Knit Devotion

a long time. I can’t even tell you really what I have been doing. Well, I have been caught up in the Variety show planning. We ended up with 69 acts and over 100 kids. That will wear you out.

I have been sewing a little, not a lot. Mostly things for the women at the bus stop.  Nothing exciting.

Knitting is coming along. I did a hat for Monster girl for Cross Country. Pink with a teal paw on the side.  Then it got warm and she hasn’t needed it. I finished a christmas gift that I have been working on for a while but I kept putting it down to do something more exciting. Then I did a pair of socks for myself. I had to knit one sock twice because the first time it was too big. (I need to take a pic of those.) I bought a whole bunch of yarn…if that counts for anything. I’m now working on Monster boy a pair of pirate socks. I’m designing the pattern right now. I’ve done well so far but it’s the easy part with the toe and gusset. Now I just have to figure out how many stitches to work on the heel.  He wants knee socks. I don’t know where he gets he needs them or why but who am I to deny my son knee socks.

So that’s my life…boring and not so busy but still busy.  Oh and I’m going back to work at my old job. Talk about staying busy. It’s going to be a mess!

Later

a long time. I can’t even tell you really what I have been doing. Well, I have been caught up in the Variety show planning. We ended up with 69 acts and over 100 kids. That will wear you out.

I have been sewing a little, not a lot. Mostly things for the women at the bus stop.  Nothing exciting.

Knitting is coming along. I did a hat for Monster girl for Cross Country. Pink with a teal paw on the side.  Then it got warm and she hasn’t needed it. I finished a christmas gift that I have been working on for a while but I kept putting it down to do something more exciting. Then I did a pair of socks for myself. I had to knit one sock twice because the first time it was too big. (I need to take a pic of those.) I bought a whole bunch of yarn…if that counts for anything. I’m now working on Monster boy a pair of pirate socks. I’m working on the pattern right now. I’ve done well so far but it’s the easy part with the toe and gusset. Now I just have to figure out how many stitches to work on the heel.  He wants knee socks. I don’t know where he gets he needs them or why but who am I to deny my son knee socks.

So that’s my life…boring and not so busy but still busy.  Oh and I’m going back to work at my old job. Talk about staying busy. It’s going to be a mess!

Later

My favorite time of year. Except it’s Fucking HOT AS HELL here. I guess I better get used to it. Oh yeah, I’m going to hell anyway…I ate Halloween Candy. Or maybe I’m cursed to Hell! Oh Hell, I can’t remember. Damn it to Hell! Of course there is one problem, you have to believe in Hell to go there.

Back to my favorite holiday. I love the colors. I love the costumes. I love the decorations. I just wished you could have haunted houses in your house again. Too many wack jobs running around to do that anymore. But as someone pointed out, there were probably just as many wack jobs back then. It’s just now you have more media outlets to hear all about it. 

Here are DD and DS this year in their costumes I made for them.  We have Tinkerbell and Captain Jack Sparrow… see if you can guess who is who…..

They did a fantastic job collecting candy for Mom and Dad!!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone! And Merry All Saints Day!

