Living like a rockstar...

Ok, maybe an aging out of the spot light rockstar? Yeah, who am I kidding... I'm living like a rock.

We went away this weekend, headed to the great up north... ok, maybe not that far north, but there were state lines crossed.

We left our home here in MD to go visiting in PA... We visited with a great friend... then we visited a park and looked at some boulders... While were at the park there was a bear that was being tormented by some park rangers and was just hanging out in a huge pine tree... Sheesh, he only wanted to share the picnic those people were having.

That night we went to dinner... let me tell you, this was the best steak I have had in a long time...

Then we headed off for some sleep at our little hotel... Yeah, that free HBO... we couldn't find it. We were lucky the tv worked! I will say though, the staff was the best! We were greeted by name every time we walked through the lobby, and while they might not have been the most up to date with the times, they did have wireless (all we needed was a laptop), and the rooms were clean, what more could you ask for?

Sunday we headed out to go on an adventure... boy was it ever... We met a really nice couple from New Jersey, and while we had said after our last experience that we would never raft with anyone from NJ, they were great! Bruce was funny, and really nice. His wife Deb was a riot! We laughed so hard, my face was sore! We really had a good time.

That evening, after showering and wanting to die from exhaustion, we went to get something to eat... OMG. The Emerald Restaurant was the best. I highly recommend this place. Of course it's really hard when you're sitting there, not to sing along to the music they had playing... they were making Hubby groan, but I was loving it! They played Seasons in the Sun, Kung Fu Fighting, and some others from the mid to late 70's...

Monday, on the drive home we headed to some wineries on the way... came home with 6 bottles from each place... Nothing beats a good glass of wine in the summer while sitting on the porch.

I think that's it for now... I'm off to take some more ibuprofen for my stiff muscles...

Hope everyone's weekend was as fun as mine!

I know I should be thinking positive nice thoughts...

but lets just say this, when it comes to how to you tell an emotional 14 yo some pretty big, scary news, some people need a lesson.

I hope he gets better soon, cause I wanna smack him.

On an unrelated note... tomorrow, we'll see how much my 7 yo can handle... we're going to go here... and we're going to do some of the trails there... The last time Kyle went with us hiking, we stuck to Limberlost Trail, and we walked down the fire road to Dark Hollow Falls. Kyle has been to the summit of Stony Man before, but I had to carry him back down. I'm really hoping that doesn't happen this time.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

I've been tagged...

Michele tagged me... here are the rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts aboutthemselves. Those tagged need to write in theirblogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You needto tag seven others and list their names on your blog.You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note intheir comments so they know that they have been taggedand to read your blog.

Here are my 7 random things:

1) I have to rub the tops of my toes on the sheet to fall asleep... even if I'm wearing socks.

2) Sometimes I think I contemplate death too much... I mean I wonder how I'll cope when my mom is gone. Who will I turn to? What will my kids feel when I die? How will I handle Hubby's death? How will he handle mine? See? Morbid fascination...

3) When it's time for us to retire, I want to live in the mountains somewhere, away from civilization... but I want my entire family to come with me.

4) I want to go back to school, but I don't think I have enough time to not know what I want to take, so I don't, because I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

5) I love walking barefoot.

6) I hate walking outside barefoot and stepping on slugs or worms.

7) I can't stand washing dishes and feeling "stuff" in the bottom of the sink... especially spaghetti noodles.. ick!

Here's who I'm tagging...

Lara
Christi
Traci (even though Michele tagged her already, you only have to do it once... )
Heather
Melissa
Jenn
and You! (If you're reading this, go ahead and do it, leave me a comment so I can come check it out!)

Busy Mother's day weekend...

But they always are...

The girls had their dance recital on Saturday, and they did great! But then again, perhaps my opinion is a bit biased... Nikki has come a long way in her Pointe class. She actually got up on her toes! I was very proud.

The other big event this weekend was Prom.... Kay's Junior Prom. My baby went to her Junior Prom. I cried.

