and see this:

I'm the luckiest girl in the world. It seems to have filled out even more since I took this just a few days ago.

We have a few more things to plant, but so far we have:

edamame
peas (mr. big and sugar snap)
garlic (which will be ready soon)
tomatoes (brandywine, beefsteak, oregon spring)
lettuce (romaine, arugula)
baby carrots

We still have to plant beans and zucchinis. I'm pretty excited about it all, really. The tomatoes are the only things I am worried about right now. It's not dropping to freezing, but it is getting cold and it's not been really sunny here yet. The one day we did get some amazing sun, we saw growth. I am not too expectant of the bessers my friend is growing from seed. She isn't too hopeful, at least the last time we spoke. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though!

Well, Alia is coming over soon to see the house and then we're all going out to dinner. I can hardly wait. I can hear her voice already. :)

dinner...it was amazing

What a truly lovely evening we shared last night. Kev took me to Ruth's Chris Steak House, downtown. The food was amazing.

Our evening started when we were given a glass of champagne shortly after we sat down. They all wanted to know how long it'd been. One guy kept saying, "amazing! wonderful! amazing!" Although I'm not sure what was that amazing about us hitting year 8, I do agree that it's wonderful.

Anyway, I had the most amazing, succulent petite filet mignon I've ever eaten in my life. It was topped with a blue cheese that had been broiled a bit to make it a crust. Kevin had the same, only not the petite. We shared steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes.

I, knowing I wanted to have dessert, did not eat my whole meal (fabulous lunch today, btw!) and was going to ask for the menu when the waitress came by with my decaf and spoons for us. It seems as though she ordered a creme brulee for us.

Perfection. Absolute perfection.

eight

Today is the day Kevin and I got married, eight years ago. It's been an amazing ride. We're really pretty happy, without much conflict. We genuinely like each other (which I personally think is the key).

He's surprising me with dinner out tonight. All I know is that our reservations are for 8:00.

I'm hoping steaks are involved. I'll let you know.

ahhh, the power of sleep

Okay, sleep was lovely and I feel rejuvenated. Kevin was wonderful this morning and fed the crew before Simon had time to really get into his whole song and dance. Then Kev went and fed our friends cats, allowing me a quiet morning of sleeping in and surfing the net.

I've got two other windows open and to see them you would laugh...

1. a tutorial on how to demo your kitchen counters

2. various knitting blogs

The dual life I lead. :)

I will try to remember to get before photos of the kitchen (and perhaps during, but that would mean setting down the hammer). I will for sure get after photos...

Well, off to get ready for working at the kids store today. It should be fun. It's with the newest employee and I really like Jamie. So here we go, another day in my life.

Oh, anyone want to come help me demolish? :) Nah, didn't think so. I already have Jill at the ready with her goggles and crowbar (at least that was what her email said).

wanting to tap out

Today has been quite the day already. Actually, as I told Kevin this morning, I was already tired by my day before it had even started.

This morning I got up and went to our friends house to feed their cats as they are currently out of town. That was lovely, Vincent only attempted to eat my hand once. Stella hid the whole time.

After that I zipped over to our other friends house to help load up a Uhaul and move them to their new house. I am a nerd and love packing the truck. Everyone kept asking me if they could help me and I kept saying just to bring me things. As I was telling one woman where to put something in the truck (it was all already mapped out in my mind) she said to me, "Oh, you're going to micro manage where I put things in the truck?" Passive aggressive much? I responded with "Yes."

At 1:15 I had to leave that fun (the second round of packing up the truck of the heavy furniture) and head into the office to do some paperwork for Ahmed. He's not going to be in on Monday and he had a few things I needed to take care of before then. Around 2:30 he ran me downtown to the store so I can close for Rita. She has a niece's birthday party today. Her sister just told her what time it was (and it ended up not being an evening party, as she'd thought it would be). So I am closing for her and working 3-6.

When I am done here I hop on a bus to our shop on Hawthorne, where I left my car. I get the car, go home, relax for a minute before we go to a birthday party. I honestly don't know how I'm still going at this point.

The real sucky thing is, I don't have off tomorrow. I have to go open the kids store with our newbie and stay until ?

I don't think I am going to have a day off until the weekend, depending on when I set up the template appointment with the counter people.

I just really want to tap out of this day though, call it quits. But I won't. Not until I pass out in my bed tonight.

Wanna change days with me?

waiting for my card in the mail

It's official. I am an adult. I don't know when it happened, but the signs are all there.

1. I have started to enjoy gardening. It calms me and makes me smile.
2. The idea of chips and dip for dinner (or popcorn) no longer make sense to me.
3. I will have the occasional after dinner cup of coffee when out (decaf of course) to dinner.
4. An evening of sitting and knitting is the perfect evening in my opinion.

and the final, omg(!), moment:

5. We went to the Home Depot and order counters...I was excited.


So, story about counters and ordering them (it's a good one).

On Monday I got a call from Todd, the guy who works at Precision Counters who'd come out and measured for us. He said that the Deep Hole was having a 10% sale and if our color was part of the group that was an additional 10% we would save 20%!!! So I did what any sane woman does, I text messaged my husband (or did I call him). I then called the Deep Hole to find out the details but the woman on the other end said that they only had a free sink deal going on. We decided to go check out the sinks (cuz those things are expensive) and went on Tuesday night (cuz the sale ended on Wednesday). Well, sinks, not big enough...but we decided to go ahead and open a Home Deep Hole credit card (not to worry parents, it's already paid off) and get their 10% or up to $200 off deal. Super! That's like getting the other sale, that wasn't running. So now we've ordered our counters and have to start seriously thinking about how and when we are going to demo the current counters and backsplash. I'm thinking next weekend baby!! Of course it depends on when they want to set up coming out to make the template. Anyway (breathe) I was running around with my friend yesterday (who's getting married tonight) and I got a call while looking for some inexpensive yarn at JoAnn's to make a bigger version of my knit bag for Chloe (another story for another time). Kim from the Deep Hole saying she'd had egg on her face and yes there was indeed a 10% sale on Silestone (she'd been off when the promo went into affect so didn't know about it and it did end Wednesday as Todd said). She had already taken care of getting our credit to our new Deep Hole account and we didn't need to do anything except save another $200+! The real beauty, are you ready for it?!?! Kevin called with his quarterly bonus...a smidge more than what the counters ended up costing us (with all the discounts).

So yeah, I'm just waiting for the card that says I'm an official adult in the mail.

better now

Hey thanks. I needed to vent. I feel much better now (of course the two beers I've had probably help a little bit, too).

Monday night means mahjong night at our friends house. Dugan and I are just hanging out waiting for everyone else to get here. I tend to come earlier than everyone else since I work close by and instead of going home and turning around shortly after arriving home and coming to their house. It just makes sense.

