Sunny Sunday

Here's my "I'm sicker than a mangy kennel cough dog- but have to study and pass this effing final" look.

This is my little Big Man, Joseph. He will be turning 4 on St. Patrick's day. We did a little early birthday because all his cousins are only here this weekend. Not that he cares. Presents and Cake are always a good thing to get. I actually let him pick out his toys, bought them and had his sister Emily (there on the right) wrap them. His other sister, Sadie baked the cake. That's Sean on the left, my brother's boy, having a good time.

Oldest sister, Sadie did a very good job on the cake. Rich, chocolate. We had to re-light the candles (recycled from my sister's 40th birthday cake- they switched it to 04..haha!) because he kept blowing them out before I could get a picture.

Funny how I still look like I just had him.. wait. I think I still have 'baby fat' from my almost 15 year old!! Holy Mother of the weight gain process! I need to get with it! Never know who might wanna go out with me! hahahahahaha!

The kids and I were driving down to do laundry and saw this. I was laughing because my daughter kept asking if they were dead. I was wishing I could be there with 'em! The sun hasn't been out too much, and oh were those kids enjoying El Sol!

     I was trying to sneak up and get a closer shot of the nappers, but there was a little calf that spooked away so they sat up and gave me that "oh come ON, lady! We were sleeping!" look. Sleepy kids!

     I think I like my new camera. I bought a Kodak easy share camera. Just something easy to work with. I promised myself I would make time to take pictures instead of being in such a hurry.

Now, for the knitting update: There is none. Sock #1 Is not quite to the heel yet. pretty much looks like it did, only longer. My math final is Tuesday, and I plan on getting them done by Sunday.

     Craiglist update: Hm. Well, I have met, in person, Bachelor #1, and #2. Meeting #3 next Sunday. #4, haven't met him in person, not sure if I want to.  Having good conversation with text and email. Otherwise, I'm taking it slow. Not going to make the same mistakes. Of course, I'm older, much more self-confident, and definitely not wanting to get married. I think that takes pressure off.

Good: Meeting and making new guy friends.

Bad: Trying to keep all their information organized.

Wish me luck. It sure is nice knowing that I'm still interesting..

Random thoughts

So. One of my friends got me to try putting myself on the market again. I tried Craigslist this time. It's free, so I have to make sure who I am talking to is really who he says he is. In this area, I also have to make sure it's a ''he''..(funny? not really.)
I have recieved several emails throughout the day. A few seem okay, two come across as very well educated and interesting, and the rest? Well, let's just say I won't change the rating of my blog by repeating what was offered.
I am totally ready to not be in school for a few days. The pile of "want to do" is growing much faster than the "have to do".. I feel the need to make something!!  Spring Break, hurry up!

What to do when you're sick

Making speedy progress while taking a college class are words that don't work well in the same sentence. Not to mention my dear, wonderful son gave me a chest/head cold that has all but broken my ribs from endless, overpowering cough attacks. Ah, the Joys of motherhood!

It's a good day to stay home from work.

Laura's socks are coming along nicely, yet slowly. I love the shades of brown and think the colorway makes them seem even warmer. My only discrepancy with this yarn is that it's easy to split because it's not plied or anything. Almost like it was spun just enough to make in to a strand.

I hope she doesn't wash them. They will shrink down to a little woolen boot! ha!

Congrats to the Canadian Hockey team!

Knitting Olympics- NOT

Who did I think I was kidding?!?!

I don't even have time to blog properly, much less start yet another project. I'm spread thinner than light butter on a rice cake.

I think I will just check in with the rest of the crew on Ravelry, monitor the "real" Olympics on the web, and dream of getting involved next year.

I met this guy online. Funny, handsome, nice, smart. Enjoying our online email exchanges. Lives in Cali tho. (The nice ones are always the hardest to find ). This V-Day had me too busy to be sad about not having someone. It is cool though, that someone is on the other end of cyberspace that likes me.

Cast on the Brown wool socks. They are going to be really  nice. I think I will embroider a big 'L" for Laura on each one. ( she might think its "L" for left??hmm) Like the L in Laverne and Shirley? Remember, she had that big letter on all her blouses? I loved that show.

Happy Sunday..

This is my dad. John Michael Wilber. He was about 23 when this was taken. I would have been about two years old. He was a second-generation son of Irish Immigrants. He could fix just about anything from diesel engines to stubborn horses. 

He would have been 65 this year, March 18th. He died 6 years ago today, February 9th, from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

    

                                

He was hurting. Inside and out. His wife pretty much ran us kids off due to her self -absorbed personality, and I am almost certain contributed to his untimely death.  He left this world without ever meeting his youngest grandson, (my boy Joe), and has missed so many things in his children's lives that he should have been there for.

He was of the Catholic faith, and even with that, he was honored with a proper funeral, in church, with hundreds of mourners, shocked, reeling, overwhelmed, from this. He was forgiven. He went to Heaven. I stand unwaivered in my belief on that.

