Jac's World

A Saturday project

2011-03-12T17:51:00.011-05:00

I don't know about you but when I'm cleaning the house I'd rather be done sooner rather than later. I hate it when I have to run back and forth to grab cleaning supplies from room to room. I have a tool caddy - one of those with slots for screwdrivers and stuff - that I've been using for cleaning supplies but it's cumbersome. So I decided I needed a cleaning apron. Something to hold all the tools but doesn't get in the way or have to be carried around. There's lots of sites online that sell cleaning aprons, but they aren't cheap. There's also lots of free apron patterns online to compare until 2 in the morning (obsess much? Who, me?!) In the end, being the cheap bastard that I am, I decided to use a pillowcase and came up with my own design. This is what happens when you give someone who figured out how to fix machines for a living a sewing project. So far it's working out great, but I'll have to report back on a true test run because I had already cleaned the house before I made it today and I sure wasn't going back for round 2.

First, for those easily distracted, here's the finished product.

Ok. So I started with a gently used pillowcase. Sorry about the sideways pic, Blogger is being a jackass - the pic is normal on my computer. I'm not going into a detailed tutorial but I used double sided binding tape to finish off the edges of the pockets and to make two spray bottle carrier loops. I used ribbon for the ties, and found that they were hard to hold tight just tied in back so I lengthened them to wrap around to the front. That worked much better.

Here's the finished product. There's two rows of pockets, 3 on the top row and 4 on the bottom. I can't get my hands into the bottom side pockets but that's ok because I had specific items in mind to go in them, and I thought those things would be in the way in the top row.

And finally here's the finished product, all loaded up. :) I can leave it loaded up and put in on as needed :D.

Wow. Did you see how I just slid back into blogging without mentioning how many years it's been? Shhhhh... lol

A New Year

2010-01-03T20:19:00.003-05:00

It's a new year and long overdue for an update. I've had almost two weeks off work and school and enjoyed every minute cocooning with my honey. He got me a satelite radio system for Christmas and we're really enjoying the blues station from BB Kings on Beal Street in Memphis (I've been there - they have GREAT ribs and beans!) We've also spent a LOT of couch time catching up on tv shows that I don't normally have time for. We've watched the first season of Mad Men and all four seasons of Dexter (OMG the ending!) as well as a bunch of movies. I have no guilt; as far as I'm concerned we deserved it.

Not much new in the knitting department, unless you count a couple of socks.

I have a new grandpuppy, a German Shephard named Thor who is living with me. I call him the grandpuppy because he's my son's dog, but Thor and I both know he's really my dog ;) I also have a grandkitty named Caliber living in DD's room. Tabby isn't impressed with either addition but she'll get over it.

Thor watches tv like no dog I've ever had before. He goes crazy barking and whining at the tv when I have a "doggy" movie on. We just had on a PBS special on wolves and he was howling along with them. He is too funny! He's a big dog, 95 pounds and he's not even a year old yet. I'll have to take some current pics to post; he's a beauty.

I'm still working, still going to school, and still trying to juggle half a dozen balls at once. I have construction going on at home right now; I'm having a sunroom put on with a below-grade entrance installed. It's a pretty big project (at least for me) but I am so looking forward to having it once the weather breaks! There's not much to see yet, the pool house has been partly torn down and the hole had been dug for the new entrance. Again I need to take some pics. Maybe for the next post.

Friday Feel-good Moment

2009-02-13T21:42:00.002-05:00

Now try and tell me this doesn't just melt your heart!

Still alive and kicking

2009-02-08T18:36:00.008-05:00

Still hanging in here, even though I haven't blogged in about six months. I'll break back into it slowly with a small post but with lots of pics. We finally got a break from the deep freeze we've been in and hit some plus temps today. Along with the bright sunshine it was too inviting to stay inside, and I figured it would be a good time to take a couple of new lenses for a test drive. It's currently the camera's turn in my rotation of obsessions. American friends are always amazed at how close we are to the States here. I went down to the waterfront and got some great pics of Detroit, along with lots of people out walking, jogging, or bike riding on this gorgeous day. First up is the Detroit skyline with the ice chunks still floating down the river. The big building on the right with five towers is the Renaissance centre, home of GM World Headquarters. This was actually three pics stitched together. As usual, clicking on the pics should bring up a bigger version to look at.

This next one should give you an idea of how close we really are. The green bars in the forground? Thats the railing on the Canadian shore. Across the river is the U.S. Coast Guard parked in front of the Renaissance Center.

This woman was definitely making the most of the great weather. I love how this pic shows the blurred background from the narrow depth of field capable with the 70-200mm lens . If I were any good at photoshop I'd get rid of that tree. The rest are other people who seem really happy to come out of hibernating.
The new lenses are the 70-200m f2.8 IS L, and the 18-55m f3.5 IS. The image stabilization really makes a difference on the sharpness of the pics, especially when shooting handheld at full zoom like the one of the coast guard. I know it will take lots of practice before I'm regularly taking good pics, but I have to say that overall I'm very happy with these lenses.

Obsessive? Who, me?

2008-08-26T10:50:00.004-04:00

Well I was doing really good riding the bike to work almost every day, and even using it to run short errands. But I was realizing that the gears weren't shifting as well as they should, and before you know it I'd made some more excuses and went out and bought a NEW BIKE! Obsessive? Of course. Crazy? You have to ask? Sigh.

So here it is; my new Trek Navigator. It was love at first sight. I've also given a lot of thought as to whether or not to wear a helmet. I prefer to ride without one, but I'm not the most coordinated at the best of times. I figure if I get slammed by a car a helmet isn't going to make a whole lot of difference, but if I just get knocked over or -- more likely -- fall over, it may save me from a more serious injury. Now if I could find one that's even remotely attractive I know I'd be more likely to actually wear it, and with that thought in mind I went surfing and bought this:

Made by "Nutcase". Kind of seems appropriate, doncha think?

Name That Bike!

2008-07-30T08:32:00.010-04:00

I've decided my bike needs a name. I've been developing quite a relationship with it, and it seems too impersonal to just call it "the bike". So I need some help. Any ideas? Maybe Gretchen? or Gloria? Something else? Why don't I give you some background.

I used to have a really hard time bike riding because of my rheumatoid arthritis. It's mostly in my wrists, and the conventional way of bike riding where you are leaning on the handlebars just put too much pressure on them. It was too painful. So about ten years ago Canadian Tire came out with the retro cruiser-style bike and I bought one. The cruiser has you sitting more upright without putting all your weight on your hands and wrists. The handlebars are curved back towards you in a much more comfortable position (my wrists don't really bend) that regular straight bars. It only had six gears instead of the 21 that everyone else was riding, but I found the six plenty for the type of riding I do. The saddle is wide and has spring suspension for comfort. It has thick whitewalled tires that not only look cool but are perfect for city streets. I got a lot of funny looks when I first started riding this bike. Everyone else (it seems) was riding traditional racing-style bikes, but it allowed me to go bike riding with the kids when they were young enough to want to go bike riding with their mom.

Anyway, the bike got left out in the rain a few times, the kids didn't want to ride with mom anymore, and before you know it a few years had gone by and the now rusty old bike was relegated to the shed. A couple of years ago I thought I should ride it or get rid of it. DH tried to talk me into buying a new one, but I thought what if I don't ride it much again? What a waste of money! I tried to make some adjustments since it didn't shift properly and was now hard to ride. I didn't have much success with the adjustments. So late last summer I finally took it to a bike shop. I had them give it a good overhaul, tighten up the shifter, get it running smoothly for me. I took it for a few rides and then put it away again. It now rode very nicely but frankly it was embarassing to be on this rusty old bike.

So I decided the bike was worth keeping but I needed to "pretty it up". I bought new fenders to replace the rusty old ones that were on it. Then I rode it to work and decided I needed a way to carry my totebag and purse. You see how one thing leads to another? So I installed a basket, which I told my son is an "anti-theft device" (who the heck is going to want to be seen on an old-lady bike with a basket?! lol).

In order to install the basket I had to remove the headlight from the handlebars. DH then came up with a scathingly brilliant idea. He suggested I attach the light to some tubing, drill holes in each end of the tubing (to prevent it rotating) and attach it to the underside of the basket with zip-ties. Ta-da; brilliant! Another trip (on the bike) to Canadian Tire got me a rear rack which I installed last night.

But the best was delivered today. I ordered this set of panniers from Curbside Cycle in Toronto. They're Dutch from a company called Basil. I could have ordered it in red to match my bike, but I thought that would be too much red. There is also baby blue, pink, or orange, so I'm hoping I made the right choice. I have to give the credit to Steph who first blogged about them here. I can see myself making trips to the grocery store for small loads.

Now that she's so practical as well as comfortable (not to mention pretty!), I see the beginning of a long relationship. She definitely needs a name.

Turning over a new (green) leaf

2008-07-30T07:50:00.003-04:00

So you see what happens when I quit blogging? All of a sudden I want to blog! lol

I'm addicted to my truck. Sad but true. While the rest of the country seems to be heading in droves to buy the latest in fuel efficiency, I've got absolutely no intention of giving up my Sport Trac. This truck was made for me. It's just the thing when I buy something fairly large and have to haul it home. Or when it's something dirty, like a load of compost, that you wouldn't want dumped in the back of a hatchback or the trunk of a car. I can toss bikes in there when one of the kids needs a ride home late at night. It's small enough to fit in my garage with all my other stuff in there. And, as of three weeks ago, it's all paid off. It's mine!

Dennis DesRosiers, the negative auto analyst who's always putting down Windsor/unions/the domestic auto industry, has just written an article (below) about how we Windsorites love out "gas-guzzling" SUV's. Well no kidding! There's a lot of reasons for that, including what I've already written. Do I need the extra hauling capacity of a small pickup all the time? Of course not. But let me tell you, it's sure nice to have it when you need it.

So I'm doing other things to be greener which just makes sense to me. I've been doing the "coasting" thing when driving in the city, where you try to keep your foot off the gas more to keep your rpm's down. I find myself watching the tachometer to make a conscious effort to keep it under 2 grand when accelerating away from a stop, and then once I'm a little over the speed limit I coast until I'm a little under the speed limit. I've only done this for one tank of gas so far but it's making a difference in the mileage I'm getting out of a tank.

The other thing I'm doing is riding my bike more. I'm fortunate enough to live fairly close to work, grocery stores, Canadian Tire, and lots of other places I may need to go. I even did a Timmy's run and managed to get two coffees home (mostly) intact! lol I've done some work on my bike (the subject of another post sometime) and I'm actually enjoying riding it! I think I've got the best of both worlds when I'm able to have my pickup for when I need it and also be able to go completely gas-free on my bike while getting some exercise for short trips. I think this is how the Europeans (whose gas prices have been double ours forever) do it; use their bike one day, public transit another, and their vehicle another as needed. It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. It seems to me to be the perfect compromise, being kinder to the environment and my purse without having to go to a small vehicle that I absolutely don't want and won't meet my needs.

So what's everyone else doing to cope with the gas prices?

Windsor addicted to gas guzzlers
BY CHRIS VANDER DOELEN STAR AUTOMOTIVE REPORTER
The Windsor Star
29 Jul 2008

Which Canadian city would you guess is addicted to buying the largest cars and SUVs in the country, the vehicles with the most horsepower, the largest engines — and the poorest fuel economy? It’s not oil-rich Calgary or Edmonton. Perhaps not...read more...

It's official:

2008-07-23T08:51:00.002-04:00

I suck at blogging. I was going really good for a few years, but I just can't seem to get to it these days. It's not that I don't think about it. Almost every day, certainly a few times a week, something happens that I think "I should blog about this". It's usually something small and boring, but interesting to me even if to no one else.

However, I just can't seem to make the time to get to it. I have the same excuses as everyone else; school, work, family, blah blah blah. But the blog has become more of an albotross hanging over my head than the joy it once was. I have that sense of obligation to post and then the guilt when I don't.

I find the guilt thing a little ironic since I've been working on a major mental cleanup to get rid of useless guilt. You know the type I mean, where we beat ourselves up over the simple mistakes we've made as we travel through life, or that our house isn't clean enough, or the weeds are overtaking the garden, or other useless mental clutter that we don't need. I've decided I don't need to feel guilty over the blog either.

So officially I am taking a hiatus from the blog. I may still pop in from time to time to post some excruciatingly boring Tabby pics or something, but I'm not going to put myself on any kind of schedule or obligation to do it. I'll still keep reading everyone elses blogs, and may even start leaving comments again since commenting will no longer bring me guilt over not having any new posts of my own! ;)

2008-06-05T07:12:00.006-04:00

A new cat has adopted my Mom. Mom lives on a farm out in the country, so while I was growing up it wasn't uncommon to have abandoned animals show up. I'm not sure if Mr. Cat has been abandoned or not, he just started hanging around the house last summer. Now Mom doesn't want any new house cats at this time so she hasn't encouraged him to come in the house. Having said that he's super friendly, and she feeds him every day. He sits on the windowsill and looks inside. He's not even bothered at all by Max, Mom's brand new black lab (who will be the subject of another post). But he's not her cat. So she says. I think he actually has a circuit of houses he has adopted where he gets fed, particularly since she didn't see Mr. Cat much over the winter. We think someone else took him in.

Anyway I met Mr. Cat for the first time the other day. I pulled into Mom's driveway when this black and white streak jumped off the porch, ran across the driveway and immediately started rolling in the grass. You'd think I was his long-lost best friend! So of course I had to pet him... and pet him...

When it was time to leave this is what was waiting for me on my dirty truck outside. No, I'm not going to adopt him. Aside from the fact that Tabby is quite happy being the solo queen bee at my house, I think Mr. Cat would be truly miserable being stuck as a full-time indoor city cat.

I'm Sorry! :(

2008-06-03T14:24:00.003-04:00

I've been SO bad, going MIA for so long. I apologize. It's been nothing huge, just the usual overload; family, school, work, travel, house, blah blah blah. Then I'm not very good (read not good at all) about telling anyone that I'm taking a hiatus. Even an explanation seemed overwhelming at the time! Taking three courses at once was probably not the best idea last term, and as always seems to happen everything else seems to erupt at the same time. Then once you get away from blogging it's so hard to get back to it. However, I have a new project on the go that I will share once I take some pics. I also spent a week in the Dominican a couple of weeks ago where my niece got married, so I'll have to upload some pics about that. In my usual feast or famine fashion I'll probably post a gazillion times over the next week or two! But to get you started I'll just share a link to a little eye-candy, for anyone that isn't already familiar with brooklyntweed. This guy is a creative genius!

The Money Shot

2008-03-01T11:48:00.003-05:00

One of the most adorable things in my life is Tabitha curled up in a ball in her kitty-bed in front of the warm heating vent. Of course every time I try to take a pic of this she lifts her head no matter how quietly I try to sneak up on her. Usually I get something like this:

or this:

As I keep trying it inevitably leads to this:

But today I was FINALLY able to get this:

Finally. Now I think I need to go vaccuum that kitty-bed.

Girls' Night Out

2008-03-01T11:18:00.003-05:00

DD and I went out and had a great time last night. We went to a "Pajama Party" fundraiser for the House of Sophrosyne, a women's addiction treatment centre, and let me tell you we had a blast! Anyone looking for ideas for an awesome fundraiser shoud take notes. It's a party for women only, and everyone wears their pajamas. You pay one price to get in ($50 in this case but I think they should be charging more) and you get to enjoy a whole host of donated services and food. Of course there's a d-jay keeping things hopping and a local radio personality mc's the event. DD and I took advantage of lots of the services including parafin wax treatments, manicures, pedicures, massages (twice each! lol), facials, and henna tattoos. There was also fortune telling and astrologers, hair styling, make-up artists, some body detoxing thing, and other stuff that I can't remember. Of course DD made sure we took advantage of the popcorn machine as well as the cotton candy machine. Oh, and because we were within the first 100 people there we got awesome goodie bags! Like I said, we had a blast. It was also a great opportunity for us to spend some quality mother/daughter time. I'm thinking we'll be making this an annual thing. :)

The Cutest Thing Ever!

2008-02-20T09:14:00.000-05:00

And that's all I have to say about that. :)

My Mother is an Enabler.

2008-02-17T22:26:00.003-05:00

Yup; sad but true. This is the book she just bought me. You wouldn't think such a little book could be so much fun! Or cause so much trouble! On a related note I've just discovered Zappos {evil grin}

On another related note, I just ran across this video clip about a woman who can't find shoes that fit. I must be getting old and sappy because this brought tears to my eyes!

And the Winner Is...

2008-02-17T00:57:00.003-05:00

My local union had a chili cookoff fundraiser last weekend. Now I don't generally make very good chili, but I felt that I should at least make an effort. This was my first year, but those that have done this before get right into it. This is my friend Cathy with her version of "colon cleanser". She definitely had the best display going on.

I usually just buy one of those chili packages and add a pound of ground meat (beef or chicken), a can of beans and a can of tomatoes and call it a day. I decided to look online for some help to come up with something a little more imaginative. I went to allrecipes.com because I get a lot of recipes there, but when I did a search for chili what seemed like about a thousand recipes showed up. I looked through a few but I was baffled; I don't know what makes a good chili from a bad one. So I did the next logical thing; I sorted the recipes by review and just picked the one from the top of the sorted list with the best reviews. And you know what? I WON! LOL

I was asked by a few people for the recipe and I had no problems with sharing it. It's not like I developed it or anything; I made it pretty much exactly as written. If anyone wants to check it out it's the Boilermaker Tailgate Chili. And maybe someone can give me some tips to top this next year! lol

Waffles... Mmmmmm!

2008-02-17T00:28:00.004-05:00

When I was in the states visiting my brother last month I bought myself a new waffle iron. It was definitely an impulse buy. I already had one, but it was one of those small ones that makes two small square waffles. Frankly I'd never quite mastered it. I never seemed to pour the right amount of batter in, and more batter ended up on the counter than on the plate. Then there's the little matter of the clip that locks it closed that I later realized had been broken off right from when I bought it.

So this is the new weapon. It beeps to let me know that it's at the right temperature. Then you fill it up with the little measuring cup that comes with it so that just the right amount of batter goes in. Then you close it, rotate it 180 degrees to lock it and distribute the batter evenly, and then wait for the beep to tell you that your waffle is done...

to perfection! Just look at that ooey gooey golden goodness. I think I'm in love!

Just call me "Sunny"

2008-01-31T09:12:00.000-05:00

Yep. 'Cause that's the nickname Sawyer came up with for me on this page. Not that I know who Sawyer is. I don't watch Lost and have no interest in starting now, but it's always fun to get a cool new nickname, I'm thinkin'.

So in response to Bev's question on the last post, I don't think the suspenders in the last post are so much a Canadian thing as I think they are a 1994 thing. Or maybe a Vogue Knitting thing. Vogue does come out with some really odd things sometimes. Actually I think they were looking for some type of a retro highland look with the hat and all. But I do love that vest.

