While I Was Away

I thought I'd take a break from the Virginia stuff to let you in on what I was doing all those months I wasn't blogging.

I attended WhiskyFest in Chicago. I really came into my own regarding the water of life. We had a wonderful time with a group from the Dundee Dell.



This is George Grant from Glenfarclas. We love Glenfarclas.




Worked with other women in my quilt group to make a Nebraska quilt for the coordinator of the group who is moving. The center pinwheel blades are in the shape of the state of Nebraska. We made it with scraps from other quilts we made as a group, plus from our stash. I love this quilt and am thinking of making one of my own.




Bought a new car--a '93 Honda Element. It was in excellent condition and had less than 60,ooo miles. I love this car.






Had a birthday.




Worked with the women in the quilt group to make a quilt for Habitat for Humanity.




Cleaned a lot of mud off the dog




Knitted a bag holder--one of those that you pull bags from the bottom.




Knitted a Log Cabin baby blanket for my new cousin.




I'm knitting while here in Virginia, too, and will get some pictures up later. I've made a Christmas stocking and am making a scarf for Al (black, plain, simple black so he can wear it with his uniform) and a market bag. I'm trying to decide between the stockings or market bags for Christmas gifts.

I also read a lot during my break, mostly cozies. I'm still reading the Hamish MacBeth mysteries by MC Beaton and I read a few of the China Bayles mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert, but I kind of lost interest in those. While I'm here in the condo, I'm still reading the cozies. Funny that I used to tease my mother about reading those because they are all the same, but it's all I have patience for right now, and they are pretty enjoyable. But there are a lot of great used bookstores here, and I think I'll get some other books.

Anyone got any suggestions? What are you reading?

Gonna Turn This Day Around

I had to double check the calendar because I really thought today was Friday the 13th for awhile.

Our predicted sunny day was cloudy, dark and gloomy.

The granite people were coming today to put in our new kitchen counters (yes, I caved), so I cleared all the counter tops and under the sink. Then he called to say that he couldn't find a plumber, so we'd have to wait until next week. That's fine except that Al is going to be out of town most of next week, which isn't that big a deal, but he kind of wanted to be around.

Then I couldn't finish the crossword puzzle. Even with cheating! What's a 4-letter word for Should that be the case?

But then things started to look up. I was able to do the Jumble without a glitch, and I think I see a break in the clouds.

I think I'll turn this day around by going shopping. Shoe shopping! At least some window shopping. Maybe call a friend to have lunch with me. Maybe ice cream. Ice cream is always good.

Have a great weekend everyone.

If . . .

If someone starts a sentence with “No offense, but . . .” chances are real good you’re going to be offended.

If you go to lunch with your friend and her adorable 21-month-old little boy, every waitress in the restaurant will come over to talk to him, but no one will bring you another glass of iced tea.

If a network is going to constantly publicize a new TV show months and months before it premiers, it’s not surprising you could care less when it actually airs.

If the doctor says it’s a simple procedure with a local anesthetic but asks if you would prefer to be knocked out, say “Yes, knock me out.”

If a picture paints a thousand words, then a book must paint a picture.

If you don’t work outside the home, and your spouse wants you to spend weekends helping with home projects, then weekends are just like any other day.

If you really don’t care about someone’s opinion, then why do you bother asking?

If you even hint at being bored, someone will find something for you to do and it will usually involve a committee.

If you go to the state fair and don’t eat something really bad for you, then you don’t have full “fair experience.”

Pictures of the NE State Fair coming soon!

Such a Chore

Why is it the seemingly simple things can be so difficult? Those every day things that we all do, those chores that come with just existing. Beds have to be made, furniture has to be dusted, trash has to be taken out, and carpets have to be vacuumed.

Ah, there’s the rub. Vacuuming. I’m the world’s worst vacuumer. And no, I’m not going to use the obvious description, I’ll just say that I stink at it.

It seems easy enough. Push the machine around the floor and violá! Clean floors for casual seating. But it’s not that easy. It has to be set for the correct height; otherwise I either don’t pick up enough or I feel like I’m pushing a tree stump around the room. Plus, apparently there are rules about whether I can use the bristles on certain surfaces. I’ve been warned and threatened not to use the “bristle setting” on the area rug and the pseudo-wooden floors. First, I had to figure out if our vacuum even had an option for not using the bristles. And it did! Go figure.

