While the husband is away.....Confessions Part 2

Here we are on Freaky Friday with an actual post specifically for those of you that are knitters:

As it happens, while Grant was away this week, I have received a few knitting books in the mail! My favorite time of day is when the UPS truck comes barreling around the corner and I hear the brakes of the truck screeching to bring it to a stop in front of our house. I am at the door waiting after hearing the metal clanking of the door opening and the driver steps out with my packages. Anyone from Ravelry that has ever seen my library count will clearly see that I love collecting knitting books and magazines!

This week I received 4 knitting books.

The first book was Knitting Circles Around Socks: Knit Two at a Time on Circular Needles by Antje Gillingham

The second book was 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes

Both of these books have great sock patterns and both explain the method for working two socks at the same time on circular needles. "Knitting Circles Around Socks" uses the two circular needle method while "2-at-a-time Socks" uses the Magic Loop method. As someone who is familiar with both methods I find the two circular needle method to be easier and I don't have to buy a special length needle to make a pair of socks. I will work patterns from both books using my preferred method using two circular needles. Either of these techniques are great to master in order to avoid the dreaded 2nd sock syndrome. The patterns in both of these books give a well rounded selection of socks for the family and so far I'm happy to add them to my collection.

The third book was Cover Up with Nicky Epstein: Knitted Afghans from her Personal Collection There are roughly 21 different patterns of afghans in this book and there isn't one of them that I could easily pass on making. At some point, I would like to make them all.....something to look forward to in the years to come.

Okay..I lied, the fourth book is actually a crochet book. It is Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers This is similar to her Knitted Flowers book but a nice companion to have if you are both a knitter and crocheter. I love to embellish simple sweaters for my daughters and so both books have something to offer.

I love collecting and using books as much as I do yarn. The only limit is space, and one can always just add on to the house or move up I suppose.

Only thing left to do is to tuck the books away before Grant gets home tomorrow. He will certainly notice the first time I bring them out....by then my response can be "What? These books?....I've had these for awhile now honey!" 8-)

Taking Vacation to Clean House and......

While Grant is away to the romantic city of San Francisco for a conference, I decided that it would be a good time to use some vacation time to clean the house. Clearly, a decision that I didn't think through. Vacation......to clean the house? WTH was I thinking??

When I'm not cleaning, I'm looking at videos on YouTube ABOUT cleaning. I think the diagnosis here is BOREDOM.

I do think that this girl in the video has the right idea though......




Okay....how bored am I? I have been taking pictures of my yarn!

See?



Oh...and this one has clam shells smashed INTO the yarn apparently....

Can you imagine the grip I'll have on my coworkers when I return to work and give them the blow by blow details of what I did on my vacation?

Daytona 500 - The Race Day

Well, as expected, Grant was ready for the race, including his coordinated wardrobe. He wore a NASCAR T-shirt, although it was covered by the Leather NASCAR jacket which he wore INSIDE the house during the race. He had his Pepsi and AMP Energy Drink, the two main sponsors for the team he was rooting for......apparently.

If you think I'm making this stuff up.....I have photographic evidence.......



The most exciting moment came right before the start of the race when I was logged onto my computer and I happened to see on my blog, the list of "Live Traffic" someone in Daytona Beach, Fl had logged onto MY blog....So, I excitedly raced over to where Grant was sitting waiting for the start of the race and said..."you won't believe this, but.." then I noticed the look on Grant's face which was a combo of concern and puzzlement. I asked him what the problem was and he as he was intently looking at the TV coverage of the Pre race activities he said "I haven't seen Earnhart, Jr. yet". To which I excidedly said "I KNOW...I am trying to tell you, HE IS READING MY BLOG!!".

Grant slowly tilted his head up to look at me with that WTH expression on his face and said "WHAT?"

I said, "don't take my word for it...look at my blog!!"

Grant typed on his laptop (which was already on his lap with some NASCAR forum on the screen) and he logged onto my blog and I pointed out this .....which again...I now have photographic evidence for all you, my readers/fans.



Grant exclaimed "OH $#*^!" (in a beautifully thick Australian accent)

I am really flattered that Earnhart, Jr was reading my blog yesterday, but I hope next time he will wait till AFTER the race. Since now Grant is blaming me and my blog for his finishing somewhere around the 9th or 10th place.

Meanwhile, with all the excitement I still managed to put together this flouncy vest for Jillian!!



And this Tunic Vest for ME!

Daytona 500 Eve - Lessons Learned

Remember this situation that happened on Super Bowl Sunday when Grant:

"....failed however to answer the question "what would you like to snack on and eat on Super Bowl Sunday?" resulting in the early morning realization that on this rainy, windy, cold day he was going to have to drive me to Costco to get provisions. Or starve."

Today when Grant woke up this morning the first thing uttered from him was "I need you to pick up a few things at the grocery store today, for tomorrow".....

Me: "Good morning, why?"

Grant: "Tomorrow is the Daytona 500 and I don't want to have to go run around picking stuff up before the race."

Me: (with my hand in the air to fend him off as he is starting to rattle off his list) "write a list otherwise I will forget something."