Jenn and Dugan are amazing people. I met Jenn when I worked downtown. She would come in, we would chat and we would feel that connection. I always wondered how to ask her to hang out (you know, without coming off like I wanted to date her). And then one day it just happened. I'm sure glad it did. One of my favorite memories of Dugan is shortly after I received the news about the spot the doctors found on my mom's lung (which turned out to be just some scar tissue) I came over to their house for dinner. I got up and was taking my bowl into the house (we were eating in their backyard watching a movie) he grabbed my bowl, handed it to Jenn and bear hugged me. I cried like never before.

The four of us (Kev, me and the two of them) get along really well. We couldn't have asked for better friends.

I love looking back to when we first moved here and thinking about how we had four people we knew. Now we have quite a family of friends.

Jenn, Dugan...thanks. Much love my friends. And that's me speaking, NOT the beer. :)

a rant

I have heard from friends that they like the direction my "voice" has gone when writing here. I used to be much more negative? Anyway, I'm going to revert for just a moment because if I don't get this out it will eat away at me and that's no good.

We at work are switching DSL providers. When the sales rep was here I was being booted off the wireless in the office. We had a lengthy conversation about it. It ended with her saying, "well, that won't be a problem when we make the switch."

Fast forward selector:

Today, the tech came out to do the switch. Well, it seems as though they do NOT have modems that are wireless, we have to provide our own wireless router. Now, I wish the rep would have TOLD me that I'd have to go out and buy one myself because you know what, I WOULD HAVE prior to today had I flipping known.

Instead, we have to go buy one, set up a new time for the tech to come back out and I refuse to make it at 8:00 AM again because you know when he showed? 8:30! That honestly is about half of my annoyance.

You see, the phone lines all converge into a building at the end of the block (the guy owns the whole block). So we have to be able to get into the toy store to access the phone lines to make the switch. The manager told me last week she'd be here at 8:00 today to let us in. Was she? NO. Not that it ended up mattering in the end. But still! What happened to doing the things you say you are going to do?!?!?

And now, I am going to drink my iced latte, listen to some soothing music and work on an ad that is due Friday.

Oh, and KC called this morning to ask if we could open the store as she had a rough night last night. Charles is my hero and said he'd take care of it. I should have bought him coffee this morning, but he said he was going to get his downtown (where we both agree, the coffee is better).

Yes, latte is calling.

good thing i didn't unpack

Normally when I get home from work I unpack my bag of the things I won't need on my day off, if we were to go anywhere. This would include my apron (I wear an apron at work, which the other employees laugh at, so that everything I might need is within reach at all times- phone, business cards, pen, etc), my large jar I use for water, the little container of almonds, you get the picture.

Last night, I did not unpack. Instead I came right in and started getting things ready for grilling. We had our friend, Shannon, over for bratwurst and the works. So good!

On Friday I spoke with one of the employees and she was saying she was happy she had Saturday off because she was starting to not feel great. She stayed in bed all day yesterday, but wasn't convinced she'd be able to work this morning...if I could just go in and open she would try her best to come in and close. In my mind, I'm working 11-5 today. This allows me a different day off this week, but I'm not sure what day that can be.

The bummer is that I was going to go to see Henry today (and visit with other girls). Now I have to text message Jessica saying that I am not going to be able to make it since I have someone down for the count today at work...man, love being a manager.

So, I've gotten out and pulled many weeds already, thinned the lettuce, dug out some stupid dandelions and am now drinking my coffee in anticipation of going in. Must add a few things to my bag (lunch, etc) and finish getting ready for my day.

keep fingers crossed that K-C comes in today around 1:00. :) I'm not holding my breath, though.

after

Would you like some fuzz with that lunch?

I was going to use this as my lunch bag, but instead I think I am going to shave it (yes, it feels weird typing that) and use it for my knitting bag.

Kevin wants to call it Simon Jr because it's so fuzzy.

You can see compared to the photo in the previous post how much it shrank. I knew it would shrink, hoped it would shrink to the size it did, but feared it wouldn't. So YEA for one thing.

It does stand up on it's own, too. So that's cool.

As for Flight of the Conchords, I already knew of them, but Kev just brought home the cd they just released and it's rekindled my love of them. Gail, I'm sad to say that Matt's favorite song is not on this cd and it makes me sad...he must have the ep. :) Tell him, good choice! I love that song.

Dinner calls.

they may be the end of me

Go now and find Flight of the Conchords! Trust me. You will check out their HBO show, laugh, and buy the cd. I swear, trust me.

Okay, I must focus. This is supposed to be a post about the bag I just finished knitting and have placed lovingly in the washing machine to felt the hell out of. (yeah, ending with a preposition)

It's going to be rad! I just know it. Of course the only thing I worry about is the handle opening being so damn small. (man, i failed to re-read the pattern right before casting off for it)

Check out the colors together. Pretty wonderful, if I do say so myself. I will post after felting photos at some point in the near future, when it's all said and done. Meanwhile, keep those fingers crossed that it shrinks considerably. I didn't take measurements, but it's probably about 20" in width and near 25" in length. The handle is pathetic. I may end up cutting it wider if it felts up nicely...

orts here, get your orts here

I know that writing about a Pass over tradition within an ort post is possibly not the most appropriate...however, when one has a little time and so many things that have happened since the last post...orts it is.

• Saturday I worked all day at the kids store. It was a fun day. We were busy and Amal was happy I was there (even though I don't know as much about kids shoes, she is an amazing teacher and would listen to me, allowing me to work with customers and helping when she would see me struggling). I had a great time! After I picked up Kev and we fed the crew we went do dinner before offering to come help with some prep for the dinner we were attending Sunday. Aaron told us, "STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE AS YOU CAN TONIGHT, THERE'S LIKE 14 PEOPLE HERE...AND THEY'RE CRAZY!" Rachel said, "COME!!! THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE YOU WOULD LOVE!!!" We ended up not going because we were both extremely tired after a long day at work. They forgave us. :)
  

• Sunday night we drove to our friends house for Sedar dinner. There were about 40 people under a beautifully decorated tent in their backyard. The heaters were pumping and the wine was flowing easily. What an amazing and warm group of people we got to share the evening with. I was especially in love with Grandma Joan. I walked by her and heard her say, "who was that stunning beauty?!" And yes, she WAS talking about me. She told me later that was what she said to her daughter as I passed by. It was a beautiful night spent with amazing friends and family.

• Monday was nothing special, just tired from all the wine they MADE us drink the night before. Thankfully it was over many, many hours so I did not feel like something the cat dragged in. I was just exhausted from a dinner that lasted until 10:30 the previous night.
  