More bad news on the job front. We're losing ANOTHER plant. The news came out yesterday morning. It will mean another 500 or so jobs gone (plus another 100 or so salaried), so we will now be down to about 2,000 workers when we were at almost 6,500 maybe five years ago or so. It won't affect me personally yet (and yet is likely the key word here) but it will affect some of my very good friends. I was so depressed yesterday that I crawled into bed last night at about 6:30 and didn't emerge until I had to get up for work this morning. I definitely wasn't feeling Sunny.

Big Dreams

2008-01-27T00:06:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd found a project to use up some of the huge stash of sport weight wool cluttering up my house. The gauge on the wool and recommended needles are just about what this pattern calls for. I've been hanging on to this pattern for years; it's from the 1994 Vogue Knitting that I had a subscription to way back then. I've always loved it. Sounds perfect, right? Well, problem is that even though it calls for 3 1/2mm needles, I have to use 2 1/2mm to get gauge. I seem to run into this problem a lot. I don't feel that my knitting is loose but I always have to go down several sizes in order to get gauge. Now I have a hard enough time getting through a pair of socks on teeny tiny needles. I can't imagine an entire vest. The other thing holding me back is I've run into problems whenever I've tried using Vogue patterns. So if I do decide to go for it I'll have to make sure I give the pattern a really good once-over first.

On the other hand Freshisle Fibers has made some gorgeous mitts that have me thinking about making something similar. Lots of ideas, not nearly enough time.

In kitty-news I swapped the store-bought cushion from Tabby's bed and put in her fleece blanket instead. And what do you know; she loves it now!

Cuteness

2008-01-22T20:23:00.001-05:00

Here's Journey, my brother's puppy, with her buddy George. Now tell the truth; your day just got a little better, didn't it?

An Actual Knitting Post

2008-01-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

I finished up Branching Out. I even updated the progress bar on the side. Now I've started a basic rolled brim hat to go with it. I have two more balls of this yarn left over so I figured I might as well use it up. Not that I have a lot of time for knitting, school is definitely taking over my life these days. I don't know what I was thinking signing up for three courses. But I'm having fun with it, and that's what matters.

This is the kitty-bed that I bought awhile back for Tabitha. She explored it a little when I first brought it home but now she just ignores it. I took the cushion out of the top basket and put it in her favourite hot-spot, she's happy with that.

So today I decided to fill the empty basket with all my sock yarn. That way it can inspire me to come up with ideas for new socks while I'm busy time-wasting here on the computer. Most of it is Briggs & Little sportweight 1 ply wool that I mail ordered from New Brunswick. I love the socks I've made with this yarn in the past, I just need to get going on knitting some more. Now that I'm back on the meds for my hands that thought seems a whole lot more appealing. If I can just finish up the forgotten socks I can start casting on for a new pair! ;)

Comfort Food

2008-01-20T14:40:00.000-05:00

I've been fighting this cough that's going around. If anyone tells me how good my cough is sounding, I'll tell them good; I've been practicing all night! It could be a whole lot worse, and probably would be if I didn't get the flu shot. I was desperately in need of a little TLC today, and that includes comfort food. So after I dragged myself out of bed at NOON (now you know I'm not feeling well; I never sleep in like that!) I hit the stove. I have to tell you this has got to be the best beef stew I've ever made. I think one of the problems I often have is I try to make a huge batch and then it doesn't get mixed enough or catches bottom or is out of proportion or something. This small batch turned out just right. Of course I made it up as I went, so I'm going to write it down here in case I try to remember how I made it one day down the road. I made it from things I had on hand, but if I were shopping for it I'd add some fresh button mushrooms.

Comfort Stew:

1 lb lean ground beef
Montreal steak spice
4 potatoes, scrubbed and diced
10 baby carrots, chopped
1/4 red pepper, chopped
1/4 green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup red wine
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp Bisto gravy mix

Brown the ground beef. While beef is browning mix the Bisto mix with the red wine and water. When beef is cooked season it with the Montreal steak spice and add the liquids. Stir and heat through. Then add all the veggies except the peas; add them about halfway through the cooking time. Cook covered at a simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring often. Serve with fresh buns. And wine. ;)

Whew! That was a lot of work typing that up. I think I'd better go get another serving.

2008-01-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

As always it's feast or famine around here. A gazillion posts at once and then nothing for over two weeks. I've managed to get through another set of holidays, even if "Catzilla" decided to crush the villagers like in a "B" list horror movie!

And look what she did to it! It looks like the village snow has now melted just like the real-life stuff outside in the balmy spring weather we're experiencing. We actually set a new record of 62F yesterday, when we are usually well below freezing at this time of year. While most people are thrilled with the break in the weather, DH is sulking. No snowmobiling, and even the base is gone, which means we'll need several good dumpings of snow before he (we) can get out riding again.

So what else? I've been completely obsessed with my latest DVDs. DH got me the latest (and last) season of Gilmore Girls as well as Little Mosque on the Prairie. I love those shows! I'm also working my way through the latest seasons of Nip/Tuck. Still waiting in the wings for me is the entire series of The Sopranos. I much prefer watching TV this way, no commercials and you watch at your own pace. The downside is that with my obsessive personality my own pace can mean watching 8 episodes in a row. Great for relaxing and down-time, not so great for housework, cooking, or anything else in real life. Oh well. The kids know how to feed themselves.

But I'll need to put them on the back burner for now. The DVDs, not the kids. School starts tonight for me again. I'm taking 3 classes this term. That's a little crazy, I know. I just figured if I'm going to speed up the "degree" process a little I'd be better off doing that while I'm still taking first year (and therefore theoretically "easier") classes.

Could a post possibly be any more pathetically boring? For those of you that have hung in this long, here's a cute kitty pic of Tabby in her kitty-bed. I bought a wicker cat bed that she won't use, but she likes to curl up in front of the heat vent so I moved the bed pad here. Now she loves it and I can't get her out of it!

Bah Humbug!

2007-12-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

As usual I can't get into the whole Christmas thing. I'm one of those people that hates Christmas. Yup. I'm an evil aweful person. For me Christmas has become a big "Survivor" type reality show where I have to figure out the perfect gift for a bunch of people that have no idea what they want, except that they definitely know what they don't want. I inevitably end up spending way too much money and still feel like a cheapskate. Then fighting the crowds, planning a perfect meal and timing it properly, and trying not to get into the wine too much before the food is on the table.

Except this year my nephew and his wife have generously decided to put on the Christmas Day dinner. My niece is bringing the appetizers and my Mom is bringing desserts. Now I have to figure out something to bring - besides wine (because they don't drink). I found all this out yesterday, so now I have to go shopping again in order to find something.

They are a young couple with a brand new baby. Any ideas on what I should bring? Incidentally there will likely be four of us going from my house. There's no way we can show up empty-handed!

Wierd Things About Me

2007-12-21T13:26:00.000-05:00

I don't often do the Meme things, but I've read a few about things you don't know about someone. This got me thinking about a couple of wierd things about me. I can't whistle. It's not for lack of trying, but I just can't whistle. I have tried all my life. I've had many different people try to teach me. But it just doesn't happen. No whistles come from my mouth.

The other thing? (well, ok, there's way more than two things that are wierd about me, but that's all you get for today!) I can't roll my 'R's. Like in the Timmy's "Rrrrroll up the rrrrrim" contests. Or when imitating a cat purring. Then this got me thinking about Pepe Le Pew, and the cute little French kitty that he was always chasing. The kitty was always saying things like "Le Meow" and "Le Purrrr" while rolling it's 'R's. Adorable!

So I guess there is a third thing for today after all. I love YouTube! You can find just about anything on there. So for your viewing pleasure, I bring you... Pepe Le Pew!

Ugh. I Scare my Kitty.

2007-12-20T19:46:00.000-05:00

As is often the case I have good news and bad news. First the good news. WARNING: MAJOR BRAGGING AHEAD!!!

Exams are done. And marks are in. I got the mark I was hoping for in one class, but not quite in the other. However, even though I didn't get the mark I had hoped for in that second class, I ended up with the TOP FINAL MARK IN THE ENTIRE CLASS! WOOHOO! In a class dealing with computers with 250 students mainly my kids' age who have grown up with this stuff, I'm feeling pretty pumped. :) This old girl still has some good stuff in her yet.

Then there's the bad news. I scare my kitty. I'm sitting here watching a very intense episode of my favourite show, Coronation Street, and I called Tabby over to sit with me. She finally deemed me worthy of listening to and even came over near where I'm sitting. Of course the closer she got the more exitedly I was with the "come on Kitty, come on!" with a crazy grin on my face. Needless to say she started looking at me with trepidation on HER face and... dare I say it... horror! She turned and stalked away, turning once to look at me with that look of "she's nuts!" still on her face. Well I just can't please everybody. Sigh. But did I mention Coronation Street has a widget? ;)

I'm Free! I'm Free!

2007-12-15T20:39:00.000-05:00

Yup, exams are officially done for me. You'd never know I only had to write two of them, would you? lol I've been fanatical about studying. Where was this attitude back when I was in high school? But being as competitive as I am I'm striving for top marks. Just because. I'm just geeky that way.

So to celebrate I decided to finish up the shopping bags. I know my family will be thrilled that I got this done today. No, they're not fanatical about my shopping habits. I'm betting they'll be thrilled that I finally put the two sewing machines away that have been sitting on the kitchen table since I began this project. <:o (Gasp! Did I type that in my out loud voice?)

I made some changes to the bags from the first two. You are looking at "The Shopping Bag - Beta Version", otherwise known as "Shopping Bag 2.0". I was a little disappointed with the size of the first ones I made. They weren't quite big enough. So I took the leftover fabric and added gussets to the sides of the two new ones and was able to refit one of the old ones. I'm thinking these will now be plenty roomy for a sackload of groceries. Feel free to click on the pic for a better look at the details.

I've also been playing around with my desktop and something I actually learned about at school; widgets! Now if you haven't been introduced to the coolness that is widgets, they are little stand-alone programs that run on your desktop. I did a yahoo search and found yahoo widgets (FREE no less; and you KNOW what a cheap bastard I am!) which got me the analogue clock, the weather station, the sticky notes and the TV Guide. You can set them to be always on top if you like and you can change the colours and such. Then I found a pic of some purple flowers I took last year to use for my wallpaper and... TADA! Yes. I know. I've said it before. I'm a geek. A hopeless geek.

I'm an Uber Cool High Nerd!

2007-12-09T19:37:00.000-05:00

Who knew?! I have to admit I had a lot of fun taking this one. Always knew I was a geek.

I've spent the last four days in Toronto for my union's Council where I'm a delegate. It was a really good council this year with lots of debate. Council is the parliament of our union, and we discuss lots of relevant issues. DH is also a delegate, so we got to go out for some really nice dinners together while in Toronto, including our annual dinner at one of the fabulous oyster bars there. Yum! And I got quite a bit of my Branching Out done on the train ride up there.

Other than that I'm studying for exams for the end of the week. I may not be around much until after they're done, but wish me luck!

The Politics of Grocery Shopping

2007-11-28T23:32:00.000-05:00

It’s just not politically correct anymore to use the plastic grocery bags when you do your shopping. I started noticing this here about a year ago, and then I really noticed it when I was in England earlier this year. The grocery store I go to now sells re-usable bags. They’re ok I guess, but they’re like a heavier duty plastic and I don’t imagine them holding up very well over time. So I’ve been using some canvas bags I’ve accumulated over the years. Whenever I’ve been away at a union conference I inevitably end up with another bag of some sort, whether it is a backpack or a canvas tote. Well I had the scathingly brilliant idea to use the canvas totes for bagging groceries. They are roomy and sturdy enough to fill them up without breaking, and they are showing no signs of wear after about a year of pretty regular use. The downside is that I used to use them for bringing my lunch and stuff to work when I was working on the factory floor. Therefore, even though they’ve been washed and I know they are clean, they look very grungy with oil stains and such; not very nice when you think you are carrying your food in them. Not to mention I don’t have enough of them.

So on a whim I stopped at the fabric store on the way home from grocery shopping today. I bought a meter of canvas and five meters of webbed strapping, making it up in my head as I went, and this is what I ended up with! This is the prototype and there'll be three more to follow (although I'll need to buy five more meters of strapping; I had a ~~slight~~ substantial miscalculation). This pleases me on so many levels. The egomaniac in me is pleased that I’ll have the nicest bags in the grocery store. The environmentalist in me is pleased that I’m doing something good for the environment. And the cheap bastard in me is pleased that the fabric store just happened to be having a 40%-off-everything sale! I’m just SO damn… pleased!

Duck; It's a Posting Blitz!

2007-11-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

First I don't post for weeks on end. Then I'm posting like there's no tomorrow! Have I ever mentioned my obsessive personality? But I have to tell you about this laceweight wool from Handpainted Yarn. I hate it! Now I remember why I put the partially knit Clapotis aside and didn't work on it for over a year. This laceweight wool is so fine - about half as thick as sock yarn, if even that - that it's almost impossible to knit with. It's like knitting with thread! Well, not quite, but almost. It's not too bad for straight knitting, but you need to be working with really good light and be super focused. I'm just not that focused. So after doing two repeats last night of the lace pattern for Branching Out, it's off the needles again. On the other hand I did find some leftover balls of Sirdar "Salsa" in the stash, a super-soft merino and acrylic 50/50 blend and a DK weight. It's left over from when I made "Tempting". So I will now begin working on the "Salsa Branch" instead.

As for the laceweight wool? I've had a scathingly brilliant idea! I'll knit it up on my course-bed knitting machine. It will be done super quick and will make a great rolled scarf. Or at least I hope; I've got two skeins in two separate colourways of this stuff, and I hate to see it go to waste after it made it's way all the way here from Uruguay.

Sorry about only linking to old pics, I'll have to get going with the camera obsession again!

The Lady in Red

2007-11-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with the template for this blog. I've been bored to tears of the skin I had on it for years now, but didn't want to change it for a few reasons. First, I didn't love any of the free skins I was finding out there. Second, I had so much stuff in the sidebars that I didn't want to have to change it only to find that I couldn't figure out how to put that stuff all back in. And third, I was too ~~lazy~~ busy. So I just started playing around with the template that was on it, so the layout is still pretty much the same but now at least I have a little colour in my life.

Last night I was looking for the leftover yarn from a pair of socks I had knit that now needed darning. It's been awhile since I've looked in my stash, and I couldn't believe how much great yarn I have in there! I also have lots of crap yarn, but that's another story. Anyway, I found a pair of socks I had forgotten about that I'm now determined to finish. I also found the partially knit Clapotis that I think I'm going to frog and make Branching Out instead. It's a really pretty laceweight wool from Handpainted Yarn in Uruguay. I've also got about 10 skeins of the sock wool from Briggs and Little, a wool mill I ran across years ago when I was driving through New Brunswick. And I've also got a whole bag of some super soft lavender fluffy stuff that would probably make a gorgeous (and washable!) baby blanket. I'd best hold off on that though; don't want to give the kids any ideas. :o That one came from the Spinrite Yarn Factory in Listowel.

It's a good thing I'm back on the meds; looks like I've got me some knitting to do!

Well I am just a KNITTING FOOL!

2007-11-25T20:29:00.000-05:00

After I finished the tea cozy, being the cheap bastard that I am, I decided to use up the leftover yarn by making a couple of trivets or hot pads to match. So I've spent the afternoon in front of the tv knitting and watching the original Canadian version of Beowolf (yum!) and CSI reruns with the fireplace on and a warm kitty on my lap. I ask you; does it get any better than this?!

Finally; an FO!

2007-11-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! I've actually finished something; the Kureyon Kozy I started back in August. Makes it sound like a huge accomplishment, doesn't it? Fact is it's been sitting on my bedside table just waiting for me to knit one short piece of I-cord. Now how pathetic is that?! But bottom line is it's done, and I happen to think it's pretty cute. Considering how many projects I've knit where I hate the finished product, that's an accomplishment all in itself!

2007-11-18T15:28:00.001-05:00

I have been so bad about this whole blogging thing. The truth is my life is so boring I can't believe anyone would want to read about it! But I'm biting the bullet and putting up another pathetically boring post.

But first a clarification; although I call Thumper my little rodent friend, the truth is he's a hampster. A very cuddly soft little rodent hampster with ticklish whiskers; and sharp teeth! lol He's definitely weazled his way into my heart already.

So I was up in Port Elgin again last week to do a presentation about women in skilled trades. I can't tell you how much I enjoy that! Like everyone else I get really nervous when I have to do public speaking, but I'm completely at ease when I do this presentation. Maybe it's because it's a room of all women. Maybe it's because there's always a couple of sisters from my own local union there to provide moral support. Or maybe it's just because I tell lots of personal stories about my years working in the trades that are always well-received by the sisters. But I think ultimately it's because I'm talking about something that I really know, and feel passionately about. The pic is one that I use in the presentation. It's of me and a fellow tradeswoman, who happens to also be my best friend. I love this pic; I have it framed and hanging in my garage where all my tools are!

But on the way up to Port Elgin we hit a deer on the highway! OMG! All I can say is it's a good thing DH was driving his truck. If it would have been me in my truck there would have been a lot more damage. DH's truck is a 3/4 ton and the deer just bent the bumper. I'm thinking there would have been a lot more damage to my Sport Trac. Not to mention I would have been freaking a whole lot more if I were the one driving! I don't have a lot of optimism for the deer, though. DH says it'll be fine, just a little sore for awhile. I say you don't get hit at 100kph (60mph) and not have massive internal injuries. Not that it was DH's fault by any means; it was pitch black out on a remote highway and the deer ran up off the side of the road just as we were passing. Damn suicidal deer!

In other news, I finally got in to see Dr. Thompson, the hot (yeah, Knitty-Kat, you were right! lol) rheumatologist in London. I've been on the waiting list to see him for about a year. Anyway he's put me back on the leukemia drugs (metho-trexate) I was on years before, but at almost triple the doseage. I had taken myself off of them when I felt I was in remission, mainly because they're so toxic, but things are getting bad again and he's supposed to be the best, so I'll be a good girl and do as I'm told and take the meds.

Other than that, let's see. School is going really well. Have I mentioned how much I love going to university? I'm such a browner with my hand always up! lol I was nothing like this way back in high school. I was doing a major declutter in the house yesterday and ran across a couple of WIP's, now that I'm back on meds maybe I can get back to the knitting. I'd like to share a positive comment about DS but I'm afraid to jinx things so I'll leave that one alone.

So yeah, that's about it. Don't say I didn't warn ya!

New Babies!

2007-10-29T16:14:00.000-04:00

My family has grown this weekend. There's not just one but two new babies in the family! First DD came home Friday night with this little fella. His name is Thumper. I've told the kids "no more pets", so she was a little sheepish as she brought him in to show me, but how could you not love that little face?! I let DD think I'm not happy; don't let on any different! lol

When she realized I wasn't going to send Thumper back from whence he came DD went out and bought some "accessories". I had a blast playing with this thing all weekend! lol

Now meet Journey. My brother and his wife went and picked up a new rottie pup on the weekend. She's 10 weeks old and will fit right in with the two other dogs and six cats! lol The alpha dog, Thunder, has warmed to her already.