I’m not one to bully people around. I don’t like to be told what to do so I try not to do it to other people. Well, except for my kids. I give them enough rope to hang themselves with, but usually in public I will correct them if they are being a pain or obnoxious. On that note, here’s my story (and I’m sticking with it)
Just a few weeks ago, we went on a Disney cruise. And yes, it was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone who has kids as well as those who don’t have kids. Most of the time the kids are in the kids club or at the kids pool, two places you don’t have to be anywhere near.  We had a wonderful time except during the Pirates in the Caribbean party. Well, let me restate that….we had a great time at the party also until some 10 to 12 year old girl tried to push past my daughter to get in the front row. My daughter had already been pushed around once. I asked the girl to back off and her mom told her that she was being rude to move to another place. This one however tried to push and squeeze in between my daughter and her friend. The reason I knew this is because I was right there watching not even a foot away.  I tapped the girl on the shoulder and asked her not to push my daughter. I also said that there wasn’t enough room for her there. She could stand behind my daughter and see just fine (her being about 1 ft taller than my daughter and could see over her head).  She gave me a very funny look and left. I thought, “good one less I have to worry about.”  A few minutes later she comes back and tries again. So again I tap her on the shoulder and ask her not to push in front of my daughter. Her father taps me on the shoulder and asks me not to talk to his daughter. I politely said,  “There’s not enough room for her up here and she is trying to push in front of my daughter. If she would stand behind my daughter she will be able to see.” He says,” There’s enough room for her where she is.” I said “She’s trying to push in front of my daughter and if she touches my daughter again I will ask a Disney employee to move her.”  Then I turn my back on him basically tell him (the short shit) that I wasn’t afraid of him. 
I mean really, you saw what your daughter did and your going to defend her. What has this society come to. If my daughter or son and told me that someone laid a hand on them. I would have done what he did to see what was happening. But when I saw my daughter/son do what she did. I would have had my kid’s head! How rude is that. Toward the end of the night a little kids came up with his mom. He couldn’t see. I asked my daughter to let him stand in front of her so he could see and she could see over him.  See, I’m not rigid. I will help when I can and not hog the front row. Just don’t start pushing around my kids and being rude. I will fight you over that. And like a mother with her cubs…I will pull out all the stops and play dirty.

Don’t Tempt Me!

Later

An S for sucka!!! I was very (VERY) active in the PTA for my DD’s school last year. A little too much but I like to help out and it keeps me busy.  I have met some wonderful people and have found some even more wonderful friends.  One of my friends is the President of the PTA. She’s an amazing person and a great friend (no really). Such a good friend that she talked me into (didn’t take much) being the VP of Programs.  Like I said, make mine an S on my forehead! I have a REAL problem with saying NO to helping friends.
I have 4 programs to plan.  The first one is the 2nd week of school.  It’s an ice cream social where the kids eat ice cream while the rest of the PTA committee heads coax people into helping them. We have a wonderful group of parents that really support our school which I am so grateful for. I have heard horror stories of no parent participation.  It helps the kids so much to have their parents support them at school. I think it really fosters a future of helping parents when they see us volunteer and devote our time to their causes. 
The 2nd is a Variety show. Notice I said variety and not talent. This should be fun (as in I would like being hit with an orange in a sock more). I haven’t attended one of these shows because well, I have seen enough “recitals” with my nieces to know that I don’t want to go. And now, I get to head one. Oh for the love of Buddha! It’s not the kids I’m worried about. It’s “those” parents that I’m going to have a problem with. You know the ones who think their kids are Britney Spears or Miley Cirrus.   And you know it takes all I have not to tell them to please find the nearest Dr. to do an cranial/anal inversion.  Like I said…this is going to be FUN!
The 3rd is going to be my fav (if I can do it.)  Get this, the Orlando Science Center will come and present the Human Gross Out tour with special guest DR BOOM.  Oh man, I’m so excited.  DR BOOM comes and blows shit up scientifically! Then on top of that we get to learn about burps, farts, poop, snot and all those bodily functions that make us.. interesting! Ha! I am going to be the most hated/loved PTA member in the history of our school’s PTA. I can’t wait!
Then it’s my last program which is Basket night and thank Buddha again that I have committee heads that specifically do that. I don’t have much to do but help there. YEAH! Basket night almost killed me last year when I was head of the food committee.  Glad I don’t have to do that this year. You can’t even imagine.
I’ll keep you posted

Later

I was reading another blog that a friend of mine introduced me to (although she doesn’t know it..Thanks Rocky) Knit and Tonic. When I first saw the name I thought, “Man, I have to read this just because of the name!”  And it did not disappoint.  The writer of Knit and Tonic is a knitting pattern designer. She has a few books published with some amazing patterns. I like her writing, she seems to be a “very down to earth, say it like it is” type of person.  She brought up a subject that I have thought of quite a bit. Especially since I am considered this type of person. Here’s the link to her blog. 

