When traveling with young kids, be sure to bring an extra set of underwear that's in easy reach.
After FIFTEEN straight hours (yes, you read right)in a van with two children, things can, well, get tense and stressful. Yelling and feet stomping are the norm and the children were not much better either.
We roll into Pintlala, Alabama looking for a restroom and/or Burger King. Preferably a restroom because Wesley is bouncing in his seat from having to pee. We find a restroom and Wesley completes his business. I buckle Wesley up and turn to Regan. She promptly spills her rainbow slushie all over me. I look like an escapee from the Lucky Charms factory.
I packed an extra set of clothes for both kids in my tote for such emergencies but did I pack for myself? Nope, no, nada. My suitcase is, of course, on the bottom of the luggage pile. So I had to sit in a freezing pile of melting, sticky slushie goo drenching my pants and shirt all the way to Galveston, TX. I also didn't notice the slushie spillover onto my purse and brush. Did you know cherry syrup, while it smells good, makes your hair stand up like you just sprayed four cans of Aqua Net on it?
When people at a truck stop look at you funny and give you a wide berth, you know it's not a good thing.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Secret Pal Swap Questionnaire
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like all yarn except scratchy. Ick, ick, ick. I'm partial to alpaca but will use everything.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Knit Picks are in their case, lovingly put away. I have a tool box for my straights and three drawer storage for my notions.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for almost four years. I'm a knitting mutt. I learned to cast on and knit at a LYS, purl with a friend and bind off with another. An elderly lady taught me several years ago but it didn't "take" at the time. I'm an intermediate knitter.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No
5. What's your favorite scent? I love lavender and roses. Not too heavy. I like Brighton Laugh Cologne and Philosophy's Amazing Grace
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Does a whole mouth count? Love, love, love chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I tried soapmaking but it didn't hold my interest and the second degree burns on my hands didn't help either. Decoupage is the devil's medium. So the answer is no, I'm not crafty elsewhere. I don't spin either as my children would completely tear up any spinning wheel.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love Celtic and soft rock (CCR, the Eagles, etc) I do have a cd and an mp3.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love muted beach colors like blue, green, taupe, peach, etc. I don't like bold colors like orange, lime green, etc.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Married with two human children and two canine children. The canines are evil and the children are lovable but destructive.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to all.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Scarves and shawls and hats.
13. What are you knitting right now? 2 shawls.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? KP Options all the way. I feel like a cheerleader.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? I recently frogged back all the UFOs but I do have a sock that needs completing. It's about four months old.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas followed by Halloween
19. Is there anything that you collect? Scooby Doo, Texas stuff.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Creative Kntting is my only subscription. I have too many books.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I just would like to improve my lace knitting.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I'm a novice sock knitter. I've tried to get addicted but I don't see it.
23. When is your birthday? Early March
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Hissyknit on KR and Ravelry.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Knit Picks are in their case, lovingly put away. I have a tool box for my straights and three drawer storage for my notions.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for almost four years. I'm a knitting mutt. I learned to cast on and knit at a LYS, purl with a friend and bind off with another. An elderly lady taught me several years ago but it didn't "take" at the time. I'm an intermediate knitter.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No
5. What's your favorite scent? I love lavender and roses. Not too heavy. I like Brighton Laugh Cologne and Philosophy's Amazing Grace
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Does a whole mouth count? Love, love, love chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I tried soapmaking but it didn't hold my interest and the second degree burns on my hands didn't help either. Decoupage is the devil's medium. So the answer is no, I'm not crafty elsewhere. I don't spin either as my children would completely tear up any spinning wheel.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love Celtic and soft rock (CCR, the Eagles, etc) I do have a cd and an mp3.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love muted beach colors like blue, green, taupe, peach, etc. I don't like bold colors like orange, lime green, etc.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Married with two human children and two canine children. The canines are evil and the children are lovable but destructive.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to all.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Scarves and shawls and hats.
13. What are you knitting right now? 2 shawls.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? KP Options all the way. I feel like a cheerleader.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both.
17. How old is your oldest UFO? I recently frogged back all the UFOs but I do have a sock that needs completing. It's about four months old.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas followed by Halloween
19. Is there anything that you collect? Scooby Doo, Texas stuff.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Creative Kntting is my only subscription. I have too many books.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I just would like to improve my lace knitting.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I'm a novice sock knitter. I've tried to get addicted but I don't see it.
23. When is your birthday? Early March
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Hissyknit on KR and Ravelry.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Weekly Warning 5/24/08
When packing for a trip, do not allow your kids to help unless you watch them..
Since summer vacation has arrived, I wanted to help all the parents and parents-to-be.
Regan (of course) decided to help Mommy pack for our trip to Charleston last year. She was showing me how she dressed her stuffed dog, Zack (yes, she named her stuffed animal after our live dog, Zack) in her old bikini. She chattered about on about something while handing me the clothes I had folded.
Things were dandy until we arrived at the hotel to unpack. I unfolded my favorite yellow shirt when something clinked onto the bed and rolled on the floor. I reached under the hotel bed--brave, I know. There, uncapped, was my favorite lipstick.
With my stomach sinking down to my feet, I looked at the shirt. Streaks of mauve criss-crossed the top.