Here Thunder is checking to see that she has everything she needs. Now click on the pic to see it full size. Journey's paws are already almost as big as Thunder's! That's going to be one big dog. Better them than me is all I gotta say. :o

The Blue Jean Story

2007-10-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

I pretty much live in blue jeans, and I don't usually get all fashiony when it comes to my jeans. In fact most of my jeans are down-right budget jeans, without a designer label in sight. However I was trying to find a pair of stove-pipe straight jeans to wear with my heels. I love the look of jeans fitted at the ankle with high heels. I tried many different stores, but all the jeans I could find with straight legs also had a mere 2" zipper. In other words they'd be extremely low cut. Now you might get away with that if you are 16yo, but at 46, I'm thinking probably not. I don't need the granny-panties exposed and showing off for everyone!

Anyway last week a girlfriend suggested I try the Gap, and low and behold I found just what I was looking for. They weren't cheap, or at least $80 isn't cheap to me for a pair of jeans, but I felt it was worth it to get what I wanted.

So what do I hear this weekend? That Gap has just been busted for using child labour.

Gap is making it sound like an isolated incident, with it being children's hand-embroidered tops. I've seen hand-sewn quilts at the mall for $30 or $40, and wondered how they could even cover the materials for that price. My Mom makes quilts and for the amount of work that goes into one you shouldn't be able to pick one up for less that ten times that amount. The article goes on to say:

'Employing cheap labour without proper auditing and investigation of your contractor inevitably means children will be used somewhere along the chain. This may not be what they want to hear as they pull off fresh clothes from clean racks in stores but shoppers in the West should be thinking "Why am I only paying £30 for a hand-embroidered top. Who made it for such little cost? Is this top stained with a child's sweat?" That's what they need to ask themselves.'

So what do we do? Boycotts often end up hurting the ones we are trying to help. Pressure needs to be put on these companies to ensure that they are not employing child labour. One way to do that is to buy products made in Canada or the U.S. That can be easier said than done, especially since Levi's closed it's last Canadian factory a few years back. I've just gone through my jeans and found ones made in China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. But I did find one pair with a "made in Canada" tag in them, so it is possible. I'll have to make a point of checking more closely when I shop.

For All My Kitty Friends

2007-10-26T13:05:00.000-04:00

Blech.

2007-10-26T12:09:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a sick day today. I've got a cough and a horrible scratchy throat and I'm all achy. DH wants to take me out to one of my favourite restaurants tonight to celebrate my birthday but we may end up ordering in pizza instead if I'm not feeling any better. So to pass time I'm watching daytime TV (which I NEVER do; who knew there were so many judges on tv!) and surfing.

So the red cell-phone case came in. I love it! Ok, I don't love the clippy thing for hanging it on your belt. I'm always knocking it off and smashing the phone on the ground. Not good. But just as a case, I think it's pretty awesome. Notice I painted my nails to match? LOL

And for something completely different, do you know something people never do anymore? Sew. Well other than my mother that is; she still sews all the time. I grew up sewing and I can remember stealing shirts from the goodwill bag my mom kept and cutting out sleeves and collars or just using the fabric to make them into new trendy tops. Sometimes I'd add some embroidery. I bought my own first sewing machine at 18 where I picked up an old used one for about $50 in the classified's. (how DO you spell that?!) That was about half a week's pay for me at the time, and I was working full time. Then I bought a brand new one for probably two or three hundred dollars a few years later. It was a big investment, but I figured I'd get lots of use out of it and it would be worth it. And I did get lots of use out of it. When the kids were little I sewed all the time. I made diapers (using a disposable diaper as a pattern and velcro to fasten them; they were awesome!), baby quilts, clothes for the kids, clothes for DD's dolly, clothes for me, etc. I don't sew much now, mainly just mending.

But what got me thinking about all this? Look what I just ran across for $20! Now it's probably not going to be still working in 50 years like the used one I started with, but for someone just trying to learn, perfect! Of course this is part of why all our jobs are going overseas, with the influx of cheap consumer goods from third world countries. Blech. I'm going to take a nap now.

Tabitha says I can't play on the computer anymore until I feed her.

Sesame Street- Old MacDonald Had a Spaceship

2007-10-06T21:38:00.001-04:00

When it came to kid's shows as my kids were growing up there were some... ok most... of them that drove me round the bend. I remember when the kids were small and you'd sit and watch tv for a bit with them some shows were completely mind-numbing. Like the time DS got mad at DH for snoring in the theatre when we took him to see the Pokemon movie (it was me that was snoring in the theater!)

But there are a couple of kid's shows that wove their way into my heart and still remain there today. One of them was Sherry Lewis' Lamchop and Friends. When I want to annoy someone I'll still sing "this is the song that never ends..." trust me you don't want me to finish that. The other all time great kid's show is Sesame Street.

Sesame Street writers had the smarts to include bits that were way above the kid's heads but would make the parents laugh. It would appeal to all ages. I remember sitting with DD when she was 21 months old (I remember that because it was a few days before DS was born) watching Sesame Street, when Kermit the Intrepid Reporter was interviewing Old MacDonald in a corn field. For some reason I remember a lot of that particular episode, every time Kermit would say "Old MacDonald had a farm..." all the farm animals would stick their heads in front of the camera and yell "e-i-e-i-o!" Anyway Kermit commented on Old MacDonald's accent and asked if he's Scottish. Old MacDonald replied "Aye, Laddie, with a name like MacDonald you think I'm from Calcutta?!" Well I howled... ok, hormones may have had something to do with it... or maybe I just needed some adult interaction... but it stuck in my head and it's always made me smile when I look back on it. Well it must have been an ongoing theme because lookie at what I just found:

The Freaky-Geek!

2007-10-06T18:41:00.000-04:00

Rick James may have sung about a super-freak, but I've become a Freaky-Geek! Sing along with me now; I'm a freaky-geek, freaky-geek, I'm super geeky... MEOOOWWW!

sigh

Yes, it's a sickness, a SICKNESS I say! I've bought another new techie toy. A Palm Treo 700 Smartphone. It's not bad enough that I still had a year to go on my OLD phone and plan (two years old is old for technology, right?) And it's still not bad enough that I'm increasing my phone bill to include getting my emails and being able to surf the net. What's REALLY bad is that I've wasted my entire day surfing Ebay for accessories to go with it; after all, we're all about the accessories aren't we?! There's a reason the other smartphone is called a "Crackberry". Yup, I'm addicted. I'm a slave to my techie toys. So any day now I'll get a fabulous red hard case in the mail to protect the new baby and a car mount so I can watch it always even when I'm driving. I TOLD you it's a sickness!

And what better to go with a new red-encased cellphone? Some fabulous red patent leather shoes! Apparently I must have bought these shoes early in the day before my Sasquatch feet swell because I can't wear them for more than 10 minutes without getting a heel full of blisters. I tried to replace them with the next size up but they're not available anywhere anymore. I was about to see if I could give them away when I had a scathingly brilliant idea; cut the strap in the back and sew in a bit of black elastic. And lo and behold it worked! I've actually worn these shoes for an 8 hour stretch without the slightest discomfort! I know; I can't believe it either. I can't wait for the matching cellphone case to come in! I know; I'll meet DH at the door in nothing but the red heels and the cellphone in its red case. I'll knock his socks off; mainly because he's a freaky-geek too. He'll take one look at that red-encased cellphone and grab it out my hands and run to go play! LOL

Now on a totally different subject the tv is on while I'm writing this post and the Lawrence Welk show is on. Do you remember that show? With the bad hairpieces (on the men!) and the virginal women? Wow! Talk about a different time and place. Not a red pump to be seen, let alone a cellphone!

And finally, for all my fellow Canadians, Happy Turkey Day!

What's keeping me busy.

2007-09-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

But first, a couple of housekeeping items. And no, housekeeping hasn't been keeping me busy; my house is a mess right now!

In my last post I mentioned how my trip to Tupolo Mississippi was a one day trip. I have to clarify; we drove down one day, spent the next day there visiting (the "one day trip") and the next driving home. So while it was crazy it wasn't completely insane! lol

Knitty-Kat is in town this weekend for a soccer tournament, and is asking what to do while in Windsor. Unfortunately it's Saturday afternoon and I only just got the message. But just in case she happens to check in, it's a great time to take a drive in Essex County and check out the roadside stands or make the trip to Collasanti's greenhouses. Point Pelee is a great place to go for nature walks and get lots of really good pics. And there's also a lot of wineries in the region for a wine tour. If you want to take a trip across the border to the States, if you take the bridge there's Mexican Village with the BEST Mexican food around, or take the tunnel for Greektown, or if you're into raw oysters like me, Tom's Oyster Bar. But if time is really limited you have to at least take a walk by the riverfront to take in the Detroit skyline. Beautiful! Oh, and for dinner on our side of the border I recommend Chinoso's in the 300 block of Ouellette Avenue. They do Thai food and I'm a regular for their stir-fries.

As far as what's keeping me busy, other than the fact that I just got home from ANOTHER week out of town (which I'm really starting to hate!), I've been canning. I used to can way back before I had kids. When I was in my late teens/early twenties I used to make a mean corn relish as well as strawberry jam pretty much every year. This is the first year I've been back into it, and I didn't want to overwhelm myself, so I bought this book. So far I've made the Traditional Garlic Dill Pickles, the Autumn Fruit Jam and the Zucchini Relish. The Zucchini Relish looks a little bland because I didn't have any turmeric on hand but my fingers are crossed. I've only tried the jam so far and it was way better than what I expected. I'm on a roll!

Happy Labour Day!

2007-09-03T14:35:00.000-04:00

DH and I did the annual labour day parade this morning. This is huge in our area, where all the union locals march down the riverfront and then join for speeches, hotdogs and a beer tent. Frankly it's amazing we made it this year because we just got home at 4am from a road trip to Tupolo Mississippi!

My brother and his wife recently moved down there and we're the first to make the trek down to visit. It took us 17 hours to get there including a two hour holdup at customs and a couple of meal breaks, but we made it home in just over 12 hours. Not bad for a day's visit! lol I couldn't get away for longer but we felt it was important to make the trip anyway.

I didn't see any armadillos, although DH did see one at the side of the road. Ok, it was a tail and a bit of armour. But I did see cotton fields (we don't grow cotton in Canada) and I even picked a couple of pieces of cotton to bring home and show the kids.

I didn't get any pics of the kudzu that you see growning everywhere, but it's downright scary how it takes over and suffocates everything. But to make the trip completely successful I found a liquor store on the way down that carries Cachaca, the Brazilian national drink that I haven't been able to find so far in Canada. Woohoo; it's Caipirinha time!

The Intrepid Traveller

2007-08-27T11:58:00.000-04:00

I mentioned that I was in Newfoundland the other week.

I'm finally posting some pics to give you an idea of the rugged beauty of that province.

We did some touring around the countryside and admired the ocean cliffs,

as well as doing some whale and puffin watching.

But I wasn't home long enough to post about it because I had to leave AGAIN for a conference.

As much as I used to think that the travel that comes with my job would be fun, right now I'd just like to spend some time at home! I guess it's true that the grass is always greener. Sigh.

But this conference was amazing. It was our annual Women's Conference, and for the first time I was a discussion leader. To sum it all up all I can say is we have some amazing sisters in our union and they made it all seem easy.

No pics from the conference, but I think I over-compensated with the Newfoundland ones! lol

A Relationship Rant

2007-08-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

I was reading this page from feministing.com about relationships and how Anne has written an article stating that intelligent women suck at relationships. As I've always thought of myself as reasonably intelligent, this made me think of my own relationships. Yeah, I've had a few. And yeah, many of them have sucked. But is that related to my particular level of intelligence?

Anne's theory is that women who do well career wise don't do well at their relationships. She says "So what does all this mean? Well, I believe that at the root of all this is the fact that many women with a high IQ have a perilously low EQ (that's their emotional intelligence quotient). Put more prosaically, this would explain why bright girls are often fools in love."

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm not so sure any particular demographic holds the record for bad relationships. From my own skeletonous closet I've had relationships with guys who were lazy, substance abusing, manipulative, abusive and/or violent. I've also had relationships with guys who have been hard-working, devoted, dedicated, loving and supportive. My current 12+ year relationship being the showcase of all of the latter. I've also known women from all different kinds of demographics that have had really crappy relationships.

So I guess what I'm saying is that while Anne may not have yet found her ideal relationship (is there such a thing?) I don't think that blaming it on her I.Q. is the answer. Women have enough crap thrown at them to keep them down and stop them from succeeding. The last thing we need is fear mongering that if we pursue our dreams and goals we will be left cold and lonely. That may or may not happen regardless of what else we do in life, but at least if we've continued to pursue our dreams and goals we'll have enjoyed the ride.

I'm actually knitting!

2007-08-16T17:07:00.000-04:00

I've got three different posts I'm working on. And there's lots of pics (if Blogger is being cooperative today). I just got back from a week in St. John's Newfoundland (amazing!), and a political post has caught my eye and made me respond, but I figure I'll start with the knitting post. This is supposed to be a knitting blog after all. I know, hard to believe, isn't it?

The story is that my hands have been too sore to knit. But I love the teapot I bought in England (it's Le Creuset from France, but I can get accompanying pieces like the the matching oval cast iron casserole dish Mom bought me right here at home) so much that I decided to knit the Kureyon Kozy from Knitty.com for it.

I had Noro Kureyon in mind when I thought of making a cozy because I thought the way the colours morph in the wool would be a good match for the way the colours morph in the Le Creuset, so I was glad when I found a pattern designed specifically for it. Now to me Noro Kureyon is not a cheap wool. If I didn't care I'd have just grabbed something out of the 3 ton yarn stash located around the house. One ball of Noro is enough but I bought two so that the stripes would match on either side of the cozy. I've recently redone the kitchen and I wanted to make something particularly nice, so even though I'm usually a cheap bastard I didn't mind splurging on the Noro. Until I ran across THE KNOT! Do you see it in the picture? The yarn has been broken and retied with no thought to the poor knitter trying to keep her stripes matching. The rat bastards!

So I went ahead and started the second side so that I could match the balls when I got to that point. And THIS is the pile I had to cut out to make the sides match! There's some of the orange, a full section of brown, a full section of blue and some of the green. I am not a happy camper. And of course you don't find this out until you're halfway through your project. For what I'm doing I'm able to make it work, but what if I were making something bigger like a sweater? Or even the ever popular Booga Bag (I think there's a link in my finished projects)?

So I'm not going to undo it all and take it back. But at $10 for a 50g ball it's just not good enough. Noro needs to get their act together.

I'm feeling a little sheepish...

2007-07-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

It's been about six weeks since I've posted! A big thanks to Knitty-Kat for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to get posting again. My life has been absolutely insane, and not necessarily in good ways. Well, to be fair, it wasn't all bad, but the bad was bad enough to keep me from posting at all, as I can't be upbeat when I'm dealing with crap, and I don't want to use my blog for whining. It already takes up too much room in my head, I'm not giving it more room on my blog. Now don't feel bad, I've been keeping a low profile in real life as well and I wasn't even up to telling my closest friend what's been going on until yesterday. So as far as the crap goes, let me just say that if you don't already have any let me highly recommend that you don't get yourself any teenagers. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

So I went to England! Yup, Mom and I spent two weeks last month getting back to the "mother country" for my first time in thirty years. It was great seeing relatives I haven't seen in that long. My same-age cousins and I hit it off like we'd never been apart; it was awesome! And I was able to be there for another cousin's wedding. Very cool.

We also did some touristy sight-seeing. We toured London and Cambridge while we were there. Talk about history! And we even spent a day in France where I got to enjoy what seems to be the national dish; Moulet et Frite (or something like that). That would just be a fancy way of saying mussels and fries. Now who would have thought of combining those two things?! The mussels were amazingly good, but the fries were no better or no different for that matter than fries at home. And no, I don't think they go particularly well with mussels. But the wine was great, as well as the pate we had as an appetizer. Yum! Also Indian food is big in England, and I had my first meal in an Indian restaurant. Ok, now I'm hungry.

Speaking of food, my aunt and uncle that I stayed with are big into cooking, and I learned quite a bit about different dishes and presentation while there. So rather than buying models of double decker buses or old-fashioned telephone booths for souvenirs (you see them in all the touristy shops), instead I bought a very good quality cheese grater, a cheese cellar and a teapot! lol I figured I might as well get things that maybe don't scream England but that I'll think of my trip and especially my aunt every time I use them. Which is often.

I've Been Tagged

2007-05-25T08:26:00.000-04:00

Sauntering Soul has tagged me in a very flattering way. The "tag" is to list five "Thinking Blogs" that affect you, whether by making you think about things, or by touching your emotions, or just raising your curiosity about different things to try or places to go.

Apparently there's no tag-backs so I can't tag Bev, but if I could I'd tell you how much I look forward to her posts. Bev is one of the bravest women I (cyber-)know, dealing with relationships, family, work (including jumping from a long-term job to a new one; that makes her my hero!) and life in Atlanta with her cat Bailey. She is charming and funny and I'd love to have coffee with her one day.

So here's the rules:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged (but heck, even if you aren't, run with it anyway! lol) write a post with links to five blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.

3. Optional: Display your award proudly! Ok, apparently there's a "Thinking Blogger" award badge that you can add to your template, if you're so inclined. You'll have to find it for yourself though because I went looking and couldn't find it. So we'll just pretend about that part, ok?

Ok; here we go.

Knitty-Kat

Kat is a fellow rheumatoid arthritis sufferer, but doesn't let it hold her back from anything she sets her mind to. She's a knitter, and a dedicated knitter in spite of the arthritis; she turns out some really beautiful things. She's my "local blogger", from the same neck-of-the-woods so to speak. This means she "gets" things that affect us locally, like economic issues, our crazy weather or great knitting haunts. She's the proud Mama of Bogie, a most adorable, gentle and loving pit bull (who stars in every pic on the blog! lol). And she doesn't stop at being Mama; she's also an animal rights activist on behalf of the breed and fundraises for her local humane society. But one of her biggest traits that comes through is she's incredibly resiliant, taking everything that life throws at her and keeps moving forward.

Tangles

Kare has an incredible sense of dry humour that just rubs me the right way. She is a very devoted mother, not only to her almost grown-up kids but to Sade, a rambunctious black lab puppy. She's also very "crafty". I love hearing about life in the Canadian west, and seeing out her back door (dog-nose smears and all).

Rob's Place

I've only just started reading Rob's blog, but we've been friends since God was a boy. Rob is a passionate man about everything important to him; his family, his community, his fellow man and his garden. It's all coming through in his blog, and I'm so glad I found it. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention today is his LAST DAY OF WORK; he's officially retired! (I'm so jealous!) So I'm hoping to read all kinds of good stuff on this blog, including pics and stories as he travels across the country this summer.