• Tuesday I worked downtown with one of our newest employees. I got some great feedback about her. She's doing exactly what we'd hoped she would! Boosting the energy in that store and the sales. We all are really happy that Julia joined our family. :) At about 4:30 I met up with a girl I'd never met before in person, but we share a mutual friend. Myself and 4 other women decided to go listen to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee speak at the Forestry Center. She was funny and insightful and informational. We knitters, are smart people who are like monks! When she posts the photos from the talk, you might be able to see me and my friends. We got rock star seating. Two of us (myself and Kaarin) got front row, right in front of the podium. The other three were in the second row a few seats over from us. We had a blast. Three of us, Jenn, Heather and myself, went out for happy hour burgers on our way through town ($1.95...for a cheeseburger and fries! Hells yeah!). Allison stayed on the train and headed home. Kaarin had headed home from the event because she lives in the opposite direction we all were traveling.
  

So that is the past few days. Today is a day off! I am making the oven fried chicken (not to be confused with my oven friend chicken, Dad) for our neighbor, Ian. Kev agreed to hit the grocery store on his way home because I offered to clean the whole house in return. I love the working out of the chores. I dislike the grocery store...I didn't look forward to going at all. I love Kev. :)

today

It started with having to dig out the roots. Kevin is a maniac and did an amazing job. I have convinced our neighbor, Ian, to haul it all away for the small price of an oven *fried chicken dinner next week.

The roots you saw above, were where these four lovely trees now live. I clipped down the two overgrown butterfly bushes and when I went to purchase the trees, Kev dug the roots out. When I got home, the area was ready for planting.
Since we had one tree of the five I bought left over, we opted to plant him by the garage. It really has added something. And it's got a friend. A Hebe. I love Hebes! They are such pretty little plants and will flower.
I love Hebes so much I bought one to put in the pot that my parents sent us for our Anniversary that is coming up on May 6th. It's the pottery anniversary. I love that my parents do the traditional gifts. It is so much fun.

So yeah, that's what we've done with our day...how 'bout you?

*Yeah, thanks Dad. :) I guess I just got so excited of our friend doing this for us that friend came out of my fingers instead of fried. :) Love you!!!

the never ending story of weeds

So along with a backyard that is a garden comes fighting the weeds. I pulled two and a half five gallon buckets this evening alone. There are more out there taunting me. Josie was quite the helper, trying to lick my face, chasing invisible critters, pooping twice. It was lovely. I hooked up the ol' wireless speakers and cranked Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers and weeded like a maniac.

I enjoyed myself. I realized why my parents always worked out in the yard when I was growing up. It's lovely and relaxing and you get to see pretty instant results. The only downside is my back doesn't care for it. I try to go back and forth between forward bends and kneeling, but even with that my back feels a little knotted up after I've been out there for a little while.

I came home today to find a large box on my front porch. Above it, on the door was a note from FedEx stating they'd left a package, on the porch. Um, cuz I might miss the large box?

I'm hoping for a lovely day off tomorrow with Kevin. If it's nice out we'll do more weeding and hopefully get Josie out for a hike. It's been far too long.

go there, buy things

I got Gnorman McGnomerson in the mail a couple of days ago. We finally sat down and had his first photo shoot. The camera really loved him. He's such an excellent subject! Well, I think so, you decide though.

If you love him and want one of your very own (although each are handmade and one of a kind) go here!

Gnorman is the handle for my first and only crochet hook. A knitter sometimes needs such tools when stitches decide to be bitches and run. Now, I have my Gnorman to help me when that happens.

My friend has made some amazing ones, right now she's got a robot up at her blog. You really should go see him and his friend the robot sheep. I kid you not!!! Go. NOW!

Meanwhile, I've been a busy girl on my cardigan. I've got the back and both of the front pieces done. I only have the sleeves to do before the seaming party commences. I'm pretty jazzed.

Thanks for all the sweet comments about my Goofy Girl's hat. She's an easy one to knit for!!!

goofy girl!!!

With Zoe's permission, I give you...AUGUSTA!!!

She received her hat yesterday in the mail and it seems as though she instantly put it on her beautiful head. I'm so thrilled that she loves it as much as I loved making it. She's been the only child who I've made something for who has requested another, but bigger! I think the smile says it all. I love you Gusta, enjoy your new hat baby girl!!!

~Aunt Shanny

farewell

I got the call yesterday from my Mom. Grandma Sam passed away. She was a hard person to get close to, but I loved her none the less. She had great stories of times past. From her days as a traveling sales person (when women did NOT do that kind of job) to talking of flying up on her broomstick to see me so we could have champagne and caviar. I will miss her.

It's hard to imagine that she's not there anymore. That constant. I can still hear her voice in my ears. I can still see that vibrant red hair. I can still feel her with me.

the life of simon

I sat down with my knitting this morning. Remember that fast post yesterday when Josie demanded I play with her (and since she plays so infrequently I normally drop everything when she asks/demands)?

Anyway, I set it down to poke around online a little while ago. After answering several emails, getting lost on Ravelry, posting to my animal group...I decided I would like to sit down again and knit more. You know, get a little bit further before my friend Jenn comes over tonight. So she can be wowed again. :)

Yeah, Simon just makes it hard for me to do anything:

I hate to move him, but I think I may just have to. I know when I wear this sweater, I can always expect to have a cat on me whenever I sit down. This is a good thing!!

need i say more?

Storm, no she is NOT the devil.


Oh! Mah! Gawd! FOOOOD!

how many times?

I have been knitting an amazing sweater. I've started and re-started the back three times (it's now done). I've started and re-started the left front twice (it's still on the needles). Anyone want to guess how many times I'll start and re-start the right front and each arm? Wagers?

It will be perfect, though. At least I'm saying that now. I hope it will be perfect. It will be warm, that's for sure! Alpaca is the yarn.

I'd write more, but Josie is demanding I spend some time with her (she just brought me one of Kev's socks)...

blank

today we did this:


soon we'll do this...

and this...

I'm such a tease.

the excitement of being me

Today I worked for a few hours at the outlet store before heading to the office to get bills ready to send out on Monday. I was done by around 4:00 and with Ahmed's blessing came home to the three yards of mulch that was delivered this morning. It was raining. I got a few paths between the garden plots covered, but then the rain came down harder.

Note to self: get wheelbarrow!

In a few minutes I will leave the house to get Kev and go to the grocery store to get food before friends come over to watch the KU/UNC game tonight.

an aside: Firefox recognizes KU but not UNC in its dictionary :)

I am off...sweater is zipping along well, for those knitters who may be wondering.

stormy weather

We have some friends (I know, get out!) who have two dogs. Ahi's birthday was Friday and his wife, Michelle, threw him a party on Saturday. It'd been a while since I saw their dogs and I was excited to see both of them.

There is little Vegas, the chihuahua. He's a riot! He does not have little dog syndrome at all. He is a big dog in a little dog body and loves loves loves people! No nipping and growling like most little rat dogs. He's even cuter in a hoodie (normally not a fan of dogs in clothes, but chihuahuas have really thin skin and it's cold here).