Please... Look at the pictures, and then tell me that you wouldn't have cried if she was your daughter...

Funny story... while we were in the front yard doing the pictures, the neighbor from across the street came over... She told a story of her Junior prom... and how 9 months later one of her friends had a baby. She then very seriously looks at Kay's date and says "I'll kill you... ". I thought we would die from laughing... He wasn't sure if she was kidding or not...

Kay had a great time, and she looked gorgeous.

Oh, and as for Mother's day, I got to take a nice long nap... what else could be wished for?

Because it's been a busy week, and my brain is fried...

Knitting Survey

This is a knitting survey……
Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down-almost... still working on them.
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes-but they were on a baby bib, so they were yarn over buttonholes...
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch-when I get to the end of my sock...
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?I've learned that no matter how good I get, there is always more to learn and perfect!

I came across this Knitting Survey over at Bibliomaniacs.

HOW ABOUT YOU?!! Place this on your CRAFTY Blog and link to me.. I’d love to see how many different techniques you’ve done or hope to do and what knitting has meant to you!!

I don't like to post too much about my Stupid X...

But this one is worth the time and effort...

Let me give you some background. The girls take dance lessons. They have taken dance lessons for a total of 14 years. (this is the 14th year for Kay) Every year their recital is Mother's day weekend. Every year. They have changed the location a couple times, but NEVER the date.

This year, StupidX "forgot" when it was and planned a vacation. His mom went off on him. A couple weeks after telling everyone that he would miss the dance recital, he said that he cancelled the vacation because they were going to have thier bathroom redone. Whatever.

So, the last time he picked the kids up was on his weekend. That was 2 weekends ago. He hasn't seen them since then. Monday, Nikki called him to see what days he was going to pick them up this week. He's not. He's out of town. In TN. On VACATION!!!!

He will be home on Friday, he will see the recital on Saturday, but then is leaving immediately after the recital to go to some concert.

His mom called me yesterday to wish me a happy birthday (that was a shock!) and she was telling me about him being away, and I commented that he hadn't seen the kids for almost 2 whole weeks.

He called the girls last night to say hi and see how they were doing.... Coincidence? I think not. His mom might have her flaws, but she loves her grandchildren. And I think that she is as disgusted as I am at the way he acts as though his kids don't matter to him... maybe it's not an act.

This day in history...

According to Wikipedia, on this day in history:

1794 - Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror by revolutionists, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme Générale, was tried, convicted, and guillotined all on one day in Paris.

1861 - American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia, is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.

1919 - Edward George Honey first proposed the idea of a moment of silence to commemorate The Armistice of World War I, which later resulted in the creation of Remembrance Day.

1965 - Yours truly was born, and things have never been the same since!

Other excuses besides my birthday to celebrate:


World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
VE Day
Iris feast of the Region of Brussels capital (in Belgium)
Parents' Day in South Korea
Gay day in South Africa (observed by the gay community)


I share my birthday with Don Rickles, Harry S. Truman, Peter Benchley, Bobby LaBonte, and many more...

Have a piece of cake, wear a party hat. You're allowed... you're celebrating!

Fluffy, furry, fuzzy...

Not 3 new dwarves... but what I saw today...

This morning me, Kyle and Nikki headed out west... well maybe not that far west. We went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
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I knew it was a big thing in the knitting community here... but this big?

There was wool to be petted...

Oh... this kind of wool was petted too...

We wandered among the crowds...



we saw more animals...

We saw people doing cool stuff...

And I brought home some goodies...


I have to admit though, I was soooo overwhelmed, I almost walked out with nothing... It was so much to see and touch and yes... I was seen sniffing yarn.

I wondered though about the placement of the food stand selling Lamb Kabobs, and Leg of Lamb sandwiches right across from the barns... Shh... don't tell the lambs...

More pictures can be seen here.

I am not guilty, Your Honor...

That's what I said this morning. To the Judge at the traffic court.

I had gotten a speeding ticket about a month ago. I didn't think I was going as fast as he said I was. He said radar doesn't lie. I didn't argue.