Grant looks at me like I have three eyes and walks away muttering.

Later I look at the list he gave to me and everything is recognizable as "necessary man snacks" for your typical Sunday sport day in front of the TV with the exception of one thing...the last item. "AMP Energy Drink".

Me: "What the hell is this?"

Grant: "Oh, that is some energy sport drink of some kind."

Me: "You don't know what it is? Have you had it before?"

Grant: "No, but it is the drink that is sponsoring Dale Earnhart Jr., so I have to have it."

Me: "YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT?"

Grant: "Yes, I want to drink it during the race."

Okay, I stop there because I don't understand it, don't need to understand it....perhaps it is like a new type of cashmere/merino blend of yarn or new knit book that has just been released or something. I know how a good yarn sale triggers an irrational response from me, so perhaps this drink/race/sponsorship stuff triggers Grant that way. Not entirely unsympathetic to uncontrollable urges, I can understand that.....I guess.

If it is anything like my love of yarn, then it could be a can of piss and it simply won't matter. The man HAS to have it.

So....for tomorrow, Daytona 500 Race Day, Grant has his provisions lined up and another 500 miles will be put on the couch. When he signals his PIT CREW (aka ME) for team Husband, the unchallenged champion spectator of race day Sunday. I will happily drop my yarn, run for the refrigerator and grab him his can of AMP Energy Drink before Earnhart's Pit Crew has the lug nuts off the first tire!

Go EARNHART!

Earnhart is one of those race car drivers, right?

Update on the Valentine's Day Gift From the Heart

Jillian and Jimi just wrapped up their Valentine's Day dinner and the events that they both so carefully planned out.

When I came home from work, Jillian was already well into her dinner/evening preparations. However, when she arrived home from school a few hours earlier she came home to find her room fully decorated with over 20 red balloons, a giant balloon bouquet in addition to some pink roses, and a present which was a CD by their favorite group "Just Surrender".(I didn’t even know they had a “favorite group”!) So...by the time I arrived home, Jillian was not only happy and humming, but she was calling me "Mommy", in that sweet happy girl voice.

I haven't been called THAT in years....wait, I take that back...I was "Mommy" last year when she was in the ER with Kidney Stones.

Anyhoo, so Jimi pulled off some great surprises of his own!

Jillian completed her surprise dinner without any problems, even ensuring that the hot dogs were cut into bite size pieces. She carefully made the salad tearing the lettuce...the lettuce she went to the grocery store for so SHE could pick out the freshest head of lettuce!!

This gastro intestinal testing gourmet fare was enjoyed by both on a beautifully set table for two with candles lit.

Janeva (13), Jillian's little sister, is suffering a full blown Gross Out by now from "all this romantic CRAP". So, before Jillian and Jimi sat down to eat, Janeva and I left to figure out what we would do for our dinner. We ended up having dinner at Applebee's and had a great time.



We arrived home after about 90 minutes which I thought for sure was long enough to finish dinner and do the dishes. Apparently "Valentine's Day" ends with the dinner and not with the dishes .....

NOW, I’m thinking the little “Star Trek” Valentine Card which plays the theme song to Star Trek I gave my husband seems a little bland.

So, tonight I'll have to step up my game and surprise Grant with “Lets make a special entry into the Captain’s Log tonight” 8-)

A Valentine's Day Gift from the Heart.

My oldest daughter Jillian has been dating her High School Sweetheart, Jimi, for about 15 months now. Two days ago Jillian came to me and we had the following conversation:

Jilly: "Mom, what are you and Grant doing for Valentine's Day?"

Me: "Grant is going to be working in the evening, so probably nothing much, so I was planning on bringing some work home and staying in."

Jilly: "Oh....um.....well, maybe you and Janeva (her pesky little sister) could go out to eat or something.....maybe?" "What do you think?"

Me (with Homeland Security threat level rising a level): "Why?"

Jilly: "Well I wanted to make Jimi dinner for Valentine's Day....and well.....maybe you and Janeva could go out?"

I had to make sure I heard her right.....not only does Jillian NOT cook, I wasn't sure she even knew where our kitchen was! Jillian's idea of "cooking" is heating up a can of soup......in the microwave.

So this evening after work, Jillian asked me to take her to the grocery store to pick up a few things she is needing for this special dinner. Are you catching this? This dinner includes her going to the grocery store and picking out the food herself!! Jimi is special!

I am trying to figure out what her menu is based what I'm seeing going into the cart. Curiosity got the best of me so I asked.

MENU: Macaroni and Cheese with Hotdogs cut up into it, a Fresh Green Salad ("not that one out of a bag mom") and Strawberry Shortcake.

If that wasn't so damn sweet, I'd be gagging right now!

I bet that when Jimi is presented with his dinner tomorrow night, it will be enjoyed and rival any gourmet cuisine from a five star restaurant.




So for Jillian and Jimi, and to their special evening, may we all enjoy tomorrow and appreciate the simple moments that make life precious. (OH...and I knitted THAT silver shawl for her formal...**bragging**)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

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