Things Are a Little Weird Around Here

Mom and Daddy came over for dinner on Labor Day. It was nice to have them over and I think they enjoyed getting out of their house. We ate some dinner and then vegged out in front of the television. So much was going on with Governor Palin and the hurricanes that we just left the news on all day. Right smack dab in the middle of the news, a commercial came on. We normally talk during the commercials or take a potty break. However, this time the commercial really - and I do mean REALLY caught my eye! It was a commercial for Mass Mutual (first commercial listed on the site for those of you who need to know). There's this guy sitting in this fancy office and he sees his daughter's picture on his desk. He sort of looks out the window like he's wishing he was at home. The next scene, he's still looking out the window, but this time it's from a home office and he's watching his little girl in their pool. It's a nice commercial. BUT what exactly caught my eye????? My cousin! My cousin was the guy in the commercial! I recognized the scar on his forehead. I recognized his hairline. I recognized his nose. I recognized, well, everything! I stopped everything I was doing and said, "That's Bobby!" Last we heard he was doing stunt work, so what a huge surprise. It was such a big surprise that Mom said it wasn't him. Couldn't be him. He didn't do stuff like that. It was driving me NUTS! I knew that HAD to be him! I waited and waited for that commercial to come on again. During the RNC last night, it came back on. I watched that commercial like I've never watched a commercial before. I recognized EVERYTHING about him again and called Mom to tell her I KNEW it was Bobby and I was going to find out. Normally when Bobby has done commercials before we saw his face for a split second or maybe just his right shoulder! I finally found the commercial on the Mass Mutual website and watched it a couple of times. Then I started exploring on the internet and YES!!!!! It is Bobby! I am so happy that he has finally gotten his face on a commercial - even if it's only for 30 minutes! It's been like old home week watching him. Makes me feel good to see him since it's been a couple of years since we last saw one another in person. He's such a sweet guy and deserves to advance in his career. Way cool, but still a little weird to see someone you know and are related to on real television.

As for knitting, I'm still plugging along. I'm making a pair of socks. So far I'm on the foot of the first sock. I'm anxious to get it finished so I can move on to the second one. I normally try to work on them at the same time, but this time I only had one set of needles instead of two. So, I started this pair one sock at a time. To remedy that in the future though, I noticed that Knit Picks had their dpn set on sale for over 30% off! I ordered them and plan on standing next to the mailbox for the next few days until they get here. So, if you don't hear from me for a while, that's where you can find me.

L's Birthday and Computer Disasters

This is the cake that L has been wanting for two years now. It is a Hylian shield from the game Zelda. It was two years and a day late, but he got it! R worked hard and finished it the day after his birthday. Since it was his choice, the cake was strawberry, the ice cream was strawberry and breakfast consisted of waffles, whipped cream and, you guessed it, strawberries. Now, I'm not a big strawberry fan - unless they are 'real', so this has been a real test of my "Mommery" and that, my friends, is an official term...as of a minute ago.

On a very sad note...a moment of silence please...our computer died. It was a slow and tragic death. It was sad to watch. First the new modem software wouldn't load. Now I can't go very long without internet access. I tried once and broke out in a cold sweat! Next, the computer would turn on, but it wouldn't do anything else. I couldn't run virus scans. I mean it wouldn't do anything but turn on. Such a sad, sad day. I must have looked pretty pitiful when RL came home because he even tried to fix it. Now you've got to understand that RL works on a computer all day long and the last thing he wants to do when he gets home is look at another computer screen. It was hopeless. A trip to the Geek Squad was in order. We went for advice, but didn't bring the tower with us. We went back home and got it. The tech started the scan and the first thing out of his mouth is 'uh-oh'. I don't like 'uh-oh'. I know what 'uh-oh' means and I don't like it. Scan after scan wouldn't work. Finally he found a way into the mess and it was totally infected with viruses! We described what we'd been seeing prior to the shut down and he was not the least bit surprised. A couple of other things were messed up with a card or whatever and also with our printer. So, our choices were $400 for repairs on a four and a half year old computer or double that for a new one. We got a new one. It has Vista on it and I have no idea what Vista is all about. So hang in there with me while I figure it all out. Looks good so far, doesn't it?

18 Years Ago Today...

This is where we were 18 years ago today. That 'little' bundle of joy weighed in at 10 lb. 2 1/2 oz. We weren't surprised to have a boy because we found that out a couple of months before he was born. However, when they came in to the delivery room with news of a 10 lb. 2 1/2 oz. baby, I was curious just what sort of woman was able to have a baby that size. Imagine my surprise when they said it was me!

The time has flown by. People warned me that it would. At the time I was going through all those diaper changes, feedings, sleepless nights and a confused two year old who wanted me to 'put him down and play with me' - I never thought I would make it through another day. We all did and I don't regret any of it. If I do have one regret, it is that I didn't enjoy it a little more instead of just surviving it. That's what grandchildren are for, right? Not that we are in any hurry for grandchildren though! I just felt like I needed to clarify that...

L has been a bit of a celebrity today. He's gotten calls from both sets of grandparents, cards from RLs brothers families and a call from my sister. R stayed up late last night and made paper streamers to decorate his doorway with as well as the stairway. She'll decorate his birthday cake to order later - as soon as she can wake up a little more! Late night streamer making can really take it out of you. What a great sister!

L, we love you very much and are proud of you. You're a beautiful person inside and out. Stay that way!

P.S. You're welcome that I didn't use the picture I really wanted to use. You know the one...