So, once all settings are correctly set, then I can start the actual work of vacuuming. Seems like the easy part, huh? But no. Because vacuum cleaners come with an electric cord that is something like 200 feet long. Well, at least it feels that long as I’m trying not to back up on it or trip on it or get it tangled around my ankles as I walk the room. I swear it’s alive—some skinny snake with a sneaky cat mentality that wants to get under my feet.

Of course, when I am trying to get to that last quarter of the room, that’s when the cord some how shortens to 2 feet. As I head into that corner, I can feel the resistance as I try to stretch to that last little bit. Then it comes unplugged and I have to find another outlet before finishing. Or not. I mean who’s going to notice, really?

That’s the scary part, though. There are some neat-freaks who would notice; they would notice that the tell-tale vacuum tracks stop before that corner. I had a friend who’s mother actually had a pattern she would expect her daughter to do while vacuuming, and she knew when she didn’t do it because the pattern on the floor wasn’t correct. That’s just wrong on so many levels.

But the artwork that is vacuuming patterns is nothing compared to the things I’ve had to dig out of the vacuum cleaner. Why is it that I can vacuum over a little leaf 20 times and still have to bend down and pick that stupid thing up because the vacuum cleaner won’t suck it up. Yet, go anywhere near a shoe lace or a sock, and I’ll spend the next hour dislodging it from the bristles. I’ve turned many an ankle sock into a tube sock. It’s a gift, really.

And don’t even get me started on using the accessories. I’ve hit myself in the head so many times from trying to suck cobwebs out of ceiling corners that now I just say “Hello Charlotte” and move on. Besides, changing the machine into hoses and tubes is a lot like work.

So, I hate vacuuming. It’s only fair—it obviously doesn’t like me, so I don’t like it back. Luckily, my hubby doesn’t seem to mind, and if I put it off long enough, he’ll get fed up and do the vacuuming. He seems to actually enjoy it. And I’ve noticed that there’s always a lovely pattern in the carpet when he’s done.

Stretched Beyond Limits

I went to the dentist this morning to get a cap. I have many caps in my mouth, so this is nothing news worthy.

However, this time was different.

First of all, he made it in his office today, so I don't have to go back in a couple of weeks for putting it on. This is a vast improvement because I don't have to screw up my courage and repeat a calming mantra for two different visits.

Second, he used a dental dam. Those are not fun. He had my mouth stretched in all kinds of directions and held that way with shiny, cold rods, all so he could get to that last tooth on the bottom left. It's a trade off--either I get tired of my mouth being forced open and breathing through my nose (thank goodness I wasn't having a bad allergy day) or I hold it open and feel all the cold water, cold air, and debris that flies under my tongue. Sucks either way.

But there was one way cool thing. He offers his patients a thing kind of like virtual reality head gear with goggles and headphones to watch movies or TV with. So, I have headphones to drown out the drilling and something to watch to keep my mind off of what he is doing. I watched HGTV instead of a movie. What if I had to laugh or gasp or something? I probably wouldn't do either with HGTV, so I figured it was a safe bet.

So, all in all, it wasn't such a bad trip. An hour and a half later, I'm done and sitting here typing away on this post and waiting for the anesthetic to wear off. I'm very tingly right now. Think I'll take some aspirin to get ahead of the aches to come. It's always so much fun drinking when half your mouth is numb. Where did I put that bib?

Good Old Days

We had so much fun on Saturday. We went our favorite pub the Dundee Dell and hung out all afternoon. They have a new chef, so they were having an open house with samples of new things they may put on the menu. They also had some new bottles of scotch and new beers they were giving out sample of, so we headed down there. Free food and free booze?!? That's heaven. Actually, I don't know if they were really giving out the free samples of scotch, but since we're pretty well known there now, Mo (the general manager) poured a couple of things for us. One of them was a Little Mill, which was delicious, and one was something really old. Oh, and the beer was a Rogue Irish Lager called Kells. It's made just for me!

And the food was incredible. Fried plantains with black bean/avocado dip, fried risotto in a coconut batter with pineapple coulie on top and burgers and veggie sandwiches, we ate like kings. Oh, and fried green tomatoes, too. It was all really good. I could have eaten a platter of those plantains. Actually, I think I did eat a platter of those plantains.

