EnigLdy~SheepFaced

Finished Bags

I'm not sure why I can't add multiple categories ---- probably cuz I can't multiple anything except multi-task.  It never can be anything fun, can it?

Here it is and I love it:
I don't always love what I make.  Usually the things that take me the longest are the ones that have me scratching my head wondering what I was thinking.  This bag was super fast and easy ---- yeah, like me :-)  I like how it turned out and the size is perfect.  Much bigger and you'd have to have your hand(s) reinforced to carry it.  It is holding the rest of the stash nylon that I'll be using to make more bags.








Next we have an almost finished bag:
I'm on the final two rows of the bag and I'm gonna take it home and *may* use some fun fur around the top.  I am also going to work on inside pockets but dummy me forget to bring spare needles.  Guess I'll have to play Texas Hold 'Em on breaks.

Had a really nice weekend.  I enjoyed being with all the firefighters.  Imagine that.  We were out until about 2:00 a.m. so didn't get to sleep until around 3 ---- I drove back to the hotel since I had a Mr. Lush with me.  Some drunk must've fallen into my car in the bar parking lot because my passenger side mirror was pulled off the little balls that help it run.  Should be an easy fix.  I had to find my way back to the hotel and we had no idea where we were at - the big guy upstairs must've been watching out for me cuz we found our way back.  We got a loud tapping at the door at about 8 and I've worked on less hours of sleep but wheee it has been a while for a night out.  There were only 3 girls so we got lots of attention.  That is always good for one's ego.

Words to the Wise: Happiness is a choice...not a response.

Mensa for the Day: What two words, formed from different arrangements of the same seven letters, can be used to complete the sentence below?

Little Otto could think of nothing more likely to ________ his hunger than a good ________ with cabbage.

Friday As We Know It

Today we shrink my head -- life is good.

I have no pics with me today so I'll have to show what I've had stored in my mailbox but first some senseless chatter.  I finished the slippers for Sean - will upload a pic to the site.  I am now working on a royal blue: http://natalie85.blogspot.com/2005/09/shopping-bag-pattern-is-here.html.  Super easy and looking good - I'll give my assessment once I have it together and try it out.

Here is another part of my insides:http://quiz.ivillage.com/home/tests/style.htm

Traditionalist

You probably have a sense of nostalgia for the world your parents and grandparents grew up in, a world that was more settled and predictable, where men wore hats and women wore pearls. You have a strong sense of history, and your home reflects it -- matching sideboards with majestic Oriental vases, pieces handed down through the generations. Your stone fireplace or granite countertops represent longevity and tranquility. Your home is made for entertaining friends with a warm, welcoming hearth.

While you may want your home to conform to the ideal in your head, the time and money constraints of the real world probably force you to settle for less. Don't get discouraged by the seeming enormity of creating the look you want. Write down what you want to accomplish. Planning what you want tempers the tendency to overdo. Create a scrapbook for clippings that inspire you. Share your ideas with like-minded friends or professionals who will give you honest feedback. And try getting in sync with the idea that making a beautiful home is first about making you and your family comfortable. That's a feeling and not a look. Save a wall for artfully arranged snapshots of time spent together, find beautiful yet soft and cushy throws for the family room. And remember, no house is a home that hasn't had some mishaps -- that ice cream stain on the sofa can remind you of the life that goes on every day in your home.

Kinda true, kinda not.  I'm kinda like a mish-mash of nostalgia for the olden days yet I do like contemporary.

Speaking of my personality: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9268970/detail.html  Not really but understandable with the price of yarn - I just feel for the shop owners.  I always worry when a new shop opens because they're trying to give customer service while other clients could be robbing them blind.  It is hard enough to keep their doors open - behave and pay for your yarn!

DH & I hit the travel road for the weekend.  For those of you who know me: yes, I've already hit the web in search of yarn stores and thrift stores.  I don't really need yarn but I do like to stop in and see what they're doing/stocking/etc.  I've only been to 2 yarn shops in Austin and 1 in Corpus.  Virgin-like - yeah, not many of those for me.

Finished another audio book - I realize that I've become addicted to them.  I am also on the last 50 or so pages of a book lent to my by DBoss.  I was not digging it for quite some time and now that we're nearing the end - I like it!   That is a rarity for me - I usually give up on a book at page 100 or continue on because I like.  This one I trudged through and it worked out. 

7/17/06 Kitty Bed

Here is what I've been working on in the evenings:

This is the Kitty Bed pattern from http://www.wendyknits.net.  It ended up being smaller than expected with just one run through the washer.  Yikes!  I think GF will still fit in it but we'll see if ol' Ms. PickeeAss uses it.  Since I tend not to sleep in the garage with her all I can do is look for the tell-tale signs of hair.  The pattern is super quick/easy.  I'm glad I can check it off the wannabe list.
Speaking of GF, this is her on Saturday:

Every time I'd call her (to look up at me) she'd start coming toward me.  Here I am with camera in hand and backing up trying to snap her pic.  Aww, fun.

Speaking of fun:  schek it out: http://www.mini-mum.com/pages/Miniknitmostrecent.html

Making the list of most disturbing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5187010.stm.  I wrote a dissertation on the subject but if you know me at all - no need for me to rant at you when you know how I feel about this subject.  I kindly deleted my harping.