Then there is Storm. She is a rescue. She's a mix of wolf and we're not sure what else. Although I see her looking more like a small white shepherd than a wolf. She had a hard life prior to living with Michelle and Ahimsa. The first time I "met" her was through a window and that even had her darting under their deck when she saw me. I had high hopes that she'd be doing better since it'd been a long time since we'd been to their house. I walked in and was surprised to see Storm walking around the house that was full of people, rowdy people. She was walking cautiously, not really letting anyone near. I ignored her. Hardest thing for me to do!!! I would catch her watching me and following every so often. I refused eye contact or touch. MAN! I just wanted to sit down on the floor and snuggle (which would have been too much for her).

So after this dance we did, she came up and sniffed my hand. The sign I was waiting for. I reached down and scritched her ears. The next thing I knew I was sitting on the floor and she was rolled over on her back letting me rub her belly. I would stop and she would lick my hand!!! I paused and she nudged me to continue. My heart melted Saturday night.

Now here we are on Monday morning and I have even more news and words to write about Storm.

I got a text message yesterday (Sunday) from Michelle asking if we would want to come over again since we didn't have much of a time to chat and visit Saturday. Kev and I said yes, but after the KU game...heart stopping game.

Storm was under the coffee table when we arrived and I ignored her. She stayed there for the first 10-15 minutes we were there and then I think she realized who was at the house. By the end of the night, while the boys were playing Rock Band and Michelle and I were watching silly tv, Storm was sitting on the couch, draped over my lap. My hands, neck and face were damp from all her kisses. I swear, next time I'm taking the camera!!!

in which i have a memory

I was reading through an old message from Plaza Jen at Ravelry (siren of a site). She'd been asking about "Diggity J" and how she was doing. First my thoughts were, wow! I have a great friend back in the midwest who is wonderful, warm and truly amazing (so glad we met!!). Then I realized I'd not shared the latest and greatest of dear Diggity J.

She has not had a seizure (knock on wood) since she started the Phenobarbital. However, we opted to decrease her to one pill a day (given after supper) to see if that helped decrease (or eliminate) her leaking. She has not leaked since the night I got home from Vegas (right around the time we had started her on one pill a day). She's not drinking as much (YEA). She's normal and nutty. The other great thing (again with the knocking of wood) she's not had a break through seizure, either!

We are hoping she continues and is a one Phenobarbital dog. Dr. H says that she has a few patients who are, and even though the levels, when looking at their lab results, indicate they are not in the "safety zone" they are not having seizures. So we decided to see if she could possibly be one of those dogs. For all the crap she's gone through, we're hoping she really, truly is.

Thank you for all the support and kind words and queries. It really makes me feel good.

gone knitting

I swear, sometimes just reading through directions for knitted things to someone who knits makes everything click. Jenn, thanks!

I went to my dear friend's house last night for an impromptu night of dinner, knitting and a movie. The dinner was amazing, thrown together on the fly. Sauteed chicken, penne pasta with homemade pesto (best I've ever had), and steamed broccoli. In two words: so good!

After we chatted and ate we retired to the family room and started knitting away. She was working on her amazing socks (knitting both at the same time) while I made tassels for a certain someone's hat (I swear Zoe, it will be sent out soon!). I then decided that since I was with an incredible knitting friend I should pull out the sweater and dive in. It was great, it all made sense (well at least the little bit of the pattern that had me stumped).

So I have more than half of the back piece done. Then I have the left and right fronts and both arms...man, shouldn't have listed out all that I have left on the sweater because it's not really anywhere near completion. LOL

Today's plan?

Go to Close Knit for some fun things for a friend's baby shower.

Come home and work on laundry.

Knit.

Watch KU basketball this evening.

Nice. day. off.

the sound of one dog peeping

The time is 4:00 am, the Digs starts walking to the back door. I get up to let her out. She loves going out in the early morning (she does, me not so much) and sniffing around the backyard. She takes her own sweet time, making sure she finds THE place to go peep. She starts to wander towards the back left corner of our lot.

JOSIE! I say in a soft yet forceful voice.

Nothing.

*snap snap snap*

She perks her head and turns towards me before walking back up to her spot.

Finally I hear the sound that you can only really hear at that time of morning. Yep, she's going. Thank goodness the birds had yet to start chirping, otherwise I'd have to have gone on faith that when she came to the stairs she'd really done her business and not want to turn around and be let out again (hey, it's happened).

Man, today could potentially feel like many many days all strewn together to create one really long day.

whirlwind of orts

• Working at the kids store yesterday was exhausting. Fun, but very tiring. The ladies I worked with are so amazing and fabulous. We had a great time and worked well together. I look forward to next Saturday (the final day of the big spring sale) although one of the ladies won't be there and instead the part timer will be. It will change the dynamic completely, but we'll make it through.

• Okay, knitting question for all my knittahs! I'm getting ready to decrease for the arms on the back of this sweater. It tells me all decreases are done on the RS. Does this mean on the left arm hole I will have to cut the yarn? I am not able to visualize this and it's driving me crazy. Go look at the pattern and tell me what you think of the decrease directions (PlazaJen, I'm looking at you!). :)

• I just got off the phone with my parents. My Grandma Sam has leukemia. She is not going to have treatment. This is her way of controlling the way she dies. I must say, I respect that because of who she was the entire time I was growing up. I love her dearly, but am always conscious of loving those around me and letting them know I do. Don't get me wrong, she has always told me she loves me, but...

• We are having friends over to see the house. We've not seen them in a really long time. This means I have to clean the house. I mean, WE have to clean the house. I think I am going to start with the lounge...you know, get it JUST right. So this means? I'm done here...

Hoppy Keister everybody!

mimosas and college basketball

The NCAA tournament starts today! Actually, it's already started. We're watching our Alma Mater, the University of Kansas, play against Portland State right now. We have NO problem cheering on KU while living here!

This is KU's year. It is. There will be six games. Thankfully my dear co-manager at work offered to work the floor today at the store I was supposed to work 10-1 at so I could stay home and watch the game. I love Charles.

So yeah, some knitting has happened (I've got about 12 inches done so far of the back piece) and more training at work has happened.

Now, some basketball and mimosas are happening, so I am out!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!! KU

knitting?

I have started knitting my second sweater. It's going to be beautiful AND it's going to look good on me. My first sweater, not so much. It was a sad thing. I followed the directions, instead of listening to that ever pesky inner guide and making it longer, and it's too short. It's also not the right neck line for me and makes me look even chestier (if that is possible). So it has become my winter cycling sweater. I still love the yarn, which is why I went with an alpaca for the second sweater (it was what it called for, really).