Usually, I'm designated driver when it comes to things like this because Al is the scotch guy, so I let him taste and I hang out and talk. But this time, it worked out to be my turn. Oh, he had a couple of samples, but he quit early and let me partake.

Some friends came in, a guy that Al works with and his wife and her sister, who was visiting. We sat at the bar and laughed and talked and ate and drank and just had a wonderful time. I had been lamenting to Al that we never hang out and eat and drink with friends any more because all of our friends have kids and don't go out much. I really enjoyed myself.

I should do that more often, I think.

Arr, I say, Arr

Michelle has a pirate name and I want one too! And it's cool:

My pirate name is:

Mad Jenny Bonney

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

No one has ever called me unpredictable. I love that!

What's your name?

Everyone else is doing it

While I work on the next Italy entry, here's a quick MEME:


Use ONE WORD for each answer.

Yourself: Discombobulated

Your Partner: Safe

Your Hair: Curly

Your Mother: Unconditional

Your Father: Unresolved

Your Favorite Item: iPod

Your Dream Last Night: Erotic

Your Favorite Drink: Coke

Your Dream Car: Wrangler

Your Dream Home: Cottage

The Room You Are In: Comfortable

Your Fear: Burden

Where You Want To Be In Ten Years: Scotland

Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Al

You’re Not: Ambitious

One of Your Wish List Items: Prada

The Last Thing You Did: Ate

You Are Wearing: T-shirt

Your Favorite Weather: Cool

Your Favorite Book: Possession

Last Thing You Ate: Cheeeeeeeeeese

Your Life: Humdrum

Your Mood: Restless

Your Best Friend: Angie

What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Answers

Your Car: Infiniti

What Are You Doing At The Moment: Typing

Relationship Status: Cuddly

What Is On Your TV: MST (Mystery Science Theater 3000)

What Is The Weather Like: Humid

When Is The Last Time You Laughed: Just

OK

It was a beautiful weekend, if a little warm, but it was still beautiful. I don't know where it went. One minute it was Friday night and I was anticipating a fun-filled weekend and now it's over. Sad. But we can't go to VW car shows, have dinner with friends, learn how to play croquet, sleep in, eat a huge breakfast, and sit around drinking coffee and reading the paper every day.

So.

I got my nerve up and thought I'd post a photo of me with the new haircut.



Just kidding. Here they are







So, that's done. Now I'm going back to working on the Italy posts.

It's All Good

Al is home! He was gone a week and half, but it felt much longer this time for some reason. I can do about a week, but then I’m ready for him to be home. He had a good trip, everyone did well on whatever exercise and he ate a lot and drank some good beer. So, overall, he labeled it a success.

He was so happy to be home. I know this because he must have said it 10 times. At one time in my low self-confidence haze, I just took it as yeah yeah yeah he’s just a homebody so he’s just happy to be back in his own house. But then I realized, Hey! I made this a home! So, I take his happiness to be home as a huge compliment and something to do with the fact that I’m at home, too.

And of course, he was happy to be home because his new laptop had arrived and he’s a happy happy happy camper as he travels the world wide web in record time. Plus, he got a black MacBook, and it just looks damn cool.

-----------------------

When I was in Kansas City, I bought a brownie mix from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Oh…..my…..God! They are so good. But how bad could they be when you melt really good chocolate chunks with a stick of butter then add it to a dry mixture with little chocolate chips in it. Wow. But be sure to have a glass of milk handy because they are so rich, you really need milk. I guess you could add the walnuts to the mixture like the box says, but why would you want to interfere with the chocolate?


However, considering the cost, I’d be just as happy with a Ghiradelli brownie mix or making some from scratch.

-----------------------

I had a momentous day last week—I cut my hair! Well, I didn’t, Katie at the salon did, but considering I had been letting it grow out for a year or more, this was a brave thing to do. And a smart thing—it’s really cute, if I do say so myself, especially since it’s been almost a week and I’ve figured out how to style it to my liking. I told her that I was bored and felt old and dumpy. I didn’t want anything that looked too young or made me look like I was trying to be young but I didn’t want a helmet of perfectly coiffed hair, either. And Katie’s good; she was honest with me about what my hair would do and what it wouldn’t unless I put a lot of products on it and spent a lot of time working with it. And she knows me well enough to know that I don’t want to do that.