When In Doubt, Knit A Dishcloth

Now that I am in between knitting socks - which means I have NO idea what pattern I'm going to knit next, but it will probably be socks - I decided to do some useful knitting. I had the yarn in my stash and found this pattern on Thimbleanna's blog. The picture stinks, but we've had much welcomed rain all day and it's very overcast, so it's the best I could do for now. It was a neat pattern to knit and I love the way the stripes turned out.

Tomorrow is L's 18th birthday! I cannot believe he will be that old since I am just a year or two older than that myself. R and I are the same age - 20. That is quite the feat!

Good news from Florida! My FIL finally got into the oncologist yesterday. I guess the waters from Tropical Storm Fay receded enough so the doctor was finally seeing patients again. Anyway, all they saw was scar tissue. From what I gather, that's good because they didn't see cancer. We'll know more after they see the radiologist on the 4th. So far it's great and we are all very happy. They have some damage from the storm, but it's being taken care of, so that's good.

Any ideas for a sock pattern to knit? I welcome any ideas. Thanks!

A Cat, A Napkin and A Bored Kid

What can you do on a boring afternoon with a semi-willing cat, a napkin and a bored kid? The bored kid can make a sailor hat out of a napkin and put it on he semi-willing cat and hope the semi-willing cat will be patient enough for a photo shoot. We really need to get out more...

On another note...it's starting to feel like summer is giving way to fall. I think we might be ready although it hasn't been an extremely hot summer. My second pair of flip flops are about ready to blow out so that's a sure sign that summer should end. Two pairs to blow out in one summer - that's unusual for me. Then again one pair has lasted through two summers, so that's a record of some sort.

No real news from Florida about RLs Dad. Due to the tropical storm, all normal life came to a stand still. All doctor appointments were cancelled for him, so we know as much now as we knew at the time of my last post - NOTHING! Hopefully we will know something by Monday afternoon. We do know that their house sustained some water damage and it looks like new carpet is in the works.

Look what R found in the garden! Isn't it pretty? She thinks it's a Monarch caterpillar. Since the garden is kind of on the way out it's not a real threat if it's something that's going to eat everything in sight!

Did I ever mention our sunflower patch? Probably not, because there isn't much to mention. We dug out a section of the yard and had big dreams. The sunflower seeds were stolen by greedy squirrels and our dreams were dashed. While outside playing croquet, R and L happened to notice that two came up! This is the only one that has flowered so far.
Tom Sawyer is back on the shelf and I can chalk up another classic to my summer reading. I'm starting on a mystery series called Aunt Dimity that Aredhel recommended. I am enjoying it so far - 'so far' means I've read the first chapter!

I've also finished another pair of socks! This pair is the same pattern I used for the pair before last - if you're keeping up. I made the cuff slightly longer and I really like them. Once again, I have Aredhel to thank for recommending using this pattern with this yarn. I'm not a big Kaffe Fassett fan, but this yarn 'spoke to me'. When yarn speaks - you must listen.

Instructions, Instructions Everywhere!!!

You just never know where instructions are going to show up, do you? Imagine my surprise when I reached for a banana last night and read these instructions. I've never been instructed by a banana to do anything, so I was mildly surprised. Must have been more than 'mildly surprised' because I didn't eat the banana. Man, everything is bossy these days!

Knitting is still the main event around here. It did take a backseat to the Olympics, but is once again the number one source of entertainment. Wow! What a great week of watching Michael Phelps. He is thoroughly amazing. The kids tease me because I have to watch him. He has such a great relationship with his Mom and sisters. I just love watching them together. After beach volleyball is over, the Olympics are over for me.

We are awaiting news from Florida. First, we are waiting for my FILs test results. We are very anxious to see how he has responded to all the chemo and radiation he's been through. Second, we are waiting for news of the hurricane. Ally Jo's family has the right idea! If it hits, they use the time for family bonding. That's what we did while we lived in Florida and now that we are in NC, we do that when we have ice storms.

We also got news from our former minister that his wife, Terre, is one again battling cancer - this time in her brain. Terre is one of the most amazing women you would ever want to meet and has beaten the cancer odds so many times before. She's a walking, talking miracle. So, if you don't mind, please add her to your thoughts and prayers. Thanks!

Fibery Goodness

I promised fibery goodness and today I deliver.

These are the latest finished socks. Just your basic generic pattern, but pretty and bright. I finished these while the gang was in Gatlinburg. Sorry to flaunt another pair of finished socks in front of you, Ally Jo!
I bought this after getting strict instructions from RL to relax and go to the yarn shop. No problem! I can follow directions like that. I've already started another pair of socks using the zig zag pattern I used a couple of posts ago - thanks to the suggestion from Aredhel. The yarn is Regia Design Line by Kaffe Fassett. I'm not usually a fan of his designs, but I really loved the colors of this yarn.
Second purchase from the yarn store. Online Supersocke 100, hiking - color. No telling what this will become - but I've got some time to decide while I knit the current pair of socks.
This was my souvenir yarn that RL picked out for me. It's a little darker than it looks. The picture below looks a little more accurate. It's Trekking Hand Art in Karibik colorway.Here's Rs new addition to her stash. Too bad it doesn't grow on trees, isn't it? It's Brown Jacob from the Smoky Mountain Spinnery in Gatlinburg.
And last, but certainly not least, another addition to Rs stash. It's also from the Smoky Mountain Spinnery and it's Mahogany Colonial. I'm very anxious to see how it turns out once it's spun.

So, there you have the fibery goodness of the week!