Feministing

Jessica and Co. are amazing feminist bloggers who keep me well up-to-date on situations and issues affecting women around the world. The site is updated many times a day so it's always current. Jessica has also just published a book that I bought for DD. She'll get it when I've done reading it first (which will happen once I figure out where I last set it down).

Dolittler

Patty is a vet in Miami and shares her perspective on so many things that us animal lovers think about (or need to think about). She also posts pretty much daily so there's always something there to think about. She doesn't hold back on controvertial issues, either, and admits and explains when she's torn on an issue. Not to mention I love hearing about her own menangerie including a house-goat!

Ok; that's my five. There's a lot more blogs I love to read, I had a hard time picking which five to narrow it down to, so I tried to get a variety in there. Regardless of whether or not you've been tagged, go make a list of five so we can all see what you've been reading!

It's Raining Men!

2007-05-19T09:54:00.000-04:00

If you've read my last post you'll know that DH and I are ready to move to the next step of our relationship by moving in together. Ok, ok, so it won't be for a few years yet, you don't want to rush these things!

So in the meantime I had another man move in with me yesterday. No, I'm not a woman-of-questionable-morals; my DS has come home!

I haven't written much about DS. I love this guy to death, but there's no denying that he's been a major challenge all his life. To sum it up he is extremely impulsive and makes some very bad choices. Doesn't sound much different than any other teenage boy, except in DS's case if you were to take that and square it you might start to get the picture.

Anyway he moved in with Ex during the Aweful Rebellious Summer of '06. Unfortunately he and Ex have always had an extremely volatile relationship, and now this living arrangement has all come to a nasty end. Fortunately I've always been able to maintain a good relationship with DS through everything. Welcome home Baby!

Game Plan in Motion

2007-05-17T19:48:00.000-04:00

I spent the weekend at DH's house last weekend and I've been sleeping like a baby ever since. We had lots and lots of discussions and I now have a game plan. DH and I agree; depending on what the company does it may be two years, or four years, or even seven years from now, (seven being the most since that's when I can retire with a full pension) but once I'm done working where I'm working I'm selling up and moving in with him.

It was funny having the conversations because we probably turned over every possible scenario in the course of hashing it out. Let me say that DH is ecstatic about the concept of me moving in with him. I can't get over how much that man loves me! And while I am also very much in love with him, I'm also the more cautious one. I've already "walked down the aisle" (cough TWICE cough) and don't always trust my judgement anymore. I get paralyzed with "what if's"; what if he turns into a monster once I let my guard down and move in? what if he finds out what a monster I really am? what if we decide it was a big mistake and have to start over alone again, especially when it was working so well living apart?

The fact is we've been a couple for twelve years now, and if we don't know each other by now we NEVER will. Besides; he said I can go ahead and renovate his bathroom and kitchen just like my house! What more could a girl want?!

Since I don't know what my pension situation is going to be the other part of the game plan is to start saving money instead of spending like it's the day before Armageddon. And to show what a good job I'm doing I just emptied out the shopping basket from the online shoestore that I'm addicted to frequent before I finalized the sale. Now THAT's willpower! Now I wonder what Ebay's got going tonight?

I'm feeling better.

2007-05-10T20:09:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling better today. Just writing about it yesterday helped me to start organizing my thoughts and get things into focus. I spent some time today with DD working on getting a summer job. By bringing her to the Worker's Adjustment Centre to have her resume looked at she's starting to see that it's not just her struggling to find work and not to take it personally that she's having a hard time. Being down there talking with friends who have already lost their jobs helped put everything into perspective for me.

I've decided that I will get through this. I've had wonderful opportunities in life so far and it's no good getting upset because life decides it's not going to run smoothly along the well laid out plans I had made. Life doesn't work that way; it likes to keep us guessing. I've never dealt well with change, and it's time to get over that.

Every single time in my life when something bad has happened, something good was waiting around the corner, even when it wasn't immediately apparent. I'm going to stick to that philosophy because it hasn't failed me yet. I'll be fine. And thanks so much for the awesome warm comments to yesterdays post. You have no idea how much that helped!

So to leave you with a happier pic than the heartbreaking one I posted yesterday, here's DH, my brother and his wife and I at Senor Frogs. Are we having fun yet? ;)

2007-05-09T20:42:00.000-04:00

I'm numb. And sick.

I'm sitting here trying so hard not to panic that I can't organize my thoughts. I couldn't even tell DD without crying. I've just been told that the company that I've worked for for most of my adult life has made it known that they are aiming to be pulling out of my city within the next four years or so. In fact the date they have stated will make me 5 months short of being able to go out with a pension. OMG.

To give you some background this company has been around in my city for over 100 years. We had almost 6,500 hourly workers (plus I don't know how many salaried) just three or four short years ago. This is the main industry in my area. My Dad worked here. There was a time I thought my kids would work here. My DD was working on getting the same trade as me (tool & die) to carry on the tradition. I've known that things are bad but I never believed it would get this bad. I've always believed that I'll retire with a pension from this company. And it's not just my company. I was told the other day that my ex's company (same industry) is talking about closing up here in two years if they don't get new product. He may or may not get to go with a pension; it will be close. Ten years ago we were the tool & die capital of the world; now we've got tool shops with for sale signs all over the place as the work is going to China. An entire industry is hemorrhaging here which means my trade will be useless.

I have such mixed feelings I don't know where to start. I feel guilty worrying so much about my own situation when I will likely have at least some options... perhaps even opportunities... if I look hard enough with an open mind, while there are others - young families - where both husband and wife will be out of work. My own brother is currently in the States where he now has to move in order to keep his job (different company, same industry). He's barely seen his wife in the last year as she's here trying to sell their house in a flooded market.

I know that I'll never find a job that pays what I'm earning now, or provide the benefits I currently get. I've been extremely fortunate to have what I've had. But I wonder if I'll be able to find something that will let me afford to stay in my house. Or if I'll have to sell it. I know it's only a house, and a modest one at that, but it's MY house and dammit I love this house and I've done all these renovations and finally made it my comfy little nest just the way I want it. And who the hell wants to start over pushing resumes at 50?! I can't stand the thought of going back to square one financially either. After my divorce I had to start from scratch again (of course the lawyers ended up with everything). I've worked really hard to build up some equity towards my retirement since then and now I'm going to have to start from scratch again?!

On the other hand I could sell the house and move in with DH. He'd be happy with that, and we've always talked about moving in together one day after we retire. I just wanted it to be in my house! lol And I've never been "supported" before in my life. I've always worked even when the kids were babies and frankly always been the bigger wage earner. I don't know how to be supported, as stupid as that sounds. I've always been able to do/buy/go where I want because I was the one paying for it. My independance is a huge part of who I am. No matter what I'll have to find work of some sort. And did I mention DH works in the same industry?

Maybe it won't come to any of that. Maybe we'll be able to convince the company to invest new product in our area. I know we're not going down without putting up a hell of a fight.

Then I think of this young lad living on the streets in Brazil and I feel really ashamed about all this bitching. I need to stop my whining and get a grip. I'll probably end up deleting this post.

2007-05-08T07:58:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make. While I was in Brazil I managed to get addicted to something. I can't seem to shake it, even though I've been home for a month now. Shoes!

Normally I wear three pairs of shoes. Tan leather basic shoes, black leather basic shoes or running shoes. That's it. That's my life. I do own other shoes, but for 95% of my life those are what I wear. Well. Let me just tell you that the women in Brazil wear GORGEOUS shoes! You sit at the airport or at the mall and watch them walk by. You don't see any scruffy runners or basic oxfords. High heels are the order of the day.

Annie introduced me to a chain of shoe stores in Brazil called Datelli. They are known for carrying beautiful leather shoes including larger sizes. Annie's DD is 5'12" (in her words) and so whenever one of them is down there (the DD's boyfriend is from Brazil) a Datelli outing is in the plans. Are these shoes not beautiful? And the red/tan purse; it just begged to come home with me!

Unfortunately that was only the beginning. Once I got home I did some more shoe and purse shopping. Somebody stop me 'cause I'm out of control! Anybody know of a good 12 step program?

Brazil - Part 5

2007-04-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

Day 6

March 21, 2007

A crazy hectic day. We spent the morning touring a steel mill where they produce steel pipe use in the natural gas and oil industry as well as for hydraulic cylinder bodies. It was extremely interesting for me, particularly since the environment was very similar to our own Ford Foundry. The Manager who gave us the tour said that I must work in medical when I told him about my experience in the foundry. His face fell when I told him what I do; there are no women working in this plant other than in management positions. We had some discussions about this but I’m not hopeful that things will change there any time soon.

After lunch we visited the October 7 school. This is their union education center like our Port Elgin. It is named the October 7 school in memory of a strike in 1963 where 33 workers were killed and 3,000 injured. I was impressed with the facilities and the programs offered. The problem is they had a very long power point presentation about their programs that once translated took over 2 ½ hours at the end of a long hot day. Needless to say we were struggling to look attentive and not offend our hosts while our insides were screaming.

Then it was back to the hotel for a quick shower and off to Rita’s for a home cooked meal. From my readings I had learned that Brazilians mainly entertain outside the home in restaurants, and that it is a great honour to be invited to the home for a meal. I made sure I shared that information with our delegation so that we would all appreciate the special status we were given here. And we had a blast! Rita cooked us a traditional Brazilian meal, and even though there were beans and rice the rice was better than any we’d had so far. Her son Tom joined us, and at 21 years old and an electrical student he was very charming and made his Mom proud. Tanja was trying to teach us Samba for tomorrow night, and it was hysterical! Let’s just say we had to translate “frog in a blender” to describe me and my lack of rhythm.

So a late night, got in about 12:30. Tomorrow we get to sleep in as we don’t have to leave until 9:30. :)

*****

Day 7

March 22, 2007

Holy Hannah, I’ve been here for a week already. And I still can’t speak Portugese. Ok, I can say hello, and thank you, and shoes, but other than that I’m stuck.

We spent our morning at a round table discussion with the Brazilian delegation. This was our chance to answer any unanswered questions on both sides. They presented us with a gift each of a brazilian woman statue that I will cherish. I can’t decide if it’s better displayed in my office or my home but I will absolutely cherish it no matter where I end up putting it. I can’t believe the close bonds we’ve made with these women despite the language barriers. There were tears shed and laughs laughed.

After lunch (I actually passed on the beans and rice and filled up on other side dishes) we attended a meeting of CUT (pronounced “coot”), the equivalent of our Labour Congress. We were under the impression that we were there to observe, but we were put on the spot when they asked us if we would like to present our issues to the group we couldn’t turn it down without being inappropriate. So our fearless leader Annie asked us who wanted to go first in a valiant effort to get one of us to take the heat. Unfortunately for her we all deferred to her status as “fearless leader” and her backback full of previous campaign pamphlets for display and her infinite knowledge of international issues (she’s been on a gazillion of these trips and the rest of us are all virgins) so Annie fell on her sword for us. And she did an amazing job, you’d never know that we had no idea that we would be expected to give a presentation. There’s a lesson here for me; study your materials as you never know when you’ll be called upon!

So with tonight being Samba night we headed back to the hotel but on foot. But this meant walking past many shops and you know what happens there. Yup; more retail therapy! But I did find an awesome little t-shirt to wear with my black capris and my new Skidoo yellow “hot mamasita” shoes. Got to the hotel with 45 minutes to get ready.

We had a great time at the Samba place, where we had a bite to eat and some drinks with several women from the delegation as well as some from the CUT. Rita showed up later with her son as a driver. Tanja and I were doing some mean Samba (ok, I think mine was “mean”, Tanja may not agree! LOL) Again lots of laughs and another late night. Not to mention that it’s now 1:15, I haven’t packed yet and I have to be packed and ready to go by 7am tomorrow. Good thing we’ve all agreed that whoever gets up first gives everyone else a wake up call! Lol

Brazil - Part 4

2007-04-30T12:53:00.000-04:00

Day 4

March 19, 2007

Today was a busy day. We started off meeting with the Brazilian delegation at the union hall, about a 45 minute drive away. We had meetings with the health and safety director and the women in the health and safety department. This is the area where most women are active.

This section is mainly for Jeff! Lol Their union structure is quite different. Not all workers are members of the union, but legislation makes it mandatory for a tax to be taken for dues that goes to the union and I think to the employer as well (tough working with interpreters sometimes). And all workers are represented in bargaining even if they don’t choose to join the union. Those that choose to join pay additional dues by choice and are subject to layoff and other forms of intimidation such as the threat of their wife/husband being fired or even police harassment. And not all workers are represented by the same union; you can have several different unions representing workers in the same workplace depending on their work category.

We toured the hall which includes their medical center with various doctors including gynecologists, a training classroom and a shop where they have lathes and other machinery for training members and their dependent children. After the meetings there we all went for lunch together where we had beans and rice (go figure! Lol) as well as squash, yellow potatoes (but they weren’t yams; at least I don’t thing they were) and beef strips.

After lunch we did a tour of one of the workplaces where they make electrical meters; like on the outside of your house. It was an interesting tour. They have a dentist on the premises to take care of all their dental needs at a reduced rate. And a meal program where their meals are provided at a subsidized cost of 50 cents to the worker. Of course these are ways for the company to keep wages low.

By the time we got out of there it was after 5:00 so we headed back to our hotel to freshen up and go for a walk (read shopping!) It was dark by this time and while waiting for a green light we noticed a bunch of the biggest cockroaches I’ve ever seen coming out of the sewer grate. I tried to take a picture for you much to everyone’s amusement and embarrassment but it didn’t turn out. There were also huge lineups for the city buses, yet everyone seemed to be waiting patiently and orderly. Then we came back to the hotel and ordered in a pizza (yum!) and had a couple of beers and discussed our day.

I included a couple of pics of the conditions here. It sure is a reality check to how blessed I am. The canal in the middle of the road is part of their sewer system; interesting stuff.

Now it’s back in my room for the night and off to bed shortly. Our morning session has been canceled but apparently there’s a protest at the legislature they want our presence at instead. That’s just a heads up in case someone needs to come up with bail! Lol

*****

Day 5

March 20, 2007

Another good day.

We started out going to the legislature to joint the protest. It turns out it wasn’t a protest after all but there was a session with the Commission of Labour and Social Issues (did I mention that working with translators isn’t foolproof?) A proposal had been put forward and they were hearing briefs about women’s issues. First they welcomed our Canadian delegation. Then there were the speakers. First up was a young rural woman who spoke very passionately. Several state ministers then spoke on the issues and they made space for us to speak. Annie was brilliant as she spoke on the issues that we have in common, on where we’ve made ground and where we’ve lost ground. She commended them for doing something we’ve never been able to do; elect a labour party to power (their president is from the labour party and I found out the other day he’s a tool & die maker like me; how cool is that?!)

After the session Minister Elisa Costa had asked to meet with all of us in her office. We had a roundtable discussion on women’s issues, what strategies have been used in both countries and the pros and cons of such. A very interesting and informative meeting.

Then we all headed out for lunch. You’ll never guess what we had! Ok, you guessed it. Rice and beans lol! I should mention that there is other food in addition to the rice and beans but it’s definitely the staple of their diet. They also tend to have their larger meal at lunchtime.

After lunch we went to a co-op which turned out to be a school run strictly by volunteers and donations. They teach such subjects as various crafts, languages, and vocational training like hairdressing, sales, telemarketing, mechanics, chambermaids and so on. The teachers volunteer their time and even donate money to keep up the rent on the building. The students pay no tuition but do have to supply their own materials. They put through about 6,000 students a month! They survive on donations; they receive no government subsidies whatsoever and say they prefer it that way.

At the end of the day we went for a little retail therapy. This is the one thing that always happens when you travel with women; hit the shops! The other women get a big kick out of watching me insist on my independence and not take an interpreter with me to get things I need. It’s amazing how creative you can get! Lol But there’s usually someone nearby to bail me out in a pinch if I can’t quite make myself understood.

We ate dinner in the mall. They have a food court but they have proper tables and chairs and you are served by a waiter with proper china plates and silverware as opposed to plastic and Styrofoam. And of course you can order beer, and Rosie (from the Brazilian delegation) bought us a round of caipirinha, the national drink. It’s made from cachaca (like grapa; about 1,000 proof), lime and sugar. It tastes like a really strong Marguirita. Yum! Lol

Then a cab ride home and here we are. Another early morning tomorrow; we start our day with another plant tour.

Brazil Trip - Part 3

2007-04-28T11:10:00.000-04:00

Continuing on with the Brazil saga. I've left all the pics in these posts full size so just click on any of them for a better look.

***

Day 2

March 17, 2007

This was our one free morning. After eating at the breakfast buffet (I had fresh papaya and a roll) we all headed off to the mall. The power went out for about 15 minutes, apparently this isn’t uncommon. After shopping for a couple of hours we found a restaurant for lunch. Darn if it didn’t have the Rosie the Riveter “we can do it” poster on the wall! Anyway I had the lunch special which is a very common dish here, rice and beans with beef strips. It was really good!

Then we were back to the hotel for a meeting with the Brazilian delegates here. It was a really good meeting with lots of information shared and questions asked and answered.

We wrapped up by about 6pm and then got ready to head to the airport. It’s not that far but with the traffic it can easily take hours.

Once again I couldn’t get wireless internet working. The Sao Paulo airport has wireless but you have to subscribe to it, and no matter how hard I tried it just wasn’t happening. But we did have a beer and some Pao de Queso, or cheese balls. They were a bit salty and just right with a beer.

We split up into two delegations, with Annie (who’s hobbling around on crutches with a broken ankle), Maria, Evelyn and I heading to Belo Horizonte and the others heading to Porto Alegre. My delegation finally arrived at our hotel in Belo Horizonte at 1am. By the time I got settled and things ready for the morning it was 2:30 and I couldn’t shut my mind off for anything, not to mention the noise of the partying in the streets, so it was a pretty much a sleepless night.

***

Day 3

March 18, 2007

I started off the morning taking some pics of my room. Trust me, this ain’t the Toronto Sheraton! Lol Although there is a bidet, I haven’t worked up the nerve to figure it out yet.

Today we went to Ouro Preto, a very pretty and very old city. It took an hour and a half to drive there through the mountains on very bumpy and twisty roads. The scenery was incredible! I tried taking some pics. We were met by a local delegation of women who came to spend their Sunday off work with us.

I guess local is a relative term; Claudia also has a broken foot and took a 3 hour bus trip each way to be with us. Holy Hannah. You look up “resilient” in the dictionary and you’ll see Claudia there. In the last six months this woman has had a miscarriage, got her breast caught in a punch press (where she was stuck for five minutes and required 32 stitches), had her house robbed (including her furniture and appliances) while she was away at the hospital, and been hit by a car (hence the broken foot) yet she is still as friendly and cheerful as anyone. These women were all incredibly warm and welcoming, and we did some sight-seeing together getting to know each other. There was an ancient church where one of the statues of a saint looked just like Michael Jackson (which of course I had to point out to everyone else lol). Unfortunately we weren't allowed to takes pics in there.