I have only about an inch of the back made. It's pretty darned exciting for me, though. I'm off work today and besides laundry, I am planning on knitting. If it were going to be sunnier out, I'd also work in a bit of gardening. We've turned under the first bed of crimson clover (green mulch) and got quite the workout yesterday. But it's cold, rainy, and just plain glum outside. So I will make a pot of french press coffee, a bagel, and I will sit and knit.

Pictures to come shortly (camera is upstairs, knitting down).

UPDATED: Obviously you see two images have been uploaded. The second, the skein of yarn with Ben, is more accurate of the color. The first is just how far I've gotten as of this very minute.

oh yeah

When I rule the world, people will NOT be allowed to bathe in their perfume/cologne before getting on a plane. This little woman who wore Elizabeth Taylor's *White Diamonds sat right next to me, knocking into my arm...which was NOT using the mutual arm rest, but was tucked next to my side.




*My very first roommate in college wore this perfume. Now, in my opinion, it is a perfume that was made for a more mature woman, not a young 18 year old. Waking for an entire year to a cloud of this, along with the sound of her ripping a brush through her wet hair, made me ill. Whenever I smell that smell, I throw up a little bit.

oh baby i'm so tired

Wow, even though I am only having to work 3-6 on the floor today (I did start in the office) I am exhausted. I feel as though the wind has just been removed from my sails.

Our travel yesterday was fine. Nothing too crazy, although note to self: remember to take more than one small knitting project on next plane ride. We did crosswords together in a book that has both hard and medium puzzles, but we never know which we are starting because they aren't in any kind of order. We worked well together. Each knowing most of what the other didn't.

We had a blast with Kev's dad and step-mom. Too many desserts, though! Must eat like a rabbit this weekend.

We had our friends pick us up at the airport and we took them out to dinner after dropping our stuff at the house. They had gone and gotten Josie at the vet's office, too (where we boarded her). She was thrilled to A. see us and B. be back in her home. I think the next trip we take together, we'll have a friend come stay at the house. Especially since she hasn't been leaking for quite some time now. My friend has already said she'd be down with the idea.

I only have an hour and a half left at work, but it might as well be two days. I will have Sunday off, before working the floor for five days. It will be fine, though. None are 8 hour shifts.

So yeah, we were off in a sunny place visiting people we love and eating too many sweets.

why so quiet?

Well, the reason for the silence is we are visiting Kev's father and step-mother. We flew in on Monday and are flying home tomorrow. Quick visit. It's been lovely to see them, and Kev's sister.

There is so much going on back home, though. I just learned that a friend of mine (she was my rep from Ellington) has decided to stop treatment for her aggressive cancer (her doctors told her that it was the most aggressive he'd ever seen). This will mean later today, I expect to receive and update that she has passed. She was an amazing woman. Vibrant, full of life. I adored working with her. I loved her the first time I met her. I have posted to her guestbook, where I am sure her family will read the posts to her, and told her how much I loved her.

My Grandma Sam is showing more signs of a dementia we never knew was looming (well, I never knew). Dad put a post up at his site...I'd link to it, but just go to my sidebar and click on One Man's View from Lansing, Kansas. The computer here is a bit slow.

If I've learned anything from these two amazing women, it is this:

Live life to the fullest. Don't take anything for granted. Don't hold grudges. Be joyful.

saying goodbye

How do you say goodbye to a person you haven't seen in more years than you can remember? How do you make it so you don't feel the guilt of not going to visit?

My Grandma Sam is going through some major life changes. She is a woman who does not take to change very well. She lives to be in control of her own life. She is about to have to give up that control because her body is tapping out, saying it's done. Dad and Keith take her to a nursing home on Monday. I never thought I'd see the day. She's going rather willingly at this point. Who knows what Monday will hold.

the power of pie

The past few days have been beautiful. And luckily for me I got to get out of work a bit earlier yesterday and enjoy some of it.

I love when it starts to get warm again. Even if we know it will be a little burst of beauty before heading down the drain to the world of cold soon again (we get about two weeks of teaser weather before it plummets into cold and rain again for another month). The neighborhood starts to come to life. Not only in the pretty daffodils and crocuses that are blooming, but the humans come out, too.

Anyway, yesterday I was out chatting with my neighbor Brett while he was out cleaning up his yard. Ian, his tenant, was helping with his chainsaw. Seriously what is it about chainsaws?! Anyway, Brett tells me I should ask Ian to give me a quote on taking out four (what turned out to be five) red thorn bushes. Ian has his own landscape business. He's rarely home before dark.

Ian walks over and takes a look at them. He looks up and asks, "Do you ever bake cookies?" I tell him not only do I bake cookies, but I bake pies. His eyebrows raise as he says, "I like pies." I ask him what kind he would like and he said, "any." So for the price of an apple pie, those bushes were removed.

kicky summer doo

I know it's not summer yet, but I'm ready for it!!!

what's that expression?

Right this very minute Kevin is in the bathroom with our son. It is either going to become very stinky very soon or we are going to have one very pissed off cat from having his booty messed with.

For a little while now Simon has had this aura about him. An aura of stink. He's like a four legged Pig Pen.

The stench has been remarkable.

Well, Kev just came out from "working one of them" for a short time. Simon is not happy and Kev feels a bit weird. I am sure that images are coming to minds and I'm hoping you all are laughing as much as I am...

If Simon continues the Boot Scootin' Boogy, as we call it, we'll have to take him to see the vets. They are not going to like us very much and I have a feeling that the response most vets give us about him (He's so calm and easy to do things to) will not be the same.

We shall see...

e-i-e-i-oooooooo

When we bought this house there was a full organic garden in the back. No grass what-so-ever. This made me happy as I really don't like to mow grass and I wanted a yard for a garden.

We stopped by Dennis' Seven Dees yesterday to check their seeds out. We knew we wanted to plant lettuce, zucchini, pole beans, and tomatoes (we are getting starts for those). But we opted to also get edamame and baby carrots. Lettuce and baby carrots say to plant prior to the last frost. The other seeds we got say to plant after the threat of frost.

So today, the lettuce and carrots went in. I put long and branchy twigs over the plot after planting to try to keep the birds and other creatures out of them. You know, give the seeds a fighting chance.

In about a week or so, we will probably turn over our crimson clover (a green mulch) to start amending the soil in those plots it came up. I've got the garden all plotted out in my mind and in photoshop. I'm not sure what will go in the bed with the garlic we planted in the fall. Only time will tell, I suppose.

Anyone have favorite tomatoes? I know we are going to plant Bessers. No questions there. We also want a larger type for sandwiches and I'm sure Kev will want Romas again.

But suggestions for larger or others? Jenn, I know JWo is the tomato gardener extraordinare, he have any ideas? :)

how do i know she missed me?