What I want you, the reader, to take away from this. Nothing. Nada. NOTHING. There is absolutely, irrefutably, NOTHING in this world that could happen to you, or me, or your best friend, or your mom, or some hero, that is worth taking your own life for. PERIOD.

We are here for a reason. No matter what faith you follow. There is a purpose. You just have to find it. You also have to make a choice. God gave you that freedom.

No matter how much you hurt, or how scared you are, or how far you've gone, there is always a way back. You just have to find it.

You just have to find it.

 Dad. See what you lost when you left this sweet world?

Laura's socks are going to be really soft. The wool feels hand-spun. I knitted a swatch while at the laundromat. I'm using a size 6 needle, so if they accidentally get washed (in cold water, I hope) they shouldn't felt down too much. Cast on 60 stitches, 2x2 ribbing, and have made a few rounds.

I'm looking forward to dance class tonight, since I missed it last week. I was looking at the calendar for upcoming MEDGE events, and it looks like there might be a student dance night. OOOh! I'm going to have to get my costume together. I have all the elements. Coins, sparklys, stuff for skirts and I have a really cool belt idea picked out. 

I cut my hair last night. Just the sides. I really like Wynonna Judd's hair and wanted something similar: 

She's a pretty lady. Heard she lost a lot of weight with Alli-  hmmm..

Rambles from Rain

I did some cleaning and re-organizing today. (kinda have to do it a lot due to lack of space).

My brother's fiancee', Laura had mentioned she needed warm, wool Boot Socks. I decided to 

pull this out of my stash and use my Boot Sox pattern (shown below).

                                   

 You can fold down the cuff over your boots, or pull them up over Long Johns to keep warm.

I made the green ones for my sister's Fiance', who is a Farrier (One who shoes horses). He's outside all the time. 

                                  

I like the shades of brown. Not 'plain,' but nice and sturdy looking.

The next photo is a sample of almost 10 balls of Mohair originally purchased at Meir & Frank. My  Grandmother Wanda picked it up during a sale (are they still in business?).    

                                         

Still trying to decide what to do with it. It is very soft, and  might work for a baby blanket, or a light Spring sweater or Shawl.  Although, it has such a history, I couldn't just give it to anyone. I should just stash it for when one of my daughters becomes a mother..?? Or just knit it up and forget about it. There's endless amounts of yarn in the world, right?

                            

I love that tag. I should have asked how long she's had this. It came in a nice waxed cardboard box, with a little gift tag and everything. 

Finally, I'm actually going to knit something for myself.  

Ahhh, Noro! Silk/Wool blend, soft, and a harmonious mixture of my favorite colors! ( I always hit the 'z' when I try to type the 'x'. They should rearrange the keys.) I have pondered and thought, and imagined, and I believe a nice pair of mitts would be awesome! Almost as awesome as Sunflowers, or Microwaves, but not quite. My Awesome-meter (Awesometer?) has things like, "Hubble Telescope", and "Wound healing" at the top.  Mitts, right in the upper third, with Avatar, Lord of the rings, and maybe almost as cool as Blue Jeans.

I like wearing mitts when I drive. I have a good 45 minute commute to work, so it would be nice having something to keep my hands warm.

Most of us around the southern Willamette valley are MORE than ready for the rain to stop. At work yesterday,  El Sol peeked his sunny head out for a couple of hours and my two best friends and I dropped what we were doing, skittered outside and sat on a south-facing bench and soaked up some Vitamin D like a couple of California girls back from Alaska.

I haven't laughed really hard in a while like we did Friday. My ribs and stomach muscles (yes, I do have them.  Somewhere.) are sore. Really sore. That proves I have them. HA. I wish I could tell you what we were laughing about, but gotta keep this blog rated G. or at least, PG-13. Just know that it is possible to lose control of your bladder when you laugh that hard. 

Spring term:  Geometry and Computer Science 120  at Lane Community College. I always liked Geometry. 3-D math. What I didn't like, was the proofs. Ugh. 

Has anyone watched the sitcom, "Community"? I don't have TV, but my friends watch it and I saw an episode on Hulu.com. I laughed my arse off! (probably because I'm going to community college). Chevy Chase is in it. He's funnier now than I remember him from Caddyshack and the 'Vacation" movies. Otherwise, I stay the heck away from television.

On a final note, I found a little video on youtube that defies description. This woman has the most beautiful voice. I felt the way I did the first time I heard Charlotte Church. Enya. Enigma. Lisa Gerrard. Bagpipes. All goosebumps and spellbound.  You HAVE to hear her!

Just go to youtube and search  'yasmeen song', sit back and hold on to your chair. Then, visit her website. You will not regret it!

                                    

My Grandmother Wanda, in her new February Lady sweater. I finally got one with her in it! She has the most awesome granddaughter!  Love You, gramma!