What else did I accomplish this weekend?  I baked a fudge pie for DS, a batch of lemon cookies and a triple chip cheesecake.  My DBDon brought me an Amish cookbook (mass-manufactured - doubt it is true Amish) when he came to visit in October, 2005 and I used the recipes out of there.  DS said the pie is great, the lemon cookies are pretty good and DH and I tried a semi-cold piece of the cheesecake last night.  I'm trying to kick myself outta this depression and into some sort of normal (for me) behaviour.  I have an appt with the shrink on Friday - looking forward to it.  I washed all the clothes but put none of them away.  Yes, none.  I took a 2-hour nap on Saturday and laid around on the couch a lot of the weekend.  I played with GB for quite a few hours yesterday.  I didn't accomplish much but I feel good today.  One day at a time is what I keep reminding myself.

New CD in my life - Allison Moorer - Alabama Song ---- yummy and worth looking into.  I avoid listening to this in the morning though because it makes me emotional the rest of the day.  I don't think it is the music's fault - just the depression kicking me in the butt.

Thursday

With all the making fun of myself with my own nick of "Fatgirl" - this is the coolest.  Who woulda thunk it?

Work is (luckily) pretty slow right now.  I'm catching up on things to better prepare me for the insanity of the upcoming fall semester.  I have set up the schedule for the front desk that I'm sure will change, as it always does.  It has become much easier for me over the past few years.  The first year was a total bear since ignorance is not always bliss.  Now I'm a knower.

What else?  Hmm...saved money with Geico.  The cable at my house has all the channels over 99 "temporarily off the air" for almost a week now.  We know what it is yet they don't bother to tell you - they're upgrading the boxes.  They just wait for you to notice and call and then you get put into the cue of having a tech come visit.  Yes, you have to be home.  Yes, we have to wait until next Tuesday.  F*$kers.  Once they get us back to the proper viewing schedule I have to call back and request credit for the time we were down.  Hmm - maybe I can omit some truths, like they do, and get free cable for a month!?

I've found the coolest idea for GB's room and can't wait to start implementing it.  I'll take pics for the blog once we get it going and/or finished.

Speaking of finished...finished another book and started another.  Finished = The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks, Started Another = Shadow Man.  Shadow Man is a new (at least at my local library) addition and has already touched me twice, in the place needed most at this point in my life.  Two poignant statements - 1)  Grief doesn't mean that you're weak, it just means that you hurt and even Superman hurts.  2)  Grief fills into every crack and crevice until, all of a sudden, every turns very dark.  The first statement helps me to understand that it is okay for me to hurt and doesn't show a sign of weakness.  I have a very hard time accepting any weakness in my character.  The second statement allows me to acknowledge what grief is doing to me and my life.  I think knowing it is there helps you to deal with it.  I should hear from the psych today - I look forward to my sessions with her.  This will help me grow as a person and possibly enlighten me in other areas of my life.  I can't say enough about my DH - I am truly blessed to have such an understanding, all-knowing man in my life.  He reads me better than I read myself.  He doesn't allow nastiness nor does he allow me to sink into a hole.  I must behave and also face my demons.  I can't imagine how ugly I would be without him reigning me in when I want to lash out at the world. 

I guess that is all for now.  Mensa for the day: 

Three words with "dog" in them fit the definitions below.

1. opinionated
2. determined
3. poor poetry

Words to the Wise: You are not late until you get there.

Where Have I Been?

We had a great time at Ocean Isle Beach, NC.  I came home nicely tanned and relaxed.  Luckily work didn't slam me in the head when I finally came back on the 5th.  So, why haven't I blogged?  I wanted to wait until I had the afghan together and ready for its debut.  All was well until I ran out of yarn during its "put together" and had to plan a trip to the store.  I think it turned out pretty - I'm a big fan of the color grey.  It doesn't have a home yet but I'm gonna hold onto it for when I figure out the "perfect" person to give it to.  Usually projects scream out someone's name but this one appears to be mute.  Maybe it belongs with someone going through (or will be) a hard time.  It may scream out at that point. 

What else am I working on?  I started a pair of Low-Riser Cuff Slippers for DN Sean.  When I met up with him in NC and gave him the slippers I had made, he made sure I understood that he's still awaiting the arrival of a pink pair.  I only had one skein of pink so his will be cream/pink and he'll have to get over it.  I'm doing the heel and the toe in pink.

I got the coolest watch and earrings at Foley's the other day.  I drove my coworker crazy showing them to everyone.  I love my bargains and paying $35.99 for an $85 watch --- right up my alley.  It makes me want to wear silver every day just so that I can wear my new watch and earrings.

I had the funnest evening last night.  DSIL, DMIL & I went out to eat at Salt Grass Steak House.  OMG - my food was de-lisc-ious.  We headed over to the local large ass pottery store and looked around (walked off full bellies) there trying to waste time.  Our movie didn't start until 7:15 ---- The Devil Wears Prada.  Let me tell you - this movie is so worth the premium admission price!  I loved it.  I am major picky about paying full price for a movie --- I rarely find the movie worth the price of admission and most of the time, not worth renting.  Siskel and Ebert got nothing on me ---- you'll rarely get a thumbs up from me.  Enough rant - back to the movie:  obviously it is a major chic flick so you may not appreciate it if you're of the manly man persuasion.  I love Meryl Streep and she did a fantastic job in this movie.  However, it did make me want to go on a "water only" diet and go straight home and burn every piece of clothing I own.  If I dropped a good 40 pounds I could wear those (ahem, cheaper version) sexy clothes and shoes.  An excellent steak + an excellent movie = a great night out with the girls.

If we become increasingly humble about how little we know,
we may be more eager to search.
-- Sir John Templeton