She talks about being what friends call “crafty”.  The being called “crafty” is not the part that bothers me. It’s the connotation that comes along with it. Sometimes it’s even the turned up nose when people ask you what you are doing.  Yes, I craft. I like to do things with my hands. It calms me, it energizes me, it keeps me skinny because you can’t exactly eat when you have needles or fabric or metal in your hands.  It even helps me solve problems. If I’m doing a task that I can’t quite get or figure out. If I take my mind off of it and start say knitting or sewing or even painting, the answer usually comes to the surface.  It gives my mind something to do. They say knitting and some crafts in themselves stave off Alzheimer’s disease.  It’s a way to keep the brain active, solving problems, doing complex tasks that include using both hands that do different movements at the same time.  So call us “crafty” and be jealous when we are still in our right minds and you are telling the same story over and over.

Which brings me to another point. Because people do things with their hands, this does not make them JUST crafty. Would you call Michelangelo crafty? No, he is an artist. Would you call Ralph Lauren or Yves Saint Laurent crafty? No, they are designers.  How about Franklin Lloyd Wright? Would you call him a builder? No, he’s an architect.  Do you get my point? Someone doesn’t have to be dead or worth a million dollars or even published to be in one of these categories.  They just have to work with their hands.  We are all artisans, artists, designers, architects. Above all we are all CRAFTY!

Here….you decide for yourself….

  Real Octopus Tentacle      Sea Bowl 

Wood Screen     Knitted Glove Pattern

All of these things are handmade by “crafty” people. Respect the Craft!!!

Later

These are the words that came out of monster boy’s mouth the other day. I was in such awe that I didn’t know what to say.  He’s been doing this lately.  He asked me today, “Mommie, how to you lay it down?”  I replied, “Lay what down?” To which he replied, “Lay it down.” O.k. unless you have been listening to some old rap music, I have no idea what you are talking about.  I have no idea where he’s getting this stuff. Granted I don’t listen the “Disney” radio channel. (Yes, we have the Disney radio station here in Orlando. And YES, it’s as annoying as the programs that they have on their TV stations except for Finneus and Ferb)  He’s been trying to break dance for a while now. He’s getting better at it for a 4 year old. Some day he’ll be on So You Think You Can Dance. Just not as “SEX”.  I wouldn’t mind that considering I LOVE that show.

Father’s day is tomorrow! Happy FATHER’S Day to all Daddies!!! I love my Hubby, and my Daddy. I love Hubby’s step father, Papa.  I have even grown to like Hubby’s father. He’s an odd sort and takes quite of figuring out. (If you know what I mean)  I did the “food” thing this year for the Fathers. To my DAD and Hubby’s Dad went Green Tea Shortbread and Cornmeal Lime Shortbread cookies from Fancy That Cookies  on Etsy (of course).  They sound so good. I wish I had sent them here first, I guess I’ll have to order some myself. Shortbread is my all time favorite. But how could it not be…sugar and butter! YUM!!!!  For Papa, I made sticky buns. They were good and sticky!!!  For Hubby, well since he’s my main reader, you’ll just have to wait for that bit of news.

Again, to all my “Fathers”….I love you all, be good to your wives, they keep “this boat” afloat, and of course, be good to yourself.  You deserve it.

Later

I spent the Thursday before Mother’s Day with Pinkilicious (more about that) in her karate class taking a “Bring Mom” class.  I had such a good time. I haven’t been to a karate/kickboxing class in 10 years. It is like riding a bike, you just don’t forget!  We goofed off probably more than we should have but we were still working. We just put a little more into our kias and our movements than was necessary or than others did.   The class felt good and fun but I’m 10 years older. I had a kickboxing career before. I had one sanction fight which I won. My coach wanted me to go on but work and my brain got in the way. I used to love boxing and watch it nonstop.  I also followed the boxers new and old as much as I could back then.  It’s very scary what happens to a boxer after repetitive knocks to the head.  Add kicks to that and it will tear you apart quick.  As a matter of fact, I won my match because my coach did some research. He found out the girl I was fighting had a bum knee. She was 15lbs heavier than me so we had to find something.  I beat her by continually hitting her knee whenever possible.  That and staying away from her right cross…deadly!
I think I could get back into karate but maybe I’ll just go back to yoga instead!