Then we had lunch at a restaurant in an old stone building that used to be housing for slaves. The meal wasn’t as good as the others we’ve had so far, with one of the dishes being basically a pork and bean dish but not in a good way. I’ll leave it at that for now.

After lunch we wanted to tour a local gold mine. It’s been closed for a very long time but was originally mined by slaves including children. This was a really good tour as the tour guide shared a lot of information about it. The mine wasn’t very big and I found myself getting quite claustrophobic. By the time we were done and heading back out we were all practically running, so I guess I’m not the only one on the verge of freaking out! Lol But if nothing else it really let you feel in a small way some of the conditions those people had to live with.

This guy gave me a big grin after I took his pic! Notice the broken glass embedded in the top of the cement wall? Anyway we stopped at a local soapstone carving shop, then headed back for the hour and a half drive “home”. Didn’t get back until 8:15, so we all headed to our rooms to clean up and meet for a 9pm dinner. Now it’s time to catch up on emails and head to bed. There was live music going on outside somewhere but I think it’s done now, hopefully for the night. I’ve got another early start tomorrow and it’s going to be a full day; it’s time to get to work.

Brazil Trip - Part 2

2007-04-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

Wow. I can actually use tags with the new Blogger! And so far today it's letting me post pics. So maybe I'm starting to feel a little less of the hate and a little more of the love for new Blogger.

Anyway, on with the story. In case it's not blatantly obvious I've never flown Business First Class before.

***

Ok, so first I get to Toronto Airport and find my way to the lounge. Julie is there but no one else. Apparently this lounge is only for people who are between flights; so we go find the new Maple Leaf Lounge where we are all supposed to meet.

Everything is complimentary, drinks (beer including Guiness), wine or cocktails and snacks.

Then we boarded the plane. I was served a glass of sparkling wine while everybody boarded. The seat is a recliner. There’s a gift bag in the seat with earplugs, lotions and SOCKS! This is to make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

So after we’re in the air I went to use the washroom (first time since Windsor ; I was bursting!) Well you know I just can’t fit in with this hoity toity lifestyle when I realize I’m trying to wash my hands with hand lotion; how was I to know which one was soap?! Then they bring around mixed nuts and drinks (I had wine) shortly followed by a hot wet cloth to wipe up with. This was unbelievable! The steward came around to see if I wanted more nuts but I didn’t want to fill up before my Arctic Char dinner.

Then they came around and brought linen tablecloths for our in-the-chair-arm trays to prepare for dinner. I can’t wait for this dinner because I’ve been smelling it since we first took off. Dinner itself I had a choice of a vegetarian salad or one with dried beef strips (I chose the beef), a choice of fresh rolls, a cheese plate, the main course of Arctic Char, mixed rice and bock choy, an a chocolate mousse type dessert. And of course they top up your wine while you’re eating. The other choices for dinner were a chicken dish or a pasta dish.

I chit chatted with the guy sitting next to me, a Brazilian man who was on a business trip for “Lever” so of course the conversation turned to soap! Lol

By the time we finished dinner it must have been 2am so I settled down with my pillow from home (I’m so glad I brought it!) and my blanket, stretched out and went to sleep.

I woke up around 6 and just relaxed and dozed off for another hour, then they started coming around with trays of various juices. For breakfast I chose the sundried tomato frattita over the plain omelet, and it came with a mixed fruit plate, a croissant and of course coffee and more juice. I passed on the cereal and the yogurt.

I spent the rest of the trip chatting, taking pics out the window and trying to remember something (anything!) from my Portugese language book. Why do I have such a mind block when it comes to languages?!

Anyway I had to give all this detail about the flight because I’m sure I’ll never fly business first class again; at least not if I´m paying for it! For the price of my ticket alone we could take two full cruises for two including all expenses!

We landed 11 hours after we took off, got through customs and got our luggage fairly quickly. The first thing you notice as you step off the plane is the humidity. There’s no doubt we’re in a tropical country. I couldn’t get any signal whatsoever on my cell phone (yes I changed the mode) so text messages are out, and the payphones only take phone cards. I changed over some money to the Brazilian “Riel” (approximately $2 Riel = $1 U.S.) Emilia and Rose (from the Metal Workers Union) met us with a small bus to get us to our hotel. All I can say is it’s a good thing none of us have to drive here, it’s CRAZY! The traffic is completely insane and then you have a lot of people driving small motorcycles who zip in and out of traffic. I did see one get “bumped” by a car when he cut the car off, I can’t believe I didn’t see anyone get killed. As we drove you could look in any direction and see skyscrapers as far as you could see. This is apparently the third largest city in the world with half of Canada’s population in this one city.

We passed by underpasses where it looked like garbage dumps, with people picking through it and possibly living there. According to my reading there is very little in the way of social services here, and there is extreme wealth contrasted with terrible poverty.

Of course there’s glitches at the hotel. First I can’t get the elevator to work, you need to use your room key to get it going (for security) I get to my room and can’t get the lights to work so I pee in the dark. Then it turns out my toilet won’t flush away the toilet paper; just doesn’t have the “woosh” needed. My air conditioner won’t work either. And of course I can’t get any of the local wireless internet connections to work. Now I’m REALLY frustrated because I need to let everyone know at home that we made it ok and all my plans of action are falling through. And of course no one speaks English here, and I’m not picking up any Brazilian. I’ve reverted to sign language; or maybe I should call it charades! Lol I finally use a local computer through the hotel and email home. I meet with Annie who tells me that you need to put your room card in a slot on the wall to turn on your power in the room. (and you need to remember the card is there or you’ll spend 10 minutes trying to find your room card so you can leave your room! Lol) She also shows me that my laptop can be run on either 110 or 220 with no problems. Being as you don’t always know what you’re going to get here that’s peace of mind for me. And yes, her toilet flushes the toilet paper away. So I head back to my room to change as I’m already late to meet up with everybody, and now my room key won’t let me in! I go get it reprogrammed and then I’m finally good to go.

We took cabs to a local restaurant to have something to eat and drink, but the cabs (both of them!) got lost on the two block trip to the restaurant. Yeah I know; go figure. It was pouring rain by the time we got there.

I tried a Brazilian beer called Antarctica Original and it’s quite good. We shared some beef and fish appetizers and then I had a tropical salad with a mustard dressing and fish on the side. Very tasty. And Marco the owner who bent over backwards to make us comfortable and welcome had an uncanny resemblance to a younger Kenny Lewenza. Then we had much debate about who wants to be the one to ask Kenny if he’s ever been to Brazil! LOL

We walked back to the hotel now that we knew where we had to go and as much as I wanted to write up the day I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and went to bed at 7:30. So here I am writing it at 3am instead! Now I’m heading down to the office center to see if I can email this off, then I should head back to bed to try and adjust to the local time.

The Start of the Brazil Installments

2007-04-28T10:17:00.000-04:00

Due to the overwhelming clamouring of requests (ok, one! lol) for feedback from the Brazil trip, I'm going to post the emails I sent home to family about the trip. Some of it will probably bore you to tears but hey; (one of) you asked for it! lol

*****

I'm here! Safe and sound. ~I~m also having trouble with this keyboard; it~s a bit of a different layout.

Anyway we made it here to the hotel safely, BTW it~s an 11 hour flight, not an 8 hour one like I originally thought.

I~m not able to get the wireless working on my laptop so far, and my cellphone won~t pick up a signal at all - which means no text messages. And the payphones need phone cards. Hopefully I~ll have better luck with the internet at least once we get to our next hotel in /belo Horizonte tomorrow night.

It~s hot and very humid. I need to go change now that someone finally let me know how to turn on the power in my room!

Love you all and miss you. I~ll write more soon.

Yawn.

2007-04-26T15:18:00.000-04:00

Does my blog look as old and boring to you as it does to me? It may be time to play with it a little. Now that "the craziness" (travel, exams; ok, exam) is behind me, maybe I can find some time to do something about that.

So I have to tell you about my new Ebay addiction. DD needed some new bedding and found some silky sheets on Ebay she wanted. I balked, there's no way I'm buying stuff from Ebay, especially sheets! So needless to say I went ahead and ordered them anyway, the price was excellent, and the sheets are beautiful. So then I decided I wanted to try a duvet cover instead of sheets and a comforter for my bed. I found some on Ebay much cheaper than the local stores so I went for it. Then I decided a nice feather duvet would be just the thing to stuff into that new duvet cover. You see how this happens? Anyway the sheets are 100% cotton and they've washed up to be the softest most lovely thing next to your skin. And the feather duvet is like sleeping under a cloud. I already have a featherbed underneath, so even Tabitha has given it her seal of approval.

And speaking of exam I think I did ok last night; once I got to write it that is. I had a union meeting and had a couple of hours to kill before the 7:30 exam. So I grabbed a burger and went to where the exam was being held and sat in my truck studying. At 7:00 I noticed not many people were still going inside, and just on a hunch I checked my calendar. The exam starts at 7:00! Where did I get 7:30 from? I've only known about the exam schedule for what; four months now? So I RAN inside and found myself in this huge room lined with desks and numbered aisles on signs up in the air. Let's not forget this is my very first ever university exam; and I am OLD! A woman asked me who my professor is and I was so nervous my mind went completely blank. I just sputtered and stared at her dumbly and she then asked "ok, what class are you in?" Nothing. Not a single credible thought found it's way into my head. I tried getting my palm pilot open because I knew I had written all important things - like row number for my exam - in there, and the woman must have realized that I was having coniptions, so she started guessing classes. But not the right one. Finally the screen came up on my palm pilot with my class written on it and with a big sigh of relief the woman said that I was in the row right in front of us.

Things are never as simple as they seem, are they? I went and sat down when one of the teacher's assistants came over and told me I have to sit in a spot with a paper in front of it. Turns out I'm sitting next to someone, and that's a no-no. Oh. Ok. So I got up and started walking towards the back looking for an empty spot. You know those dreams where you're walking down a long corridor and you can't see the end? That's what it felt like. I finally found an empty seat; in the very back row.

Well if you remember I'm late so the exam is already underway. I start to read the questions and quickly realize that there's stuff on this exam that I've never heard of. I double check to make sure it's for my class, and it is. Then I realize that there are no questions whatsoever about the notes I had copied from a classmate for the two weeks I was away in Brazil. Well being in university and all I was bright enough to figure it out; classmate gave me notes for the wrong class! Now you think I'd have figured it out before now with the topic and all, but it could have been for my class. It was talking about civilization and culture and stuff. Just not particularly about women. More about some native tribes around the world. Hmmm.

But I got it written with fifteen minutes to spare. And I think I did ok after all. Then I got to go home and crash in the new cottony feathery goodness that is my bed. Life can be good that way.

Yes, I'm still alive

2007-04-25T10:37:00.000-04:00

I haven't blogged in AGES. That's because a) I have a ton of stuff to talk about, b) I'm too overwhelmed to try and get it all into one post and c) no one would read a post that long anyway!

So let's see; since I last posted I did the cruise with my Honey and my brother and sister-in-law, then two weeks in Brazil for work, another business trip and a new Ebay addiction. Lot's going on! Unfortunately I have a final exam this evening that I'm doing a really good job of avoiding studying for. I don't know; for some reason I always seem to shoot myself in the foot around this type of thing. I've also managed to misplace some notes so I don't even have that much to study. Maybe if I "lose" the rest of my notes I won't have to study at all! Well, it was worth a shot.

Anyway I DID email home regularly about the Brazil trip, so maybe I'll post some of them to give you an idea of the trip. It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For now I've tried to post a couple of pics to give you something to look at, but Blogger is not my friend today. I guess I'll go do some studying. No, really!

A Charmed Life

2007-02-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

I really do feel like I live a charmed life at times. I'm not sure if that's because I'm someone who tries to focus on the positives and downplay the negatives, or if I'm just plain lucky, but I often find myself in good situations. Even if it's something bad or even awful, I always seem to find that proverbial silver lining.

I had an amazing weekend snowmobiling up north in the Gravenhurst area with a group of really great people. The company, the conditions and the food were all amazingly good! The only downside was that I was completely preoccupied with a job offer I had received Friday afternoon just before heading up there. This was completely out of the blue, and it was for a very prestigious position within an organization I work in. The downside was that I would have to relocate to Toronto, a 4 hour drive away. This decision wouldn't just affect me but also DD and DS. DD has just received her acceptance letter from our local college for the fall for the program she wants, not to mention she's been in a two year relationship with her boyfriend and wouldn't want to move away, and even though DS is living with his Dad this move would mean I'd barely see him. I initially turned it down, but I was told I was at the top of the list for consideration for this position, and based on my experience and training it would be a really good fit. So the "powers that be" asked me to take the weekend to think about it. And think about it I did.

I must have talked myself into it and out of it a dozen times while screaming down the trails on my snowmobile (the pretty burgundy one with my name and Wonder Woman sticker on the side of the windshield). It's amazing I didn't hit a tree or launch off a cliff the way I was so distracted. I went through every possible scenario; keep my house and get a small apartment in Toronto, put DD in a small apartment and get a house in Toronto, commute from DH's (2 hours each way every day; what the heck was I thinking there?!) and so on.

At the end of the day I decided that to take the position would indeed be very prestigious, but would also cost me my sanity, my family and my way of life. So I turned it down.

I decided not every opportunity is worth jumping on. I'm happy with my life where it is; I've just started at University, I love the job I'm currently doing, I love my house (DD was quick to remind me of the newly renovated kitchen), I love living in the city I'm in and I love the relationships I have with family and friends. It's too much to give up, and I feel really good about the decision I made.

And on a completely different topic this is where I'll be sipping on a nice cold Margarita in about 2 1/2 days along with DH, my brother and his wife. ;) I am truly blessed.

Body Image

2007-02-03T12:42:00.000-05:00

I've been reading Crazy Aunt Purl's recent posts about body image and size. Laurie's been sharing some really profound thoughts about how our size affects how we are treated and how we look at the world. Definitely worth reading.

This of course has made me reflect on my own experiences; not so much with size but with outward appearances. I've always had long curly hair and I can remember turning 30 and thinking I was "too old" for long hair. Not to mention that I was working in the foundry which would get to a gazillion degrees in the summertime and all the guys would shave their heads. So I cut my hair. Short. Now remember that I was working in a very large male dominated factory where we'd all wear grimey coveralls and workboots. When I cut my hair the reactions were amazing! I've always been the type of person who smiles and nods at people as I pass them in the aisleway. When I went to work with my new "short doo" the guys either walked right past without even seeing me or they'd come up to me and say something like "Oh no! What did you do that for?!" with a whiny voice and that disappointed look on their faces. They'd proceed to let me know how disappointed they were that I had cut my hair. Yes, MY hair; not theirs. I was dumbfounded! First at the fact that it made such a difference to them and second because they felt the need to share that with me and tell me what a mistake I had made. And I did feel like I'd made a mistake! I had no less that 20 guys tell me that the first day alone and it went on all week. I became invisible. Not just at work but out in the real world, going shopping or walking down the street. Men did not make eye contact with me. And it wasn't that I was looking to be hit on or anything like that. I was just used to men looking and smiling at me. I suppose that on some level it must have validated me.

Now here's what's even more amazing. I've always gotten along ok with the other women at work but with my job I only directly worked with men. I'd chat with the women in the locker room but that was about it. But once I had cut my hair the other women were much more friendly. I was complimented on my new look and it was like I had been given membership in a club. Women at work, women in stores, everywhere.

I did grow my hair back. For one because the short hair was actually hotter that the long hair when pulled into a ponytail. And two because it was my comfort zone; like a security blanket.

Now I've been going through this process again, only not so suddenly. With aging it's a gradual process so it's not always obvious at first when these changes are taking place. I don't spend a lot of "mirror time" and even when I do end up in front of one to brush my teeth or do my hair I'm always in a hurry so I don't dwell on the reflection there. But for the last number of years it's like I cut my hair all over again. It's not as drastic, as in the men that I know don't treat me any differently (maybe because they're getting old right along with me!) but I've become invisible to men that I don't know again. The difference is that this time I'm perfectly comfortable with that. It's almost a relief, like giving yourself permission to just be yourself. You know your value and your worth is no longer tied up in looking young and attractive, that you have value and worth far greater than something so fleeting as that. Other women are more into friendships as you get older; another valuable bonus. And the wonderful surprise of finding that younger women often actually value our experience and knowledge! No, I wouldn't want to turn the clock back for anything.

So what do you think; is 45 too old for long hair? ;)

Blech.

2007-01-31T08:57:00.000-05:00

I'm crabby. First Blogger isn't letting me upload pics again. And I've managed to come down with "that virus" that's going around. Sore throat and chest, constant cough, and being permanently surrounded by a pile of nasty Kleenexes. Blech! The guys in the office here are yelling at me to GO HOME! I may just do that. I'm supposed to be in a breast-cancer snowmobile run fundraiser this weekend. All I can say is I'm not looking forward to the inside of my helmet by the time it's done. :o

But I do have some interesting - even exciting - news to report. I got a phone call ther other day that an opening has come up to be part of an all women's delegation to go to BRAZIL! For two weeks! Now I do feel a little guilty about it, because the woman who dropped out happens to be a good friend of mine. Her mother has just been diagnosed with cancer of the brain, lungs and stomache. Apparently she's refusing treatment at this point and my friend obviously wants to be close to home to be with her Mom.

Of course after I agreed to go in her stead I started doing a little research. I have to admit I'm now a little nervous after reading some travel sites and coming up with the following tidbits: "Although not in every large city, but one of the unfortunate sides of travel in Brazil is the epidemic of violent street crime. Brazil's large cities, especially of the north, northeast and southeast states, are notorious for attacks (against foreigners and locals alike), but do not let that deter you. Taking extra precautions to keep yourself safe while travelling in Brazil will let you enjoy your stay like millions of visitors do every year.

Do not walk around big cities at night -- take taxis. On no account ever try to enter a slum ("favela") without a guide and do not walk down shadowy streets at night. If you cannot depend on a Brazilian friend or relative to be your guide, consult a travel book to learn which areas of the city to avoid and when, as well as other safety tips.

Use your hotel's safe for any valuables, or, better yet, don't bring to Brazil anything you don't really need. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, wearing expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, and carrying any unnecessary electronic gear, loose purses or bags. Try to stash some extra money in a hidden spot on your person -- such as a shoe or money belt -- to make sure you can get back to your hotel. Pay attention to the way the locals dress and buy similar clothes for yourself: looking like a foreigner (e.g. dark socks with bermudas) is not wise as thieves will be after you for your money if they instantly see you are a gringo.

Always carry a small amount of cash that you can hand over quickly in a case of a mugging. However, don't keep it somewhere easily seen such as in a men's shirt pocket, as that will greatly increase your risk. Under no circustances try to run away or resist. Do not carry "deterrence" weapons. Stay calm and comply with their demands, and you're unlikely to be hurt. Muggers will almost certainly outnumber and outsmart you, and "trying to be a hero" will achieve nothing apart from injury or death."