I got home yesterday from a trip to Vegas for work. It was a great time, albeit tiring. Much was accomplished and money came home with me. Granted it was the same amount I took, but I still look at that as a win. :)

We walked miles upon miles. My feet were not happy, until I got a free pair of my favorite brand of shoes, El Naturalista. Man o Man! So much happier. Of course my shins already hurt and my calf muscles were aching from all the walking the previous days. I will never make the mistake of not taking my favorite pair of boots again. Never.

Josie has pretty much been by my side since I got home. Licking me every chance she gets. I keep telling her to go back to bed (lucky dog) so I can eat my bagel in peace. She goes to the bedroom, but isn't long there...wait, is she jumping into bed?! Hallelujah! A moment to myself.

I missed her too (them all, really) but the neediness thing is a bit much in the morning. Especially when one hasn't had her morning coffee. Speaking of coffee...normally the other buyer and I are hurting for good coffee in Vegas. Staryucks is everywhere. But I don't drink Yucks. Chas discovered a place at the Venetian that served Illy coffee. Yum! I attempted to be coffee free this trip, since I was still getting over my stomach thing, and I did fairly well. I only had one latte in the morning and that wasn't even every morning.

Of course I get home and am out of coffee. UGH, kill me.

the end of it all

A few weeks ago Kev sold a bunch of games on eBay. His idea was to sell games so he could buy Rock Band for the Xbox 360. Yeah, it will be the end of me.

He's at work now and has no clue I'm practicing my drumming skillz. I'm doing okay, but I get flustered a bit easily at times. I'm starting on easy and hoping to move up and wow him with hard or even expert sometime.

Of course he may end up walking in on me while I'm practicing since I'm not 100% sure when he's coming home.

We actually had friends over on Saturday night (the night before I was down for the count for a few days) and had a full on Rock Band, man! It was rad. I sang and played drums as well as bass a bit. I didn't do as well on bass as I normally do on Guitar Hero, but...

I'm thinking it would be a riot to take it to Ahmed's house when we have the summer bbq with the staff (we spoke of doing this while at our holiday party). It could be a riot, since a few of the girls love the game already. :)

Oh yeah, better get back to the drums.

there's a kind of hush...

Man, I don't know what happened, but I was down for the count all day yesterday. We had friends over Saturday night to play Rock Band (which totally rocked) and I had some wine, but not enough to make me get sick all day Sunday. I couldn't hold anything down. I'm pretty sure that I picked up a little bug somewhere along the way.

Thankfully I am feeling about 85% today, well enough to go cover one of the stores. I have the newbie with me so I will be fine, making her do everything. :) I'm a little evil that way. I am sure it is going to be a really long day, though. I can just feel it. You know, that first day back after you've not been feeling well...time stands still.

I had spoken with the other manager about covering for me, if I wasn't feeling better today. When I called him to tell him I would make it, he kept saying "you are sure?" It feels nice that he worries. My guess is that if I start feeling funky again part-way through the day, he'll come and close. But I am going to do my best to be there all day. I may take tomorrow to recuperate a bit more since we leave for Vegas on Wednesday. Work, not me and Kev. I couldn't deal with it if I felt like I do today so I am hoping that I am 100% by then.

I couldn't even knit yesterday, that's how funky I was. I could barely sleep. I had to sit with my head higher than my heart, which made for interesting sleep. By the time last night came around I no longer felt as though I was going to vomit when I laid flat so I went to bed around 8:00. Woke up at about 1:42 and then fell back into odd dreams. So odd I really can't even remember them.

Okay, need to go soon so I can get cat food and something for me to sip on all day (sports drink, anyone?).

how many arms and legs?

Well, the appointment went fine. Dr H said that we can probably rule out food allergies as the problem, although dogs can have allergies to more than one kind of food (but we're not figuring her to be allergic to duck or potato). So we can give her her beloved pig sticks again (although not until we get her back into the swing of hiking again).

So, as far as an alternative for phenobarbital goes, we can switch her to bromide, but we'd have to give her both for about three months because it takes that long to get into their systems. It does not have excessive thirst as a side effect. I'm sure we didn't go that route to begin with because we didn't want Josie to have any more seizures. So we had blood drawn and are waiting to see what the lab results look like for her liver activity. We then have a couple of options.

1. Try and lower her phenobarb. and see if it controls them still, but makes her less thirsty.

-or-

2. Add the bromide into the cocktail and hope that we don't lose our sanity while dealing with peep for the three months before we can take her off the phenobarb.

However, for the next week, because her skin condition has worsened (right after it was looking amazing!) we have to give her the following pills:

Am
1 phenobarbital
1.5 PPN
1 antibiotic
3 antihystamines

Pm
1 phenobarbital
1.5 PPN
3 antihystamines

That's going to be one large wet food meat ball for her. Will have to remember to cut her food a bit so she doesn't gain more. And get her booty (and ours) out of doors while we can before the next wave of wet nasty comes back.

So, that's the update. Now, I must go further into the depths of Ravelry (it's like World of Warcraft for knitters).

chin up

We have an appointment today in a couple of hours with Josie's doctor. We've compiled a list of questions to ask. Such as, are there alternatives to phenobarbital? Does she still need to be on the peep medication if she's still leaking? Would it be worse if she wasn't on it? Etc.

Other than that, things are going well. The panties/diaper combo worked fairly well. She kept them on, which Kev felt for sure he'd come home to one destroyed garment. I knew she'd leave them on. She was soaked and there was a bit of moisture on the bed, but just on the peep pad Jill and I made. So I call it a win.

In other news, I am getting ready to go to Vegas baby. Work calls. Yes, it's hard to have to go to Vegas every six months. So so hard. ;) Can you say break?! It's exactly what I need these days! Although I am worried about Kev and Josie (the cats never worry me). I'm not worried that Kev will perish without me around. I'm worried about his frustration level surrounding Josie's issues.

They will survive, though.

Yesterday was the 14th. A day we are told we must show those we love them that we do, in fact, love them. Kev and I don't really "practice" Valentines Day. On a day to day basis we attempt to show our love. Be it something small like Kev unloading the dishes or me putting his lounge pants in the cabinet that is warmed by the heating duct.

So I hope everyone had a day where they felt loved by those around them. But I hope for that all year round.

these are the days of my life

I had resigned myself to the fact that I would have a mess to clean up yesterday when I got home. Kev and I both had been out of the house for far too long so I knew there would be a puddle.

Comforter in washer, peep pad waiting on deck. I let Josie out to peep (yes, she still had to go) and I headed to dinner with some girlfriends.

I was not sure when Kev had gotten home, but when I walked into our room I was pleasantly surprised. NO PEEP! And, Kev had switched the laundry so the comforter was in the dryer (needing its second cycle).

Midnight and I head to bed, letting Josie out one more time (late night for me). At 2:45 Kev comes to bed. Josie'd been sleeping at the foot of his side of the bed.