Regan came bouncing into the room. I questioned her very quietly. She smiled and said she didn't want me to be without my make-up so she put my lipstick inside the shirt and wasn't I proud of her? I knew I couldn't be angry because she wanted to help so I politely said thank you. She be-bopped out while I continued to unpack. Every one of my clothes had make-up folded into them. Some had caps; some did not. Suffice to say, I have a reputation in Charleston as the nutcase who wears Picasso inspired lipstick shirts and foundation blue jean shorts.
I'm packing alone this year to Texas.
Since summer vacation has arrived, I wanted to help all the parents and parents-to-be.
Regan (of course) decided to help Mommy pack for our trip to Charleston last year. She was showing me how she dressed her stuffed dog, Zack (yes, she named her stuffed animal after our live dog, Zack) in her old bikini. She chattered about on about something while handing me the clothes I had folded.
Things were dandy until we arrived at the hotel to unpack. I unfolded my favorite yellow shirt when something clinked onto the bed and rolled on the floor. I reached under the hotel bed--brave, I know. There, uncapped, was my favorite lipstick.
With my stomach sinking down to my feet, I looked at the shirt. Streaks of mauve criss-crossed the top.
Regan came bouncing into the room. I questioned her very quietly. She smiled and said she didn't want me to be without my make-up so she put my lipstick inside the shirt and wasn't I proud of her? I knew I couldn't be angry because she wanted to help so I politely said thank you. She be-bopped out while I continued to unpack. Every one of my clothes had make-up folded into them. Some had caps; some did not. Suffice to say, I have a reputation in Charleston as the nutcase who wears Picasso inspired lipstick shirts and foundation blue jean shorts.
I'm packing alone this year to Texas.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bad Christy! Bad!
I've been a bad blogger. I'm very sorry. School is ending in our district and I've been subbing full time. We're also planning a vacation back home to Texas later this summer as well as Scout Camp, Karate classes for Regan and Dave's campaign for school board. I get home and there's underwear (clean to be exact) to be folded and the knucklehead Collie is moltening his winter coat in droves. To be honest, I'm exhausted.
One of the non-working, un-parent things Dave and I have done was to kidnap Dave's brother-in-law's stuffed Opus. We're sending anonymous emails to Skip holding Opus ransom.
Wish me luck! I have a job interview next month. It's a part time social work job working with new mothers and volunteers at a local child advocacy center.
One of the non-working, un-parent things Dave and I have done was to kidnap Dave's brother-in-law's stuffed Opus. We're sending anonymous emails to Skip holding Opus ransom.
Wish me luck! I have a job interview next month. It's a part time social work job working with new mothers and volunteers at a local child advocacy center.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Weekly Warning 5/18/08
You don't really need five gallons of gas to light a fire.
I claim complete innocence in this instance because this warning is totally from my dear husband, Dave. This is his first weekly warning.
Ten years ago, we bought our first house and Dave was going to burn some leaves. Though we were still newlyweds, I already experienced the inherent genetic male propensity toward fire and knew trouble was brewing. (Sounds kind of frou-frou, doesn't it? I found a new site that changes all my words to sound like I have a doctorate!!). In short, Dave and his father are fascinated with fire. Some throwback from their early caveman days. My father-in-law, Pop Pop, once held a lighted match in the mouth of a natural gas line to see if gas was coming out. I believe he was on his fourth beer at the time.
Dave throws a match on the gas-drenched dry leaves. At first, nothing happened and Dave leans in to see if the match went out. In that split second, a large backdraft worthy of Ron Howard and some special effects team whooshs toward Dave. His meager garden hose is no match for the inferno. Fortunately, the gas had burned itself out already as well as Dave's face hair (eyebrows). He didn't have to shave for a week.
Makes you marvel that Dave is still alive ten years later with no third degree burns on his body. He does have poison ivy scars (yes, you read that right--scars from poison ivy). Please join us in pray for Wesley. We hope the fire stupidity does not pass down to him.
I claim complete innocence in this instance because this warning is totally from my dear husband, Dave. This is his first weekly warning.
Ten years ago, we bought our first house and Dave was going to burn some leaves. Though we were still newlyweds, I already experienced the inherent genetic male propensity toward fire and knew trouble was brewing. (Sounds kind of frou-frou, doesn't it? I found a new site that changes all my words to sound like I have a doctorate!!). In short, Dave and his father are fascinated with fire. Some throwback from their early caveman days. My father-in-law, Pop Pop, once held a lighted match in the mouth of a natural gas line to see if gas was coming out. I believe he was on his fourth beer at the time.
Dave throws a match on the gas-drenched dry leaves. At first, nothing happened and Dave leans in to see if the match went out. In that split second, a large backdraft worthy of Ron Howard and some special effects team whooshs toward Dave. His meager garden hose is no match for the inferno. Fortunately, the gas had burned itself out already as well as Dave's face hair (eyebrows). He didn't have to shave for a week.
Makes you marvel that Dave is still alive ten years later with no third degree burns on his body. He does have poison ivy scars (yes, you read that right--scars from poison ivy). Please join us in pray for Wesley. We hope the fire stupidity does not pass down to him.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bunch o' Contests
Createcraft is having a contest about the reasons behind some of the blog names. I threw a huge temper tantrum during my early knitting days. I had dropped a stitch which resulted in a big honking hole in the scarf. My husband said I threw a "hissyknit" instead of a hissy fit.
Strings and Purls is also sponsoring a contest about some beautiful yarn.
Head on over to enter.
Strings and Purls is also sponsoring a contest about some beautiful yarn.
Head on over to enter.
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