And this: "But if you are unlucky enough to be the victim of an assalto, a hold-up, try to remember that it's your possessions rather than you that's the target. Your money and anything you're carrying will be snatched, your watch will get pulled off your wrist, but within a couple of seconds it will be over. On no account resist: it isn't worth the risk. ".

Or this gem: "If you are robbed or held up, it's not necessarily a good idea to go to the police."

Oh my.

Another new toy!

2007-01-25T18:57:00.000-05:00

I am the QUEEN of geekdom; hands down! I love anything techie, and am always adding to my arsonal. So what's the latest and greatest? a GPS unit! OMG this thing is the coolest!

As soon as I turned it on it knew where I was, it's such a smart little bunny. And then I pushed the "Where to" button, pressed "gas" and all these gas stations in my neighbourhood popped up. All I had to do was click on one of them and it would take me there. Ok, I still had to drive the car but it would tell me where to go. In a nice way. Jill (that's what they call the American female "voice") says "turn left at Forest Glade Drive" or whatever. I could also have the Australian bloke Lee or British Emily but I decided I'm not having a man's voice telling me where to go and what to do, and besides; Jill and I have been building a rapor; we keep going for rides just to play. And if you click on the pic you'll notice my little icon is a monster truck. How cool is that! For any other geeks out there it's a Garmin Nuvi 350.

I should also mention that Jill saved my butt today not once but TWICE. I had to go to the funeral of a co-worker's 19yo son (yes, it was very sad) and I got lost. So I punched in "community", then "places of worship", and the church I was looking for but driving in the opposite direction from came up. Jill got me turned around and "to the church on time". Then I had to do it again when a bunch of us agreed to meet at a restaurant after the service but I didn't know how to get there from where we were.

And on a whole other topic, have I mentioned that I'm LOVING my night classes? More geekishness coming through. I'm actually studying and reading my notes and all those things I refused to do way back when in high school (which kind of explains why it's taken me 45 years to get to university in the first place).

And here's the sock that's been in my bag since before Christmas. I know, it's boring as hell, that's why I haven't been puting any pics up about it. So not to bore you to badly it's posing with the glass of wine that got me stupid enough drunk enough motivated to go out in the freezing cold in my pajamas to take pics of the GPS out in the truck. And isn't that the coolest splash screen I put on it? (click on the pic so you can see it)

Not a TOTAL write off, but...

2007-01-19T13:57:00.000-05:00

Well my first ever knitting group meeting was (almost) a bust. It was supposed to meet from 6:30-8:00, I had emailed that I would be about an hour late and heard back that that wouldn't be a problem. Well I got there about 7ish and there was NO-ONE knitting in this coffee shop.

I approached a table of women (because they were the only table of more than two people) and asked if they were the knitting group. Yes, it was a long-shot, it's not like anyone was knitting or anything yarn-related. Although there was a knit hat on top of someone's purse on the table. Anyway they looked at me like I had three heads when I asked, so I figured they needed clarification; "you know, a bunch of women with pointy sticks". Well that didn't turn them into my knitting group or anything so I skulked away.

But I figured I was there anyway, maybe everyone else is just late. So I grabbed a coffee and a seat on a couch and pulled out the knitting. You know, as a flag to any fellow knitter that may come in. I left the Mother's Day mug in my bag, as I figured it might just get me thrown out sitting there knitting with attitude all by myself and all. Then a group of university-looking young women with books came in so I figured they were the group, but they walked on by to another table. I overheard the owner ask them if they were here for the knitting group to which one loudly responded "KNITTING! That sounds WAY to feminist for me!" Somehow I've never thought that a craft that I have enjoyed since I was in grade 2 would be considered "too feminist"; go figure! And what the heck is wrong with this generation that thinks "feminist" is a dirty word, like believing in equal opportunities for women is somehow bad?

Anyway about 45 minutes later I was just thinking about leaving when a woman approached me to see if I was with the knitting group. Woohoo! A fellow knitter after all! I asked if she had brought her knitting, and when she said she had I was so happy I yelled out "well whip it out Sister!" LOL

So Lisa and I had a great time getting to know each other. She's about my age give-or-take and is studying to be a midwife; how cool is that? And I got an inch or two done on my sock. So the night wasn't a total write off after all. And Lisa loved my mug!

2007-01-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

I think I mentioned in the last post how much I'm enjoying my class at the University. Well because I'm in the Women's Studies program I received an email the other day for... wait for it... Take Back the Knit! lol What can I say? I thought that was very clever, being this is the same group of women who organizes the local Take Back the Night and all.

Anyway I've decided to go. It's tonight and even though I have a class I can catch the last hour or so. But I'm thinking that seeing as it's at a coffeeshop, and there's going to be knitting, and it's with a bunch of feminists who call knitting a political act, what better public debut to break out the Mother's Day Mug! Yeah, I'm thinking bringing your own mug would definitely be the environmentally correct thing to do here. ;)

2007-01-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

Has it really been over three weeks since I've posted? Holy Hannah.

So what have I been up to? Well I've survived another holiday season. Even managed to get most of the decorations down yesterday! lol I've gotten back into the workout routine. I've planned two more trips and booked one. And I had my first University class last night. Lots to talk about!

I started right into it January 2. I was going to start January 1 but then I hooked up with my sister-in-law and the next thing you know the Bloody Ceasars were flowing and that shot THAT plan right out the window. Just as a point of information; Bloody Ceasars are absolutely delicious with a dill pickle instead of celery as a garnish.

So I've been following a 1300 calorie a day diet with a 40/40/20 split (protein/carbs/fats). Then weight training MWF and cardio TThS with Sunday to recouperate. And have a glass of wine. 'Cause six days is long enough in any week to behave! lol

This is all good because I've got to build some strength for snowmobiling, one of the newly scheduled trips. We're going to do the RAP tour, with is the ride around Algonquin Park. This is a 900km trip backpacking on the snowmobiles. It's usually done in 3 or 4 days depending on how hard you want to push it. We're also supposed to be doing the Kelly Shire Run, a breast-cancer fundraising ride of all women (DH volunteers to help the less-skilled riders).

Then we're off on a Caribbean cruise to warm up after all that snowmobiling! lol We actually booked this last spring and it's finally here. We're going with my brother and his wife (she of the Ceasars) so we'll have a blast!

And the other new trip is I'm going to England this summer with my Mom. She asked me to go with her when she came back from there last summer and I've been able to swing it. This will be my first time back in almost 30 years. I moved here to Canada when I was only three and have only been back once when I was 16, so I'll have an entirely different perspective when I go this time. It will be mainly visiting relatives and such as opposed to sightseeing but it's all good.

And lastly, SCHOOL! OMG I'm loving it! I went to the orientation last week and felt like such a geek; the librarian was talking about the library - 4 stories in one building and 3 in another - and I couldn't wait to check it out. So I did! I actually went on Saturday just to tour it. And I learned so much, not the least of which is that the parking meters on the street need to be fed on Saturdays and you'll get a $15 ticket if you don't. But class last night was great. I love the subject matter and I think I'll do ok. I'm not nearly so nervous now!

So that's what's been going on. Now that I've bored you to death maybe I'll actually have some pics next time. I really wish I'd have taken some pics of those Ceasars; yum!

I Hate the Movies!

2006-12-19T15:14:00.000-05:00

I love movies on tv. I hate movies that you have to take out a second mortgage to go see; especially when they're crap!

I was just reading Laurie's post about the movie "Holiday". I have to say that I'm really glad she wrote this because she's just saved me $9.95. 'Cause if you're anything like me and all (that would be "cheap bastard") you can't stand spending good money (or valuable time) going to see crap.

And why does this happen? It seems like there's way more movies being put out today than when I was growing up, but it's just more crap. I think we need someone to start a women's site - like a female Siskel and Ebert (or whoever it is these days) to give us the heads up. I really don't mind coughing up the cash if I enjoy the movie, but that seems to happen less and less these days.

I can remember about ten years ago when the "Pokemon" movie first came out. DS, being 6 years old at the time, was dying to see it. Problem was he kept getting mad at my partner for snoring throughout the movie. Fact is it was me.

Then about a year ago I again took DS to a movie that was so bad I can't even remember the name of it. I kept waking up to an elbow in my side with DS hissing at me "Mom! You're snoring!" At least if I'm watching it at home I can rerun it after I wake up when I've inevitably fallen asleep on the couch fifteen minutes into it.

So wouldn't it be nice if the movie industry started focusing on quality instead of quantity. Because in the immortal words of Ouiser Boudreaux in "Steel Magnolias", "Hell; I can sleep at home for free!" Now THAT was a movie!

A Done Deal.

2006-12-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! I got the "congratulations" letter over the weekend - couriered by Expresspost no less - from the University. I'm a little excited but also a lot nervous! I'm not as worried about the course content as I am about the proceedures. You know, how things are supposed to be written out, in what format, blah blah blah. I can have all the right information but it doesn't matter if it's not done in the right way.

So I've been getting advice from a few people and apparently there's books written on this and even courses out there. You see why I'm intimidated? If they actually have to write a book about it or hold a course... sheesh! The school has a 4 hour orientation coming up and I think I'd better be there.

Otherwise I'm almost ready for the holidays. Just a few last minute gifts to buy. DD helped out a lot this year by doing the house decorating. It looks better than it ever did with me doing it.

This is the tree she and her boyfriend decorated, complete with baby's breath and some other vegetation she spray painted gold. Or copper. Whatever. And since she'd not only done her shopping but actually got everything wrapped we've got presents under there. I've decided she's never allowed to move out; she makes me look good! lol

On the other hand this is how I prefer to decorate. Step one: grab fiber optic tree that requires no decorating from crawlspace. Step two: plunk said tree on table. Step three: mix a cocktail, sit back and admire tree.

So what else is going on? Well I've finally got my appointment this afternoon with the rheumotologist about my rheumotoid arthritis. I've been on a waiting list for about 9 months now so it's good to get in. Hopefully I'll get on some decent meds to keep me mobile. Knitting is so much easier when your fingers bend!

Onward and upward...

2006-12-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

I was complaining whining speculating about the changes in my life in a recent post, and I've decided to take some action on it. I might be right out of my mind but I have an appt Monday with a dept head at our local university.

Now you have to realize that I graduated from high school in (gulp) 1979. In my early 20's I did a 4 year apprenticeship as a Tool & Die Maker and haven't been to school since other than the occasional night school class.

But the kids are pretty much grown, DD is 18 and just bought her first car and is working part time while going to school full time and really doesn't need me much anymore. (I guess I'd better learn not to make run-on sentences if I want to go to uni!) DS is living with Dad at the moment. So there's really no reason for me not to.

I work full time so I'm going to apply as a part time undergrad, and I'm thinking of just taking one course per semester to begin until I see how it goes. I want it to enhance my life, not take it over. And I'm choosing a program that interests me very much; Women's Studies; which also relates to my job as a Women's Advocate in the workplace. Many of the courses run in the later afternoon or early evening hours, so it should be do-able along with my full time work. I'll be eligible to retire with a full pension from my current job at 52 (that's only 7 years away) and while I'll likely stay if I'm still enjoying it it would be nice to have options.

Has anyone else done this? It'll probably take me at least 10 years to get a BA, but I'm thinking it might be a good example to set for the kids. On the other hand I had to ask about what a grad student is, what's an undergrad, I have no clue about anything university related, or what to expect!

So am I nuts? I need to go breath now.

Shopping, Knitting and Kitties

2006-11-27T16:43:00.000-05:00

But first a pic of pure contentment; knitting with my back to the fireplace with my feet up and a kitty lapwarmer. You'll notice I picked the shot that blurred out the feet that are in desparate need of a pedicure.

I booked the day off work today to start on the Christmas shopping, and can you believe it I'm almost done! Here we are not even December yet and I've got just a few small gifts left to buy. This has never before happened in my unorganized life, and I venture to say it will never happen again, but I'm just going to gloat in the glory of shopping-done. Of course I'll still be in a panic on Christmas Eve as I remember someone that I totally forgot to buy for, but then it wouldn't be Christmas otherwise, would it?

Here I've finished the Vogue Knitting Lacy Shawl and it's on the blocking board. I don't usually bother to block but the lace just wasn't showing otherwise. I also wasn't sure of what would be the best way to block since being the cheap bastard that I am I made it out of an unlabeled yarn I bought (I think the shawl cost me $6.42) but just wetting it and stretching and pinning it on the board seemed to do the trick.

Tabitha says "thanks for the shawl Mom!"

2006-11-25T11:25:00.000-05:00

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

The Colour Purple

2006-11-22T17:04:00.000-05:00

Dark Purple

To others, you seem a bit dark, mysterious, and moody.
In truth, you are just a very unique person who doesn't care what others think.
And you really enjoy your offbeat interests and friends.
You've decided that life is about living for yourself - simple as that.

What Color Purple Are You?

I don't know where it came from but I've had a surge of ambition and I've been wrapping up old WIP's. First up is the fleece blanket. I had the scathingly brilliant idea of sewing the two layers together and then doing a blanket stitch around the edges. This turned out to be much harder than I thought because you're sewing yarn through 4 layers of fleece (two sides plus the seam allowances inside). I had to use plyers to pull the needle through for each and every stitch. I had three sides done and then it's sat languishing for the last three years. I then did three others for gifts with just a sewing machine topstitch edge, but the original blanket stitched one never got finished. So that got done this week. Woohoo! And if you didn't guess it that's my favourite knitting spot; I fire up the fireplace, aim the chair at the tv, put my feet up on the footstool and just have at it. My best knitting comes from here; I'm less likely to nod off than if I'm on the couch! lol

And I'm still working on the Vogue Knitting Lacey Shawl (that's it draped over the back of the chair). I figure one or two more evenings knitting and I'll be able to get it blocked. And Tabitha says the fleece blanket is the bestest softest lap blanket ever for those chilly evenings; nevermind the Navajo pillow she has on the floor.

So I'm getting ready to get ready for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm starting with lists, as anyone who knows me knows that I do nothing without a list or three, usually along with diagrams and graphs. But this is great news because I usually leave the planning to the last minute because I don't know where to start. And while it all comes together in the end it's not without major stress. So I'm thinking about stocking stuffers, which made me think of stockings. I'd like to make new ones for everyone this year, but I know I'll never be able to knit six stockings before Christmas. Maybe if I sew them? Maybe I can find a nice quilted Christmasy fabric and zip something up on the serger! That's the ticket. Feel free to post any ideas or links you may have. What do you do for stockings?

Of Daughters and Granddaughters...

2006-11-16T09:29:00.000-05:00

DD bought her very first car last weekend. Doesn't she look proud? As well she should. When she was working at that apprenticeship job in grades 11/12 she saved almost every dollar she made. So she's now the proud owner of this '97 Pontiac Sunfire. And with this comes freedom for both of us; she gets to do her own running around, I get to NOT have to drive her everywhere and as a bonus I can send her to the store or for takeout until the novelty wears off! ;)

She also landed an after-school job this week so she'll be able to pay for her gas and insurance. I tell you, this girl rocks!

And this interesting little character watching her Mom get her pics taken is my new granddaughter. Ok, I know it's a doll, but still. DD had this computerized doll for the weekend as part of her parenting course at school. The doll cries and you have a minute to respond by putting a key in it's back and holding it for 20 seconds or so. If you don't respond in time you fail the project because it's recorded as neglect. Shake the baby? Neglect. Lean it too far forward as I keep doing holding it over my shoulder to pat it's back? It cries.

Now DD figured she'd ask for the collicky baby in order to earn bonus marks. Well this baby cried every 9 minutes! I thought that maybe there's an internal clock and it did that during the day but would sleep for an hour or two at night, but apparently this doll is not that sophisticated. It cried every 9 minutes around the clock, and sometimes even after 6 or 7 minutes.

Now to keep the kids honest so they don't unload baby on their parents for the weekend the key is strapped to their wrist with a hospital bracelet so that they can't ditch the doll and run. Well by the second night and knowing DD had had no sleep whatsoever I did what any grandmother would do; I got up at 3am, pulled up a chair next to where she was laying on the couch, put the doll and DD's arm with the key on my lap and told her to sleep for a few hours. That way I could jam the key in the dolls back as necessary and DD could doze off for awhile. I did it again on the third night. Needless to say NO-ONE in the house got any sleep last weekend.

So come Monday morning, DD goes to school and goes to turn the doll in. And what did the teacher say? "Oh, you weren't supposed to get that one; that's the one that's mother was hooked on heroin. I'd better put it away so no-one else gets it..." They gave us a crack baby by mistake! lol

Well DD and her boyfriend have agreed that they are no way ready for a real baby just yet, and I know I'm no way near ready to be a grandmother. Whew! And when the teacher checked the doll there was no neglect recorded at all. DD managed to care for this crack baby all weekend without missing a beat. All I can say is she'd better get a mittful of bonus marks!

In knitting news I've actually been doing some. I've picked up an old WIP, the Vogue Knitting Lacey Shawl. I found the missing yarn for it so I'll actually have enough to finish this project. Hey, I had to do something while babysitting the devil-doll!

It's Crocker. Betty Crocker.

2006-10-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

It's my birthday this week and I've got some really cool gifts! DD got me this jalapeno pepper spoon rest; does it get any cooler than that?! It looks so good in my kitchen you'd almost think I picked it out myself! Well, ok, I did drop a hint or two. Ok, I told her that I saw it and I loved it and it's at Home Outfitters so please buy it for me.

Then DH got me the breadmaker I've been wanting. That's because I swear I'm not like everybody else with a breadmaker who never uses it anymore. I'll be different; I know I will! Just like the sandwich maker. And the waffle maker. Oh wait, I haven't used them in a very long time, have I?

But I did test drive the bread machine already. First I made a recipe from the book that came with it. It's a garlic and herb loaf with sunflower seeds. So there I was counting out the cups of flour; one cup, two cups, what's that Honey? Really? Two cups, three cups, ...

Next thing you know the dough hooks aren't turning anymore and the machine is making some pretty nasty noises. Maybe that's how it's supposed to sound? I don't know, it's the first time I've used one. But no, turns out I've added an extra cup of flour and the machine had ground to a stop because the dough is too thick to knead. It was the smell of burning electrics that finally convinced me I'd done something wrong.

Now most people would have tossed the batch in the garbage at this point. But not me. Being the cheap bastard that I am there was no way I was going to give up that easily! So I took out the dough and added some water and kneaded by hand. I pulled out an old cookbook and followed the instuctions for a similar recipe using the oven and three hours later I had two big loaves of garlic and herb bread with sunflower seeds! I know, I can't believe it myself!

And then to make sure I hadn't done any permanent damage to the bread machine I made up a batch of another recipe, just a plain white bread. It's on the right in the pic, and I don't think I've ever tasted bread this good. Then I made homemade pasta with matriciana sauce to go with it for dinner. I even wore my cool apron with the flames on it.

And DH also got me a whole new screwdriver set and a seasonal trail permit for my snowmobile. Now how many girls can say that?! I love birthdays!