I don't think I need to tell you what happened. More laundry. Thankfully by that time the comforter was dry and we had the duvet cover dried from a few days prior (it was cold in this house last night).

We go on Friday to talk with our vet about everything. I need to know if there are alternatives to phenobarbital. We will also be getting her diapers if this continues. I can not take it anymore. Mainly I can't take the frustration having to clean everything up all the time. Kev doesn't want to do diapers, I'm sick of the tantrums when she's leaked.

So there you have it.

Dinner with the girlfriends was a blast, though! Alia says Hi Mom and Dad. ;)

you don't want to even know

This morning I woke to a soundless house, no rain falling. I fed the critters, gave Josie her pills, and attempted to lay back down. I started thinking about how pretty it was when I let Josie out to peep.

That did it, I was up. Made myself some coffee and came down to check email and such. Josie joined me. We both heard the sound of someone stirring above us. Kev had gotten up early.

We ate breakfast and took Josie to Forest Park. We hiked about the muck and mire and had a great time. Josie was smiling ear to ear. We felt great.

We hit our favorite sandwich place and I ran in to get us lunch. Man, soooo good. After we got done eating we got cleaned up and headed to CostCo. Don't worry, I won't bore you with those details.

We had just all snuggled in on the sofa to watch some tv (and knit). Kev and Josie had been sitting with each other for about 30 minutes when:

"JOSIE! DID YOU PEE?!"

Yep. Wide awake. Sitting half on Kev, half on the sofa. The peep pad, in the washer already.

She's been relegated to the floor.

seriously?

We join the girls as they are in the kitchen. One is sitting with a fat cat on her lap, the other is making lasagna for the three of them (they are waiting for their friend to show up).

Cook (as she is turning the recipe over and clipping it to the hood with a magnetic clip): I really don't know why I am turning this over. I mean, I know the recipe.

*the card, not quite clipped securely, twists and dances, falling gracefully behind the stove*

Cook: CRAP! I don't really know the recipe...I mean, I know the ingredients, but the time and the heat...Let's at least write down the quantities while we have everything still out...

Friend (laughing hysterically): Okay.

end scene

such is life

Rats, the brain went dead as soon as the page opened. I'd had a thought for a post. Then *poOf* it was gone.

I'm waiting for Kev to get home (in about an hour) so we can load our booties up into the car and go to our friends house for the SUPER BOWL. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled during the half-time show!

The corn dip was made this morning before Kev went to work. I was going to do it when I got home from opening the store downtown, but he said he didn't want to make me have to be bothered by it. I think he just prefers the way he makes it. I don't think it's different than how he does, but hell, if it gets me out of making dip...thanks! :)

I've gotten Diggity out for a walk since she doesn't get to go with us today. The three big (all hovering around 70lbs) dogs are a bit too much (when they are not in the same pack). And she's not a huge fan of football.

Although I am reminded of a Super Bowl party about three years ago that she got to attend. She was really pretty fantastic, but there were a bunch of rowdy drunk people so at half time I ran her home. I missed the boob incident that year.

This year is a bit different than that. We are hanging out with two new sets of parents. Both of the boys are just over a year old. I'm pretty jazzed! I get double the babies to squish. :)

Well, if I can think of that thing I was going to write about, I'll post something else. If not...such is life.

nine!

I am willing to bet that those of you who've been following the saga of Josie and her bladder know what that number means. 9 hours! Neither of us could get home during the middle of the day yesterday to let her out. So it was a mighty test. She passed with flying colors.

We're hoping this may mean her body has done all the adjusting it needs to the meds and she's back to normal.

Even so, we made plans to board her with our vet when we go visit family in March. It just makes more sense. $$, but worth it to know she's being taken care of (and if she happens to have a break through seizure, what better place for her to be). The cats will be fed by our friends Shannon and Kiley. Such good friends they are.

You see, we leave crazy early on a Monday. Our vet's office is not open on the weekends. So we either are going to have to take Josie in on the Friday before we leave or ask a friend to take her on Monday morning, after the office opens. Yeah, Shannon didn't even stutter. She instantly said yes before I could finish my sentence. She even said she'd take her on a walk before she took her to the vet.

NINE...soon to become my favorite number. Granted we won't leave her alone that long all the time, but it's nice to know that if I had to work on the floor and Kev couldn't get home, we wouldn't come home to a lake on our bed. (knock on wood)

the test of time

Today was the longest we've left Josie since her peeping issues.

Six hours.

I prepared myself as I drove up to the house. I opened the door and immediately got her out the door to peep (which she was reluctant so I figured I would be sad when I checked the bed). She finally went and ran inside with me as I went to our bedroom.

NO PEEP! I got excited, she got excited and wouldn't it be a funny story if I then said she peeped out of excitement? But it isn't a funny story, it's a fantastic story with no peep on our bed or anywhere else it shouldn't be.

Of course as I'm writing this post I am wondering when this turned into the dog pee blog. Perhaps a rename is in order? The Peep Report? Yeah, I think maybe not.

In other news, I'm working on some knitting that is neither the upstairs nor the downstairs knitting. I know, I'm horrible (you knitters know what I am feeling). I got bored with the other two things on the needles (which I must say I feel glad that it's only two other projects on the needles currently). I decided that a certain friend of mine needs a warm head. I went out yesterday and bought some amazing charcoal grey alpaca. I've got about an inch done. I bought a pattern while at the shop, too. It's got the coolest reduction. I'll post pictures whenever I get that far.

more evidence

I am now convinced Josie is part cat.

When we first adopted her 4 years ago Josie showed no interest in toys. We'd throw a ball for her and she'd look at us as if she was wondering why we threw that, we were just going to have to go pick it up...

We have a basket of toys for her. There are actually two toys she'll play with from it so I consider it a win. However, her true toys of choice? Cat toys. Sure the two from her basket are indeed dog toys, but the ones she really goes for and will play with and toss around and chase? Cat toys.

If the camera were charged (I picked it up from work yesterday) I would have photographic evidence that my dog, is part cat.

awww, thanks

So I was reading through the several blogs I start my day with and what should I see at Monika's site?!? Go look!

Inspired as she always makes me, I've decided to list my top ten blogs to read to be inspired, laugh, cry, feel all warm and fuzzy...you get the picture.

Passion Knit by PlazaJen

Tongue in Cheek by Corey

One Man's View from Lansing, KS by Dad

The Panopticon by Franklin

Out on a Limb by Bronxbt

Ottoblog by none other than Otto

Dogs Steal Yarn by Cari

Knitspot by Anne

Darrel Brannock [Artist + Realtor]

Party Ducks by Kerri

Not everyone posts everyday, but when they do they touch me. I don't always comment, but I always check in.

Thanks, Monika, for making me feel special.

really?