I like where I get my hair done, but it is a little disconcerting to walk in and see so many really, really young women in really high-heeled shoes, wearing a lot of make up and with very bleached blond hair. It’s like walking into a Barbie hair shop or a Stepford Wives nightmare. Then getting the bill is always a little shocking, at least for Al. He was looking through the checkbook and unfortunately saw a day when I got my hair colored and cut. You know, we talk about eyes bulging out in surprise, but I’ve never actually seen it done until then. But I reminded him that I told him years ago that having my hair done is a luxury that I budget for. I love having my hair done. I don’t care that it cost him $7 to have his hair cut, considering how little he has, talk about over-charging. So he’s dealing with it.

And I know the next thing you’re saying—so show us! Well, I photograph horribly, but if I can get my courage up, I’ll take one and post it.

-----------------------

Yeah! It’s the weekend and Al’s home. What to do, what to do. If I can get him away from his computer long enough, we’ll find something to do.

Hope you have a great weekend, too.

Sorry

I'm sorry I haven't been around with more tales and photos. I'm working on it, it's just very slow going. I'm having a rough time getting over an allergy attack or maybe it was a cold, I don't know. I just know that it has knocked me on my butt and even though I'm finally feeling better, everything I do exhausts me.

Al's answer is that I should go to the gym, that will help. Well, it probably would, if I could complete any exertion without coughing up a lung and then sleeping for an hour.

I also have been lax in my reading. Sorry about that, too. It's pretty frustrating when even reading wears you out.

I think part of it is also that "post-trip depression" that I always seem to get. You know how it is, 10 days of nothing but fun and excitement, then back to grocery shopping and bill paying. Although, with how busy this year has been, I'm ready for a little more normal and routine.

Plus, Al is going out of town again for about a week and half, so we've been busy getting things ready for his trip. I'm always a little sad when he leaves, but honestly, I'm also a little relieved to have the house to myself for a few days. Going on vacation is wonderful but I don't get any time to myself, so I'll make up for that this coming week by watching chick movies and reading and eating popcorn for dinner. And, the Scottish Highland Games are next weekend in Kansas City. Even though Al isn't here, I'm thinking about going anyway. I just can't resist sheep dog demonstrations.

So, that's what's going on here. Hopefully I'll have more interesting stuff later.

Bits and Pieces

We have a wonderful thing here in Omaha called the Intergenerational Orchestra of Omaha. It was started in 1985 by the Office on Aging and brings together musicians of different generations. You can be in the orchestra if you are 50 and older or are 25 and younger. Both learning from each other and playing music—what’s better than that? Their conductor is Chuck Penington, who in addition to all the stars and orchestras he’s worked with, is best known around here as the keyboard artist for “Music of Manheim” and conductor for the Manheim Steamroller Christmas tour.

My friend’s 13-year-old daughter plays violin with this group, and we went to see them a couple of weeks ago. It was called “Pops and Pie,” and was their last concert of the season. They were wonderful, and I got a slice of home-made peach pie. They played Henry Mancini music, so everyone was bobbing their heads to the Peter Gun theme and the Baby Elephant Walk.

It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I’m really a little jealous. What a great opportunity for the kids and what fun for the older people. I’m too young and too old at the same time! Of course, I also don’t play an instrument but that’s beside the point. I can still listen.

----------------------------------------

We went to a log home show this weekend. We’re not interested in a log home, but we would like to build a timber frame some day. A timber frame still has the warmth of the wood from the frame of the house, which can be exposed as much as you’d like, but it’s not as clunky or chunky or rustic as some log homes can be. Timberpeg was one of the companies there who do a type of “turn key” house, but there were many local companies who were custom builders. One in Missouri still uses the antique hand tools he’s been using for years.

Here’s a picture of a Timberpeg home. Of course, this is pretty elaborate, but you get the idea of the exposed frame.



One of the things we like about this design is that it’s really easy to have an open floor plan. Space! I need my space! Plus, we’re ready for a smaller footprint, which means I want a smaller house so I can get rid of a lot of stuff and can keep it clean easier. Also, when we finally build or buy “the” house that will be our last or at least close to our last house, I want one level.