Swim, anyone?

2006-10-21T07:13:00.000-04:00

I've been just a little distracted with the kitchen job and all to take care of the outside stuff. Yes, that's snow falling into my still-open pool. While most people have their pools closed by Labour Day or shortly after in my neck of the woods mine got closed the day after this pic. Mind you we don't usually see snow in the middle of October. DH is all excited though, he was at the snowmobile show yesterday and spent a whack of money; he's a happy camper today! Never mind that there won't likely be "rideable" amounts of snow until after New Year's...

And speaking of the new kitchen I came home the other day to wonderful smells, DD had a banana bread baking in the oven! Do you think the fact that I had bought all the ingredients and left the cookbook open on the counter to the right page had anything to do with it? lol

Tada!

2006-10-21T06:19:00.000-04:00

And now, folks, the moment I know you've all been waiting for; the new kitchen! It's not 100% done yet but I just have to get some pics up. If you click on the pics you'll get a size you can actually see. ;) They were taken over a week ago but it's taken me this long to clear a path to the computer as I slowly try to get the house back in order. Did I mention I'm remodeling my bathroom at the same time? My sanity has already been brought into question, you're not the first!
Just ignore that big hole in the base; the new dishwasher is being installed this morning. That's not "new dishwasher" as in I wanted to buy new appliances, that's "new dishwasher" as in the 2 year old portable one I have is 1/2" too tall to convert to a built-in and we didn't find that out until zero hour. All I can say is it's a good thing my bank gives me more credit than I can afford!
I've got lights under the cabinets and inside the glass doors at the end. I love my new sink and taps; I don't even mind washing dishes by hand, although I'm sure the novelty will wear off!
And this is the new appliance garage. I needed a spot to keep the gazillian appliances I have and you don't use them if you have to dig to the back of a cupboard for them. There's still some small stuff to be done, the handles are on the cupboards now but I haven't taken fresh pics, and there's still molding to go up in some spots, but all in all I'm a happy camper with it all. Tearing out the bulkheads so that I can have the cupboards go to the ceiling was a scathingly brilliant idea my contractor had. With a small kitchen I need all the cupboard space I can get. And that's DD's birthday cake on the counter; Happy 18th Birthday Sweetheart!

As Life Evolves...

2006-09-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

I was reading a post from Sauntering Soul about some life changes she's been going through and it's inspired me to post about some things in my own life I've been wrestling with.

Our lives are not static; they change and evolve as some things become less of a priority and other things become more important. This is always a hard concept for me to grasp, as I HATE change. Even if I'm not in a good situation I find it hard to make a break. Better "the Devil you know" so to speak. Probably one of the reasons I found it so hard to leave my troubled marriage so many years ago until it was made indisputably clear to me that my and my children's lives were at risk if I stayed. And yet being the diplomat that I am I have a perfectly good relationship with my ex-husband as we try to co-parent our teens today.

I've lived the last 18 years of my life with my children as my main priority. It hasn't been easy, especially since so many of the choices I've made haven't been the "traditional" ones, yet they were made with my kids' best interests at heart. Such as being a working Mom as opposed to a stay at home Mom; I could never have provided a nice home, full benefits and been a strong role model if I had given up that part of myself that needed to be self-sufficient. And all the endless after-work meetings I've done as a union activist have not only brought me to where I am today with a job representing other workers but it's been able to help me show my kids by my actions as well as my words about caring for others and doing what's right for your community. There are those that think I've been a "bad Mom" for taking the time to be as involved in my union as I have, but I know I would never have been able to be all the things I've been for my kids without that work.

So I feel that I'm at kind of a crossroads. There's been a lot of turmoil to say the least in my life lately. My son is making some really bad choices in his life and while I've made it clear that I love him no matter what and I'm here for him when he's ready to get back on track he's made it clear he's not ready to do that yet. My daughter is going to be 18 in just over a week and is going to need my daily involvement less and less. And yet this has been my main focus for 18 years. Where does that leave me?

Then there's my job that's my other main identification of myself. I've always been proud to be a Tradeswoman, the first one at one of the three major domestic auto manufacturers. After 23 years my workplace is still very male dominated but now instead of putting on coveralls every day and wrenching on machines I represent women and minorities in harassment and discrimination situations, and I'm the Women's Advocate for helping women in difficult personal situations such as violent relationships or substance abuse. I get a great deal of satisfaction in helping people resolve these situations, and quite frankly I think I've gotten pretty good at it. Not that all my "customers" are satisfied mind you but I'm nothing if not thorough.

So anyone that follows the news will know that the company I work for is in a great deal of turmoil and we are loosing about half our workforce through plant closures in my city; we've gone from a union membership of over 6,000 members a few years ago to what will likely balance out at about 2,500. It has effected me already by cutting back my hours but more importantly by seeing so many good friends who will be out of work. At this point none of us know who will be "safe", and even though I've been there for 23 years I don't feel "safe".

So there's the crossroads. My two main identifiers, being a Mom and also my job, are both possibly being "phased out". My identity is being erased. What's a girl to do?

Well as far as the kids go, I am transitioning from "Mom" to "mentor". I need to work on my social life. Because I've spent so much time at union meetings and such I've let the social life slide so that I can be there for the kids. It's time I do something about that. I don't know where I'm going to start, but recognition is the first step, right? ;)

As for the job, Mom says I should take the buyout being offered and go back to school. She feels I'd make a great consultant if I had some initials after my name. While I agree with her in concept, I'm not ready to take a buyout. If I can hang in there and the company can hang in there for seven more years I will retire with a full pension. If I take a buyout now I'll have to wait twenty-one years to get any kind of pension. So if I were to start taking some courses now then when I'm eligible I could retire and do something else.

As I said earlier, I don't do well with change. But sometimes change comes steamrolling down the road whether you're ready or not. It's time to stop coasting and put this truck in gear.

2006-09-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

I finally took my Boston kitty in to be euthanized on Friday. It was a tough day knowing what i had to do later but he has been suffering for quite some time now.

Now Boston HATES going to the vets. He freaks out, and as soon as we're in the examination room he jumps down and hides under the bench until the vet comes in; then he cowers on the table until the visit is over.

Well on Friday he was completely calm and purring up a storm. He gave both me and my partner a cuddle (he's not usually a cuddler) and he lay contentedly on the table purring like crazy while we petted him waiting for the vet to come in. He calmly let her shave a patch off his front paw and didn't even flinch when she put the needle in. He didn't stop purring until she started the injection. I was holding his head while scratching behind his ears as he slipped away.

Do you think he knew? I know he made the whole aweful experience a lot easier for me. Farewell sweet kitty.

2006-09-05T17:45:00.000-04:00

Well it's been a whole month since I've posted. I'm not very good about posting bad stuff and frankly that's about all I've been dealing with around here.

Boston is still with us though. After I took him off his meds he cheered right up. He's still wheezing like a chain smoker, his fur is coming out in clumps and he's leaving presents out of both ends for me to find in my socks but he's happy, dammit! This is his favourite time of year, when the evenings are cool and he can hang out in the backyard. He doesn't want to come in when I go to get him, he's too busy doing the rolling on his back thing on the concrete. Or sitting on the cushions on the wicker loveseat out there surveying his domain. So I'm taking it day by day. When I don't see him getting enjoyment out of life anymore I'm going to have to call it a day.

And no, my kitchen isn't coming along thank you very much. The contractors were supposed to come two weeks ago but the new cupboards weren't ready yet. So I'm sitting amid a pile of boxes no matter which room I'm in as I ponder how I'm going to pay for this new kitchen that has yet to arrive. You see I found out about three days after I signed the contracts for the renovation that several different circumstances came together in a way I could never have foreseen in a perfect storm kind of way that has cut my income in half. Actually, it's a good thing I'm getting the kitchen done after all. Seeing as I'll be spending so much time there and not in restaurants anymore! lol

And then there's DS. He's lost his way and is on a collision course with disaster. There's not a damn thing I can do about it but try to keep the lines of communication open. Even though he's not living with me at the moment he did come and spend a night this weekend. And for a little while I knew where he was, that he was safe, and fed, and content, and all was well with my world. Just be here for me when I have to go pick up all the pieces, will ya?

It's Twilight Time...

2006-08-04T20:19:00.000-04:00

I just got home from the vet's with my two kitties. Tabitha got her annual shots and checkup, but Boston is quite ill and the vet and I discussed his future; she said I seriously need to think about putting him down.

He's on thyroid meds and heart meds. He is not responding well to the thyroid meds (he gets vomiting and diarhea) and he has a heart murmer and an enlarged heart. His breathing is terrible; he's literally gasping for air all the time, wheezing and his insides are all gurgling from his heart to his lungs to his digestive tract. His body is not oxiginated enough, and he keeps loosing weight. I knew this was coming, I just wasn't sure how far to let it go.

I give my vet credit; she discussed with me how his quality of life is not very good right now and it's not getting any better. So she gave him an injection of the meds to get him through the weekend and I'll probably take him in one day next week. As I told DS who was with me it's not like we didn't know it was coming, but it's always difficult.

I'm grateful my vet was so honest and up front with me. She only said what I had been thinking but you feel guilty saying it. I have a sister-in-law who works at a vet's and she's always into trying super-human treatments regardless of the cost, financially or emotionally. There come's a time when you have to realize... it's time.

: (

Public Service Announcement

2006-07-19T21:41:00.000-04:00

I'm a little embarassed to be posting this but I consider it a public service announcement; keep a fire extinguisher near your bbq.

I was bbqing ribs on the weekend following a recipe from a bbq book. It had you put a pan under the grill to keep liquid in and for the drippings to go into. The liquid ended up running dry so I refilled it, but I didn't notice when it ran dry the second time. The drippings that were in the pan then caught fire and the whole Binford 9000 was up in flames! I pulled the pieces of ribs off with Mom trying to blow out the flames as I went (yeah, we're a real Laurel and Hardy team here), then I slowly poured water into the edge of the pan which put out the pan fire (please don't spray water on a grease fire!).

So then I had a huge mess to clean up out there. I'm just so greatful I didn't burn down my house! :o The Binford survived it's ordeal (would that be "trial by fire"?). So off I went to Canadian Tire the next morning toot suite (yeah, I know, my French is awesome) to buy a fire extinguisher; and I bought another one for the kitchen while I was at it.

But speaking of kitchens, I'm getting a new one! Really! As in new cupboards, countertop, sink, floor, you name it it's being replaced. Well not the appliances. But still. I've been wanting to do this since I moved in 5 years ago but the thought of doing it was overwhelming. Not to mention that I'd probably be out of a kitchen for at least six months if I did it myself. Well with the ol' arthritis raising hell I figured that's a good enough excuse to hire it out and let someone else do it. And the best thing is it'll be done in about a week! Ok, not this week. Or next week. But a week nonetheless.

Now I've been racking my brains and my Mom's brains and my friends' brains to come up with ideas to rearrange my disfunctional kitchen, and even allowing for tearing down walls there was no realistic solution in sight. Yet this fella who does it for a living was in my kitchen for all of 15 minutes when he had a new layout done up that's quite frankly scathingly brilliant, not to mention it uses the existing walls. For that alone he's worth the money!

That's my ginormous fridge on the right that blocks the working area from the seating area. Someone always needs to get into said fridge just as soon as I'm in the middle of some daring feat of cookery over there, which sets me off like the crazywoman I am with hair frizzing out in all directions screaming "get out of my kitchen!" while waving sharp instruments of torture. But no more; that fridge is taking over the dishwasher's spot where there will be open access in front of it and no one will be in my way as I, with smooth hair and fresh lipstick, invite them to help themselves to a cool drink while I whip up some gastronomical delight. And that dishwasher is moving over by the front window so I no longer have to close it 7 or 8 thousand times during the process of stacking or emptying it as I won't need to move from one side of it to the other any more. And the microwave is going to make nicey nicey with the overhead fan to clear more countertop area. Did I tell you this guy is brilliant?

And not that I'm one prone to excess, but say goodbye to the kettle and the compost pail as I'm also getting a hot water dispenser and a garburator (or food waste disposal for my American friends). There'll be a ceramic tile floor in the kitchen and I'm replacing the tile in the hallway to match, a new front door, a ceramic tile floor in the bathroom and a partridge in a pear tree.

I'm just at that point where if I don't do it now I'll never do it. Besides, someone's got to keep the economy going, doncha think? Who cares if the most to come out of that kitchen for the next few years is gonna be Kraft Mac n Cheese?

Lazy Days of Summer

2006-07-11T16:09:00.000-04:00

Still no knitting news; sorry! The rheumatoid arthritis is kicking in as bad as when I was first diagnosed 17 years ago. Which means very little mobility in my hands and what movement I can make is painful. Not a good recipe for recreational knitting. I did get myself on the waiting list for a rheumatologist in London; hopefully I'll have an appointment within the next couple of months. The one (and only one) in Windsor is booking for next year so I'm hoping to get in sooner by driving to London for treatment. I usually try not to be a whiner and accept that there are waiting lists and stuff, but the problem is that once the damage is done it's irreversable; the key is to get good meds and fast. Unfortunately the family doctor I have now is reluctant to prescribe anything strong. I can't bend my wrists because of the damage done before I got on "good" meds the first time round. Now it's going after my... (what do you call those things?) where my fingers join my hands. (Are they knuckles?) Anyway I haven't done any knitting.

Stress is always a big factor in my flareups, and DS has been doing more than his share in that department lately. I don't like to talk about it on here (this is supposed to be a happy blog) but in the good news dept he's broken up with his GF who has caused us both a lot of stress and grief. The bad news is he has a new GF already. Actually there's lots of bad news with him but I'm not getting into it. (ok; thinking happy thoughts now)

But my Rose of Sharon is in full bloom. Don't these usually bloom in August? I'm thinking because I lopped the crap out of it this year to give it some shape it's just blooming like ten men. The day before I took this pic there was only one or two flowers on it. Isn't it beautiful?

And in order to fully utilize the Binford 9000 I hauled out a canopy tent from the shed and set it up. Now my backyard has a living room area, a rec room, a dining room and now a kitchen! What do I need the house for? Oh yeah; the bathroom. {blush}

Yup, the yard is really shaping up. And my Diced Tomatoes Felted Purse page? It's gone from 4 or 5 hits a week to 300 to 600 to a grand total of 1,448 visits this past week! Holy Hannah! I think it's on two "free pattern" sites now.

Go away! This is my new hiding spot!

What's keeping me busy?

2006-06-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

Well it's not my knitting. Although I'd like to thank Amanda j for her suggestion about purling the dropped stitches in clapotis; that's speeded things up immensely. Not to say I've got much more done on it, but I'm on the right track anyway.

In other knitty news there's suddenly lots of hits on my Diced Tomatoes page; I usually get 5 or 10, this week there's been over 300. What the heck happened there?! Well with a little detective work it turns out the page has been linked from a free pattern site. How cool is that?!

Anyway the reason there's been such little knitting is because a) I've been busy trying to "deal" with my 15yo DS who has a birthday in a few days but might not live to see 16 if he keeps it up;

b) my ferns are suffering from sunburn and my Peeping Tom neighbours over the back have a clear shot of my pool from their kitchen window, so I spent the weekend building a triangular arbour to give shade/privacy;

and c) may I present the Binford 9000! This is the latest toy; this bad boy has 85,000 btu, a searing burner and a rear burner for the rotiserie. I've wanted a "good" bbq for a very long time and that time has finally come. I had to swap out a bunch of stuff to convert it from propane to natural gas, then I took it for a test drive tonight and I didn't even blow anything up! Woohoo! And we had the best pork and onion burgers, baked potatoes and roasted red peppers I've ever had. Sometimes you just have to make the most of the simple pleasures.

The Sisterhood Garden

2006-06-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

After three terms as chairperson of our local union's women's committee I decided to step down and let someone else run the show for awhile. You can't find a better group of women anywhere, and the sisters bought me a bouquet of flowers as a "thanks" and gave me a gift certificate for my favourite store in the whole wide world, Canadian Tire. Well I wasn't sure what to do with this certificate. I didn't want to just get regular old household stuff, I wanted it to be something more meaningful since it's a gift and all. I didn't have any must-have tools on my list not already in my garage at the moment so I just sat on it waiting for the right thing to show up. Then the weather warmed up.

I had the scathingly brilliant idea to buy flowers with the certificate and fill my yard with them. Now as I enjoy my backyard all season long I'll think of my sister's and how beautiful they are.

I have great knitting news; I found two more balls of yarn for the Vogue shawl that had been hiding on me. Fortunately I hadn't ripped it yet, I think I'd be committing hari kari with a pair of 6mm straights if I ripped out all that work and then found the extra yarn.

But I did start on Clapotis with the Hand Painted Yarn laceweight anyway. I don't have enough stitch markers (I think I'll need about 18 of them) so I'm using coloured paperclips as I've seen others do, but they keep getting tangled (maybe because the yarn's so thin?). I need a better solution if someone's got one.

Its Prom Season

2006-06-04T07:53:00.000-04:00

DD had her prom Friday night. How things have changed! I don't even have any pics from my prom, Mom had made my dress and I did my own hair and makeup, as most of my friends did back then. Now it's like getting ready for a wedding!

Oh well, it's only once, and I have to think it was worth it, don't you?

They did have a really good time, and memories for a lifetime.

In knitting news (yes! finally something knitting!) I think I'm giving up on the Vogue shawl. The yarn I'm using isn't what was called for and I think it's too heavy. Not only is it more like a blanket but after an interim weighing it's only going to be about 42" long when it's done; that's about two feet short. {sigh} I've been working on this off and on for about a year, and I've currently only got about 32" done. Time to start frogging.

On the other hand I can start on Clapotis with the laceweight handpainted yarn in my stash. ;)

Another New Bathroom

2006-06-01T20:08:00.000-04:00

You just can't beat the feeling of work being done in the house; especially when you're not the one doing it. Ok, so I had to hire these guys but just leave me in my dreamworld for awhile, won't you?

The upstairs bathroom is next in line for a "makeover". The old robin's egg blue tile from the '60's that I can't get clean and the icky bathtub that's lost it's finish need to go, but I can't put in one of those nice all-in-one units because you can't cut out for the window. That means I have to deal with tile again. OR; just call Bath Fitter! This is the company that makes a cover and surround to go over your existing bathtub and tile and they can cut out for a window. Not to mention they're the ones doing all the labour, not me. Beautiful!

Now I'd normally be worried that it's a gimmick, that it won't stand up, that I'll regret taking the "easy road". But a very good friend of mine had this done over five years ago and her's still looks brand new. Check out the nice corner shelves; no more ceramic soap dish to pull out of the wall. And what about that beautiful drain! Yes, I know, I don't get out much.
And what do you think of those new shower doors? I have to keep going back in there to have another look. But the best thing is I'm sitting here on the computer, ready to do some work on my poor neglected Vogue shawl, and the work is all done. Priceless!