This morning, I went to have my day in court. I was calm, cool and collected. I knew what I was going to say, and how I was going to say it. I sat listening to the other people's cases. The judge was not giving points, but he was imposing fines. I could deal with that if I had to, but I was going to try to get out of it if possible.

They broke for a brief recess... I waited. While waiting, I watched the courtroom fill up again for the next round.

The judge returned, started calling cases... when he got to me, the officer that had written my ticket was not there. I was free to go, and I didn't even have to say anything.

Today is one of those days I like the justice system.

One of the ways I wear my Mean Mom title proudly...

Yesterday was Nikki's birthday. Happy 14th to her! She came into my room, all perky and bouncy and just stood there staring at me... I had 7 minutes before the alarm went off. I opened one eye and looked at her. Here's what it sounded like...

Mean Mom (MM): What.
Birthday Girl (BG): Nothing.
MM: Go Away.
BG: Ok. (she doesn't move from her spot, staring at me.)
MM: Look. Just cause it's your birthday, does not mean you can annoy me.
BG: (Huge grin) You remembered! I love you, Mommy!
MM: Go away... oh, and I love you too.

Then the day progressed...

That afternoon I got a call from her:

BG: I don't want to go to cub scouts. I want to go home and open presents.
MM: What presents. You aren't getting any.
BG: Well then I want to stay home and open my cards.
MM: There was only the one from Grandpa G.
BG: Yeah, but there could be more when I get home. If I say "card" and there are more than one, I won't be able to open them all because I only said one card, not several.
MM: Whatever.
BG: If I go to scouts, will they have to sing "Happy Birthday"?
MM: Probably.
BG: I'll let you know later then.

Later that evening...

BG: I'll go to scouts.
MM: Doesn't matter to me.
BG: Guess I'll just open my cards (at that point she only had 2 to open).

At Scouts...
CubMaster (CM): There's someone celebrating a birthday.. and she's 14.
BG: (giggle and blush... a lot of blushing!)
CM: I think we should sing to her.
BG: (Still blushing walks to the front)
Cub Pack: Sings Happy Birthday
BG: Thanks, Mommy, that was fun!
MM: Any time... do you really mean that or are you being sarcastic?
BG: I really mean it.

Later that evening, at home:

Lots of scurrying to get the cake out and candles on it that she didn't think she was getting until the weekend...

Birthday Girl's Sister (BGS): I'll keep her distracted.
MM: Thanks.
Birthday Girl's Sister: Nikki, can you come upstairs with me, I want you to hear my song for Hip Hop and see this move we learned tonight.
MM: Gets the cards out, and the cake and puts candles on the cake.
BG & BGS return back to the living room.
BGS: comes into the kitchen and whispers: Should I get Doug?
MM: Yes, and then I'll call her out.
Everyone gathers just off the dining room BGS and D in the hall, Kyle and me in the kitchen.
MM: (In irritated tone) Nikki. Come here.
BG: Hang on. I'm in the middle of Veronica Mars, do you need me right now?
MM: Yes. You're on dishes and I need them done now.
BG: What?! BGS didn't have to do them on her birthday. It's not fair.
MM: Come here.
BG: (plopping remote on the coffee table, and stomping out spots me in the kitchen with the cake with candles glowing brightly): CAKE! Yeah me!
BG: Hugs MM and says: I thought I was really gonna have to do the dishes!
MM: Well....
BG: No way!

She was completely surprised by the cake and cards. It's so much fun to mess with my kids... For the oldest's birthday, she really wanted a new tv (she was using an old hand me down from one of her friends). It didn't have a remote because the friend had lost it. We wrapped the remote from her new tv, and told her that we got her a Universal Remote to use with her tv. She was crushed! I told her that Hubby had already messed with it and it was programmed for her tv, but we all made the trek up the stairs to her room... she cried when she saw the new tv.

I want to make a big deal out of birthdays. They are special days, and should be memorable.

Happy birthday Snickerdoodle! We love you!