Last week I came down to the lounge and found one of the two balls of yarn I'm using to make a fabulous scarf looking like it had been disemboweled. I blamed Chloe.

I'm sorry, Chloe. I was wrong.

Today, after finishing my shower and coming out of the downstairs bathroom (in which Chloe was locked in with me) I found Josie sitting next to this mess.

I've taken it to the lounge and am in the process of attempting to put BOTH balls of yarn back together again. It feels a little like Humpty Dumpty...and I'm one of the king's (wo)men who couldn't put him back together again.

and we have a guitar!

Well here we are, kids. I left my real camera at work so I took these with my phone. Not too bad, but I will make sure to post ones I take with the camera once I get it back. I've made sure it is secure and safe (I called to make sure that it was locked away).

The guitar took me for a little ride. The left screws (which I know you can't even see in the photos) are actually into studs! Who knew?! When I went stud finding they weren't there...

The chair is a new acquisition as well. Craigslist baby! The woman I bought it from was funny. She started pointing around her house showing me her buys from Craigslist. You can find good stuff, but must be careful. She also said to make sure that the people really want to sell. Sometimes people don't want to really get rid of their stuff. At least that's what she's found.

So this room is almost 100% done. I just have to get two photos enlarged and get frames for them to hang over the couch. I was going to go with images of my grandfather on the farm, but then I started thinking it would be sweet to have black and whites of Bob and Fred (two of our past boy kitties). I was going to surprise Kev, but last night while we were at Ikea I asked him what he thought. He thought it was an amazing idea.

So, there you go, two more parts of this amazing room I've designed. Yeah, I really do love it and am so proud that I'm tooting my horn. :)

and the answer is

I chose c. I called 911. I was freaked out. I couldn't hear if there was someone walking upstairs because the furnace was blaring at the end of the hall downstairs.

They came, told me better safe than sorry, said they were happy I had a big, scary sounding dog- she barked crazy style when she saw them flashing their lights into the house and when she saw them standing on the porch, and then offered to come in and make sure the house was secure. I told them there was no need that if someone had been here they would have been flushed out once Josie came upstairs to bark at them. They agreed, but asked a few more times.

The reason I did not just come up with her was she's still dopey. She's on barbiturates. She's not herself yet (although each day we see her returning to her normal self more and more). So I didn't want to put her in that position.

I felt stupid, but at the same time justified. It seriously sounded like someone had dropped in through a window (although all our windows are locked) and I swear (before the furnace kicked on) it sounded like a footstep or two happened right after.

I am amazed that the answer was unanimous and everyone said they'd go up with the dog. Then again, I would have said that too, had it not been me. I'm normally an investigate kind of person. But the adrenaline was kicking, I was shaking and really scared (which I don't ever remember being that scared before). So there we have it. I chose c. call 911.

false alarm

Sitting in the basement with the tv on while surfing the net. You hear something from overhead that sounds like something dropping on the floor. All the animals are in the basement with you at the time. Your husband is at work until 11:00 pm.

Do you:

A. go upstairs and investigate on your own?

B. convince the dog to go upstairs and investigate with you?

C. call 911?

D. none of the above?

(you can say what you would do in the comments)

child proof

Today, while I am at work, Henry and his parents will be arriving to our new home. Am I sad I don't get to see first time reactions? A bit. Am I glad I get to see them again, so soon after getting to see them for Henry's birthday party? You bet!

Kev is going to have to clean the house. Now for some, this statement may seem funny. But honestly, when he's motivated, he cleans really really well. I've picked up clutter (there was a little, but not as much as normal) so all he has to do is run the vacuum and dust (cuz that second thing is going to happen).

I wish...oh so wish...that I would have braved the Deep Hole yesterday to get the things I need to hang up the guitar. Oh well. Such is life. I have to move the board out of the room, because I'm sure we'll hang downstairs and I don't want Henry captivated by the big, heavy board (and since he's a boy, he totally will be). I would hate for it to fall on anyone.

Instead we'll have three large gaping holes in the wall, a smaller fourth and two dinky ones where the guitar hanger had once hung (before the anchors started to pull out of the drywall). Lucky for me, our friends will be able to "see" what I'm doing when I show them all of the components.

Man, is it 5:00 yet? That's when I get to go home (although since I'm writing this from home it seems silly for me to be longing for 5:00 already so I can go to where I currently am). 11-5 Not horrible hours, but when you are used to not working on Sundays it can be a bit of an adjustment. Next Sunday? Jeans shopping. I'm not sure which I'd rather do. Work or shop for jeans. At least with jeans there can be booze. Of course I have a staff meeting next week, so I can't get too lit. Speaking of a staff meeting, I suppose I need to get a list of things I need to talk to the kids about. I will be taking my laptop with me today.

I'll report how well Josie does with Henry. The first time she met him she was all wiggles and licks (small ones, sneaky ones). But that was before he was walking. I'm sure she'll do fine. And she does love Jessica, Henry's mom. So I'm sure she'll be glad to see them all.

diggity dog back in the house

Well, Kev and I have noticed that Josie is adjusting to her meds nicely. Now we have her on a higher dosage of the medication for her bladder muscles she's not leaking. We're making sure to get her out much more often and she's asking us to go out more, too.

Poor kid, she got a bath this afternoon when I got home from work. This is a good thing since she attempted to help us paint on Thursday. Her tail made a good brush.

Currently she's curled up on the smaller peep pad on the couch.

So the room. I really love it. If it wasn't Saturday I would have gone to the Deep Hole to get metal brackets that I have to drill into my wall to use. But, I dislike going to that place when it's busy. And weekends, it's always busy. I think we'll go this week sometime.

The last thing I would really like to do is find an inexpensive, yet nice, dark wood desk. I'm kind of thinking it might be fun to go to an unfinished furniture store and get something to paint myself. Just an idea.

Of course in the master design, we'd eventually get a wall mounted tv instead of the monster we have now. But that's something for when the monster dies. I'm so glad that it's almost done and I can focus on other spaces. Not sure what I'll do next. I would like to get the hallway upstairs painted soon. Shouldn't take more than a quart of paint, in my estimation. Lots of doorways and the built-in.

I'll post the pics of the room when it is 100% done (and 100% clean).

wall of drapes

Well y'all asked...

It started with an idea of a wall to wall, ceiling to floor velvet curtains. I originally felt they would be brown, until I saw these peacock blue ones. This is the finished side of the room.

I attempted to hang up the wood and guitar, but those guys at the Deep Hole sent me in the wrong direction. Normally they are quite helpful, but I will never again go with plastic anchors for hanging something so heavy. No, nothing fell and all are fine. The anchors broke before I had the chance to hang anything. I will be going back and getting the metal ones I originally was going to purchase. They require I drill good sized holes into the wall, but since they'll be covered by the wood and guitar...should have listened to that inner guide.