Holy Heatwave, Batman

2006-05-30T09:42:00.000-04:00

I think we've completely missed May and gone straight from April showers to July heatwave. It's been in the 90's all weekend (yes, I know I'm Canadian but I live on the U.S. border and still think in Fahrenheit; it's probably been just over 30 Celcius). I had scheduled the pool company to open the pool on Monday since I was tired of doing most of it myself every year (darn kids make sure they are never around on pool opening day) but it was so hot on Saturday that DS offered to open it himself. Knowing how much work was involved I was loathe to cancel the pool company, but figuring that some good hard labour would do him some good I told him to have at it.

Never underestimate the ingenuity of an almost 16yo on a mission.

First him and his buddy (whom I call second son; SS) called up a bunch of friends and invited them over for "a swim". Yes, cruel, I know. We threw the pump in the cover to start pumping out the water, usually a 36 or so hour process (it's a huge pool with tons of water on that cover). Now they wanted it open and they wanted it open now, so 36 hours wasn't going to cut it. When the naive energetic friends showed up DS was waiting for them with a stash of buckets and the bucket-brigade began. Being as I wouldn't let them dump all that water into my backyard and flood out me as well as the neighbours the buckets of water had to be carried through the garage and dumped on the driveway.

After about an hour of this (I can't believe they hadn't quit yet!) they got the bright idea of using the wheelbarrow; fill it with buckets and roll it out to the front to dump it. After a short while they came up with an even more scathingly brilliant idea; they took my large garbage pail, tied it to the fridge-moving cart, and filled that with buckets to then roll it to the front and dump it.

They had a full production line going; we definitely have a bunch of future auto-workers here. One would handle the wheelbarrow, one would handle the garbage pail, and the rest were on bucket-duty. Then they would switch up (yup, job rotation) as needed. All in all it took them about 6 hours to do what usually takes me an entire weekend.

So the pool is open, I've got six teens with a little extra cash in their pockets since I didn't have to pay the pool company, and I still got all my flowers planted. Priceless!

The pic is from last spring, but I haven't cleaned up the hoses and whatnot yet to get a decent pic from this year. The pic is taken from my wicker loveseat where I love to sit and knit in the evenings.

Happy Mother's Day!

2006-05-14T17:05:00.000-04:00

To all the Mom's out there. Mine's at the symphony this afternoon and will then be coming over for dinner. DH is making dinner to celebrate for both of us. I'm very lucky to have an awesome Mom, but unfortunately she's going through a difficult time right now. Her dog has just been diagnosed with untreatable bladder cancer and we'll be dealing with that next Friday. This is the loving creature who was comfort and company for Mom as she dealt with my Dad's battle with cancer that he ultimately lost. It's going to be a tough day and then some, but I'll be there with her through it.

My own offspring have been wonderful. DS has been most agreeable today (that's a gift in itself!) and will be taking me to the movies later. DD jumped major hurdles to get the pictured mug made for me. Does that girl rock or what?! A chip off the old block, I'm thinking. ;) And to top it off she wrote me a poem that made me sound like some kind of hero and made me cry. Days like today make it all worthwhile!

I've Got A New Boyfriend!

2006-05-13T07:44:00.000-04:00

Well not really but everyone will think so when they see us out! DH did a fundraiser last night to fight cancer. In memory of his brother John who lost his battle with cancer last summer, he decided to "take it all off" to raise funds for the Kelly Shire Project. This is a charity that assists women fighting breast cancer with financial aid to help cover some of the expenses that come up when undergoing treatment. So far he's raised almost $4,000 from very generous friends and co-workers with more still coming in. You rock Jeff!

To see all that hair come off in all it's glory check out the photos and click on "view slideshow".

I've Created a Monster!

2006-05-10T20:29:00.000-04:00

Or become one. I can't seem to put this camera down. Not even to pick up my knitting! Ok, that might have a little to do with the fact my rheumatoid arthritis is acting up BIG time, but still...

I'm in London this week, but due to two "tenatious teens" and a kitty that needs meds twice a day I'm commuting, which means 4 hours on the road each day. So between car-ass, my rheumatoid arthritis kicking in and the fact that I think I'm starting menopause I'm not the best company this week. And no knitting to top it off.

But here's some recent "stuff". First is some cute ducks just to show off how well this camera picks up details. (click on each pic for a better size)

Then some other birds; a common grackel,
a redwinged blackbird
and a barn swallow. This zoom lens is too much fun!

I'm even taking pictures of food for Pete's sake! Poor DH wants to die of embarassment when we go out to eat because I keep pulling out the camera.

I like to think of this one as a little "Canadiana".

And finally my "Piece de Resistance"; I call this one "Phantom Rider". Shot with a fast lens speed to freeze the background. Isn't that the coolest?!

A Full Life.

2006-04-24T20:44:00.000-04:00

I got home yesterday from another business trip, this time back to Port Elgin for our semi annual council meeting. I can't believe how many wind turbines have gone up in the last few years up there. These things are giants; at least twice as tall as the biggest power lines, and they make a strange whirring noise when you get up close as the blades cut through the air.

Then on the drive home a "herd" of wild turkeys (I think) ran across the road in front of me. Fortunately the camera was sitting there ready on the seat beside me. I've never seen anything quite like them before. Ok, I guess I don't get out much. lol

As much as I love my work and feel that much is accomplished on the trips I have to do for it I have to say that it sure creates havoc at home. I won't go into details (mainly because I know no one wants to listen to me whine!) but suffice it to say I'm sure glad to be home. Got home at lunchtime and spent the rest of the day vegging on the couch. DD had cleaned the house to within an inch of it's life, made dinner for me and cleaned up afterward. I'm thinking a little guilt kicking in over some of the above mentioned "havoc"! lol Ok, I know this has nothing to do with the "bee in the daffodil" pic but I'm having too much fun with the new camera! You have to click on this pic to get the full size to get the full effect of the bee's hairy legs.

I got lots of compliments on the Gilmore Sweater, which I was really glad I had with me when I ended up sitting under a ceiling fan blowing icy winds on me.

And poor Boston had to go to the vets today. He's developed really noisy wheezing at first just when he's sleeping and the last few days it's been all the time. Now he's got to go for xrays and an ekg tomorrow. He's got problems with his heart as well as his thyroid, but hopefully it will be something we can control with meds. sigh Poor old kitty.

Last but not least I'm trying to decide my next project. I'm thinking a summer top with this baby cotton I bought at the Spinrite Factory Outlet on my last trip to Port Elgin last month. I just have to settle on a pattern. Unless someone has a better idea for it?

Gilmore Sweater - The Beta Version

2006-04-18T23:13:00.000-04:00

It's late and I'm tired, but I just had to post a pic of the Gilmore Sweater - The Beta Version. I just finished it up tonight while watching Coronation Street. It still needs to be blocked, but I couldn't wait to post it. Work has been nuts lately not to mention I've had to install another new toilet but those stories will have to wait. Hopefully I'll have a longer post soon.

Another New Toy!

2006-04-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

After looking at some pics on my computer from my HP 2 megapixel point-and-shoot side by side with pics taken from DH's fancy-dancy camera I decided it's time to get a new camera. So instead of any knitting this week it's been obsessing over anything photography related while impatiently waiting for the new camera to come in. It's a Canon Rebel XT with SLR (which is the look-through lens), 8 megapixels and two lenses; an 18-55mm lens for general purpose and a 75-300mm zoom for nature shots and DS' football games. Have I ever mentioned how obsessed I get with stuff? The camera came in on Friday and I've already taken almost 200 pics as I learn and play. This first one is of a little flower coming out in the front of my house. I used the 18-55mm lens at the 18mm setting. The actual flower is less than 1/2" across; click on the pic to see the full size version. I'm amazed with what this camera can do!

Of course most of those pics have been of the cats! lol Here Boston says "Talk to me when there's meat on the table".

Still Alive and Kicking

2006-03-29T21:38:00.000-05:00

Can I start out with a brag moment here? DD applied to a contest held by the local newspaper and won being one of three young women featured in their prom special coming out in a couple of weeks. The paper took them out and bought them each a dress, and had hair and makeup done for the feature. Since DD already had her prom dress she picked a beautiful cocktail dress that will suit her for years to come. Am I allowed to say here that I have the most beautiful daughter in the whole wide world? That's a Mom's priviledge, isn't it? The interesting thing is that they didn't even look at the pics the girls submitted until they had chosen the winners based on their essays.

I've not been very good about posting lately, or even commenting on other blogs. Work has been crazy including several out of town meetings (London, Oakville and then Port Elgin) that mess me up for a whole week for each one. The good news is that I get my yarn fixes in on these trips. I got to Lens Mill when I was in London and I stopped in Listowel on my way home from Port Elgin. No, that's not the direct route home; it's just worth going an hour or two out of my way to visit the Spinrite Factory Outlet. I love that place! I didn't find any must-haves in their by-the-ounce stuff, but I did pick up a bag of 10 balls of pretty lime Paton's Bumblebee baby cotton for $4 (I see a pretty summer top in my future!), a bag of lavender "unknown" that I'm pretty sure is Paton's Lacette or Divine (I'll know better once I've knit up a swatch) and a few balls of varigated Decor I'm hoping to make a pullover vest out of.

If nothing else these trips have been good for finishing up small ufo's, especially when DH came along to Port Elgin with me as Chauffer/Cabana Boy. I've finished up two pairs of socks and I'm back working on the Gilmore Sweater - The Beta Version. I love how this sweater is knitting up, and so far it fits the way I want it to. Who'd of thunk it! With the spring weather peaking around the corner it might not get worn until next season unless I really hustle.

And finally in kitty news the cats are finally enjoying their new kitty-nest. I bought it last month and put it in the kitchen for a couple of weeks where they wanted nothing to do with it. I was thinking about giving it away when I decided to move it to the family room and voila! Two happy kitties! :)

I Found My Knitting!

2006-03-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

I have been going crazy this last week trying to find my partial sock. The last time I remember seeing it was on the passenger seat of my truck. Then DS got in and moved it out of the way. That's the last I remember seeing it. I've torn the truck apart three times, searched my knitting stash, my bedroom, both living rooms, and then all of them again. Needless to say I've been out of my mind; it's like loosing your child in the store; that feeling of panic and helplessness. For sure it must have got knocked out of the truck in some cold wet parking lot somewhere.

Well last night I was sulking and doing some tidying up. I went to put away the plastic bag from the fabric store with the scraps from the tote bag project. Just on a whim I opened up the bag and there it was! All purry and just as happy to see me as I was it! So here it is reunited with the finished sock all ready to be worked on. WHEW! I must have shoved it in there to carry it in the house when I got out of the truck.

Tabitha very wisely decided to hide in the linen closet until the whole ordeal was over.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2006-03-07T00:24:00.000-05:00

I still haven't varnished the moulding for the bathroom, so no pics of that yet. And I've only knit about 12 rows of my sock in the last two weeks, so no pics of that either. But I did some sewing tonight! I had gone to Staples to look for a new portfolio and didn't find anything I liked any better than what I already have. So instead I went to the fabric store and bought some fabric to make pockets in my tote bag to make it more functional. I love this tote bag (especially the logo!) and don't want anything too "company" looking since I'm a union rep.

Here's the pocket pouch before I sewed it in the bag. It's basically one large zippered pouch with one smaller zippered pocket, elasticed pockets for my cell phone and my palm pilot, and a spot for some pens.

Here it is sewn into the bag. I cover six plants, so I need my portfolio but don't want to be carting around a great big briefcase or anything like that. I can also leave the purse at home because I can shove my wallet and lipstick in one of the zippered pockets. And that big pouch? I'm thinking it will fit a ball of sock yarn, a set of needles and a pattern for my lunch break! lol

Short and Sweet

2006-02-27T08:04:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I haven't posted in two weeks! Life has been a little crazy lately. The bathroom is finally almost finished. I keep running into setbacks, but I am nothing if not determined! After all the bitching, blood sweat and tears the ceramic floor looks wonderful if I do say so myself. I've put in a granite countertop with an under-mount sink and got some fabulous taps to set it off. I'll have some pics soon, just as soon as I get some plumber's putty to finish the plumbing and varnish the moulding and nail it into place. And buy a new cabinet and hang it over the toilet. Oh yeah... and the towel rack. And anything else I've forgotten. Sheesh.

I was in London on business last week and got to Lens Mill. What a cool store is that! I bought some fabric to cover the styrofoam blocking board I'm making and of course some sock yarn. I'm seriously considering some kind of 12 step program for sock yarn!

And I don't want to leave without reporting that I saw the knitting olympics featured on cbc news one night, right after the "real" olympic coverage. How cool is that?!

Stuck in First Gear

2006-02-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

Well here we are a week later and I have no progress pics from the bathroom for you. I guess that would be because there's been absolutely no progress. I did finally go down there to vacuum up all the tile debris a couple of days ago and ended up knocking over a pail of cementy water all over the carpet, so I decided that the job just isn't quite ready for me yet. Maybe I'll adjust the belt tension on the wetsaw and have another go at it tonight. {sigh; or not}

There is knitty-news though. Even an FO! I know, it doesn't seem like much but I finished the Jaywalkers. And I have to say that I'm glad I'm giving them away because I really don't like them. I don't know. Maybe my gauge is off a little, but they just don't fit nice and snug the way a good sock should. I think I just prefer a sock with some sort of ribbing in it to make it hug me back. Speaking of which, that pretty brown sock next to them is the Ribbed Lace Sock from Sensational Knitted Socks. I've made a few changes, such as making it toe-up and using a short rowed heel. Now THIS one I'm happy with. About time I had something good to report, don't you think? My only complaint is that I keep doing k2tog's instead of ssk's. I don't usually have this problem because I usually follow the written directions, but I'm using the chart for these ones and I've decided that maybe I'm just a little dyslexic. Or my ADHD is kicking in. Or I haven't had enough wine. Whatever; no one else will notice once they're on my feet, right? ;)

And Can I say that the Knitting Olympics had a mention on the news this morning on the Alternative Rock station? How cool is that? Even though I chose not to sign up (mainly because of that damn bathroom) I'm cheering and knitting on the sidelines.

Renovations Schmenovations

2006-02-06T16:12:00.000-05:00

The bathroom saga continues. And let me just say that the next time I say something along the lines of "I think I'll do a major renovation project myself", please feel free to slap me upside the head! Of course this was supposed to be DD's maiden project, but somehow the appeal wore off pretty quick for her and it's my baby now.

This is my new ceiling fan. My new clean white quiet ceiling fan. Took me about 4 hours to install this puppy including wiring in new electrical wiring because what was there didn't work with the new unit (wasn't long enough). Which I had to do "blind" because I couldn't see a thing in that teeny hole up there. Yeah, I like to live on the edge.

And the walls? Yup, that's purple all right. Or more specifically, "Lovely Lavender" (or is it "Lavender Lace?" I'm too lazy to go see). What can I say; the colour pallettes suggested that to go with the aweful blue of the shower stall.

So now I'm working on the ceramic tile floor. If I EVER say I'm doing ceramic tile again please just hold a pillow over my head and put me out of my misery. This has to be the worst renovation job I've ever done. I guess I should mention that I have rheumatoid arthritis and it was already flaring up pretty good from the previous parts of the bathroom reno. But how long can it take to install a little ceramic tile in a teeny tiny bathroom? This is how much I got done in six hours. At which point I had to quit because I couldn't move, not even enough to wipe away the tears. Have I mentioned that I HATE doing ceramic tile? Not only are my knees swollen and locked up but my equally swollen hands are covered in blisters from using those damn little nippers to cut out the tile for the toilet hole. In little tiny bits. Bit by bit. Oh yeah, there's a nice blood blister there too from getting my hand caught in said damn little nippers.

I have to admit I was feeling a little better after a few glasses of wine. But not better enough to go at it again today. Not even better enough to be able to knit! I need to recuperate for a couple of days before I get back to it. Who says we need two bathrooms anyway?

In a glimmer of good news I did get a shipment of sock wool from Briggs & Little this week. Boston says if I'm a good girl and finish the bathroom he'll let me have it back to play with.

Ship Ahoy!

2006-01-30T19:06:00.000-05:00

I've been really trying to Fly along and been going hard on the bedroom this week. It's not perfect, but I've made some really good progress and decided I needed a reward. So I broke down and bought myself a vanity. I used one for years when I was a teen and young adult, but haven't had one now for probably 20 years. Since I can't see squat without my glasses and I can't put on mascara with them on I need a place to keep a magnifying mirror for those days I'm ambitious enough to make myself presentable. If nothing else it keeps all my makeup junk out of the bathroom. About time I got one again, doncha think?

Speaking of bathrooms, DD decided about six months ago that she was going to redecorate the second bathroom. Although I told her I wasn't ready to get into that job, she went ahead and stripped wallpaper and took out some fixtures. Like the mirror. And the medicine cabinet. This would have been commendable if she didn't leave the wallpaper all over the floor and actually finished the job. Truth be told the bathroom has been pretty much unusable since the summer.

So I'm off work this week and figured it's time to have at it. DD's schedule has her home for a few days so we got into it together today. We were having fun working together tearing apart the vanity with a big crowbar and ripping out the carpeting, taking it all to the dump and washing the walls. When all of a sudden... WOOOOOSH! The pipe for the toilet (which we had removed earlier in the morning) broke loose and water was spewing everywhere, including in between the walls. By the time I got the main water shut off we had a pretty good flood going on in the bathroom.

Fortunately my best friend is an ace at soldering, so I cut out a chunk of wall and she took care of that nasty pipe for me. Lesson learned: I NEED to learn to solder, and not during a crisis. At least I bought myself a propane torch since the LAST time she helped me solder some piping, but when the weather warms up I'll be spending some time in the garage with some pipe, some flux and a coil of solder to learn when there's no pressure to get it right the first time.

So between flying and plumbing and reading all my new knitting books there hasn't been much time spent actually knitting. The first streetwalker is done and I'm halfway through the second. And I have to say that I feel just a little blasphemous about this but I don't really love that pattern. Is it just me?

Adding to my Library

2006-01-21T07:20:00.000-05:00

The Gilmore sweater has come to a grinding halt as I've cast on to make a pair of socks (that clomping sound you hear is me jumping on the Jaywalker bandwagon). MIL was so happy with her Christmas socks that she wants another pair, and she has a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks. The yarn is Paton's Kroy Socks in Vista Sea. I absolutely love the colours, but it's not stripey as I expected. The colourways run in one or two inch segments. It's probably not the best choice to show off the zigzag of the pattern but it'll have to do.

Being the cheap bastard that I am I don't buy a lot of knitting books. I can find most of what I want online. But once in awhile it's nice to curl up with a real book and have it on hand for reference. I already have the Cool Girl's Guide to Knitting and Pursenalities (both gifts) as well as The New Knitting Stitch Library, so I went shopping online at Chapters for a nice sock book. I've ordered Sensational Knitted Socks, and since I wanted the free shipping I also ordered The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color, and Patterns, Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac and Knitting Without Tears. I really don't understand why people think I'm obsessive! But I did get the free shipping. ;)