Later

I found this Etsy shop, Bela Brazilian Designs, when I was looking for 3 mother’s day gifts for my “moms”.  These are real flowers and they are gorgeous!  I couldn’t imagine the amount of work and time it goes into making one of these. Plus all the screw-ups that I would do just to make one.  I haven’t received the flowers yet but I am so excited about them.  Again I am just amazed at the people and their work on Etsy.  This couple is one of them. I plan on getting one of their designs once I sell some of my stuff!  Oh and be sure to check out their other stores also. They have one for little girls (what a great keepsake for your daughter or granddaughter). I plan on getting one of those for the Monster Girl.

Check them out! It’s amazing!

Well, with one more item crossed off my list (mother’s day presents).  Another one was crossed off today.  In case you don’t follow me on Twitter or Facebook, (You know you really should Rockamababy on Twitter and Cheryl Colbath Drake on Facebook) I volunteer at my daughters school. I was over zealous last year when I decided to take on the Acceleratered Reader Store and Field Day.  Well, I also helped a friend doing the dances for the boys and the girls, and I let myself get talked into doing the Food for Basket Night.

Basket Night is our huge fund raiser for the PTA. We usually make over $19K when the night is over when all things are counted and subtracted.  With the ecomony being so bad, this year we were going to be happy with $10-13K.  We did over $16K.  Just amazing. I am fortunate to be a part of a great school with a wonderful set of parents. Lots of them are my friends and come to my aid when I ask.  (Thanks again women! I do love you!!!)  Well, that day (Basket Night) nearly killed me. Doing the Food for over 1500 people is more than I thought. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, chips and drinks. Keeping them all cold or hot, serving those people, having volunteers help me serve those people (about 40 wonderful people to do that) as well as keep vendors happy that come to serve ice cream, candy, cotton candy, snow cones, and fudge.  It was a wonderful night but so much work.

One item checked off!

Today was Field Day. It was again a great event. But lots of planning because we had a new set of PE teachers who wanted to do new games (can’t blame them).  What a learning curve for all of us. Yesterday 4 of my glorious friends and I popped 900 bags of popcorn so all the little kiddies could have  a snack after Field day.  3 hours in a concession stand with 2 commercial poppers going and 5 women talking….Man, it was hot and lots of work but it was fun just being with everyone.  Today went off really without a hitch.. We had a few hiccups but that is expected.  So many people said that it was the best time they have had and the games were great (most of them were teacher’s comments). We did a very wet theme. The kids loved it and were soaked by the end of the day. 

One more item checked off!

Now onto my last Accelerated Reader store. It’s all done except for a few last items I need to get and of course the volunteers.  I have a few weeks rest before I need to get to that.

Whew…now I just need time with my son. I haven’t been home much lately to be with him. Plus time to work on some new items for my store and my other one . One day I will be caught up….right? Nah!

Later

Yes, it’s time. Time to turn 40! Yesterday was my birthday and  yes I turned the BIG 40!  It’s a strange birthday. I don’t feel 40. In fact, I have never really thought of my age. Well, that’s not exactly true. When I was younger, before 21, I always thought about my age. Wanting to be older.  When 21 hit, I just never thought about it. I don’t even think about it when I look in the mirror.  To me 40 is just  another year.

Now my oldest sister will turn 50 in August.  She has been sending me birthday cards for the last month.  What I always tell her (and she never gets) is that I have 4 months to plan my revenge. That’s just the way I am.  We went to my nephew’s (her son) wedding a couple of weeks ago. It was beautiful and my sister has lost a ton of weight and looked fantastic.  When we were leaving this is the conversation we had…..

Sister: “So how do you feel about turning 40? I was devastated when I turned 40!”
Me: “Actually I don’t feel that bad. You know they say 40 is the new 30.” (said matter-of-factly)
Sister: “Then that means that 50 is the new 40!” (said sassy)
Me: “So how does it feel to turn 40 again?” (said sarcastically)
Sister:”You need to leave!”

And that’s the way I roll!!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Later

BTW…Wii Fit says I’m 31! I think that’s more like it!