We need to set a goal for those investments and stuff, and this seems like a pretty darn good one.

----------------------------------------

We watched Casino Royale this week. I knew Daniel Craig was going to be wonderful, at least IMHO. I know people are very territorial about their Bonds, but I’m not a Bond-fanatic, so I can like him all I want.

And after the scene where the bad guy was trying to get information out of a naked Bond sitting in the chair, Al said, “Well, that’s an interesting torture technique.” I think he was a little pale.

But we both liked it.

Well, that’s enough for today.

Tidbits

As I type this, my eyes are dilated because I had my eyes checked today. They’re in good shape, except that they’re getting older and small print is a little harder to read. But they’re fine, which is good because trouble with the optic nerve is very common with MS.

I have a separate appointment to get new contacts and to be re-trained on putting them in. I hate putting in my contacts. They’re large and they let oxygen in so they are comfortable, but I keep missing my eyeball and it takes me forever to get them in. I mentioned this to the MS nurse and she said it could be the MS, so when I told the lady who handles contacts she offered to sit down with me and help me figure out a way to put them in so that it won’t be so frustrating. I never even thought about that. I’ve taken such a strong attitude of just living my life as usual and living with whatever symptoms pop up, that it never occurred to me that there could be help out there! What a concept. Other people have this disease or work with people with this disease and they know some tricks on how to get around the irritating things.

Ya learn something every day. Thank goodness.

________________________

My friend that I attend a quilt group with said she found the perfect t-shirt for me in the latest Signals catalogue. It says “English Major. You Do The Math.” I wanted to put a picture of it here, but the website cleverly disabled my right click. So, you’ll just have to go there to see it.

There were some other clever t-shirts:

As soon as I finish this chapter (see here)

Lead me not into temptation . . . especially bookstores (see here)

Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel (see here)

The Queen is not amused. (see here)
Silly Boys. Trucks are for girls. (see here)

Am I getting older or is the supermarket playing great music? (see here)

Al got me a t-shirt that said “does anal retentive need a hyphen” But it irritated me because it was a question, but it didn’t start with a capital letter nor end with a question mark.

Telling, ain't it?

For the Victims

Please pray for the families who lost their loved ones at the terrifying shooting at Virginia Tech. Please keep the injured in your thoughts and hope for their quick recovery.

Let's also hope and pray for healing for the people touched by this tragic event.

Goodies in the Mail

Newt had a contest and I won! I won good. She sent me my prize and look what I got:





Does she know me well, or what? She made the jewelry (check out the cool closing clasp on the bracelet) and post-its with the book! I'm starting the book today. I've been wanting to read it for a long time, so I guess the Harry Potter re-reads will just have wait.

Thanks, Newt. I can't wait for the next contest!

In other news in Kell's world, I’m knitting a shawl for my friend I’m going to Italy with. Not only is her birthday happening while we are there, but also her husband has bought her an expensive dress so that they can get dressed up and go out to dinner while we are there. Al and I are passing on that, BTW. I like getting dressed up, but I don’t want to bring all that stuff with me. And Al’s idea of a special night isn’t defined as wearing a suit and paying a lot of money for a little bit of food with a lot of sauce around it. He likes it more than he used to, and he did say that if I want to go, we’ll go. But nah.

Anyway, her husband bought her a dress, and I said I would make her a soft, pretty shawl to go with it. Me and my big mouth. I forgot about his taste, so it’s been a struggle trying to find a good yarn to go with it and to decide on a pattern. The dress is metallic green and gold and strapless. I was thinking it would be a little black dress with a little bling, but no, it’s a lot of bling. She’ll look lovely in it, and even though it’s not my style, it is pretty.

So, I bought an ivory silk yarn. It has a little shimmer and it feels luxurious. I was going to make a rectangle shawl because I thought it would be more dramatic, but after 4 goes at this thing and not being happy with any of them, I’m making a triangular one with no pattern instead. It’s just easier. I’m also knitting it on larger needles so that it will look kind of lacey and because I have, of course, waited until the last minute and now have to knit in my sleep to get it done in time.

That's all for today. Y'all have a great weekend.