Oooh...I've blabbed non-sensically 331 times*...

...see? Told you...does that make any sense to anyone else but me?

*translation: this is my 331st post

My mind (and quite frankly my stomach) are all a-twist. For those keeping track...I leave early tomorrow morning to go see my Honey in the UK.

Why yes, I am all excited to go...so why the anxiety?

There's a whole number of reasons...travel anxiety being the main driver to it all. I usually get this way when I travel...you know...have I taken care of everything at work? (yes)...have I taken care of everything at home? (almost, but very very close)...have I emptied the trash...have I washed what clothes I want to pack...have I paid all bills that will come due while I'm gone...did I drop off the rent...

...and it goes on and on and on...to the point of not getting very good sleep...I'm a wreck...

Was telling the Honey this morning that at this rate, I really don't think falling asleep on the plane will be a problem. I'll probably get on and pass out from sheer exhaustion...

The worst part is that I haven't packed yet. I should be packed already....and I'm not...and it's freaking me out.

There's only a few items on the to-do list left now...and those will be done with plenty of time to spare...and leaving me plenty of time to pack tonight.

Really wish I could get my brain to realize that everything is OK.

OK..enough rambling...it's taking away from my panic time!

Anyways...back in a few weeks...I may post a bit while I'm over in the UK...I did promise Antonella a picture of a castle before I got back home, so there will be at least one posting.

In the meantime, don't clean up the Chaos while I'm gone...and take care and see you soon and all that.

New acquisitions...

Strange creature, we have you surrounded...



Step away with your cuteness...EXTERMINATE!!



blink...blink-blink... blink...you can not resist our cuteness strange creature...



Must. Resist. Cuteness...



We Looove you Strange Creature... You cannot EXTERMINATE cuteness...



Could. Not. Resist. Cuteness...WE ARE FRIENDS...





Note: This cute little trio of Kitty photo holders was just given to me by Spencer...a little something he brought back from his trip to L.A. with his Dad over the holidays. They are just adorable... Can't really blame Marvin for failing to resist... They are pretty darn cute!

PS...oooh Stephieface...girl...you know it...and if Gerard Butler just happens to be over there at the same time and just happens to be stuffed into my suitcase...not my fault.

You comment, I comment...

Darci - I got them at Wal~Mart about 5 years ago...my first ever pair of reading glasses.

Stephie - great idea with the finger knitting...

Ready...Set...

...GO!!!! Well not officially until this Friday....you don't think airport security would mind if I went now and just camped out at the gate for a few days, do you? Don't want to be late for my flight...


All I really need for the trip....passport, e-ticket receipt, yarn etc, and knitting glasses (knittin' in style, what can I say)...the Knitpicks goodies just came today. Yay!




And when I get back...this will be waiting...





The colors are gorgeous...absolutely gorgeous. Don't know about the rest of us, but Marvin sure is excited.

WIP it, WIP it good*

No, we haven't moved from Threesomes to S&M...we're just talking Works In Progress...and other yarny stuff... jeez.

And now with the help of Marvin, the D4S (Dalek for Scale), I present...

3 balls Karabella Vintage Cotton colorway 311 (sent in the sweetest care package last Spring from No-Blog-Rachel)and some Patons cotton colorway unknown (but it's an awesome blue color - thrift store find). Have no idea what I'm going to do with it all yet, but I'm definitely going to combine the two colors. Somehow. On something. Will take a while for the cotton to 'talk' to me. OK, OK...I just have no clue what the hell I'm gonna do with it...




The Mystery Blue Thing for my Sis...backside once again...about half way along...the fabric is hard to maneuver at this point...getting harder to work on...I shall prevail... Am debating whether I should take this on the trip...it's getting quite bulky...probably not.



The beginnings of my fingerless mitts...Rowan Tapestry color 177...pattern Paris Roubaix set from Anne Hanson...Love. It. Absolutely love working with the yarn, and the pattern is fabulous. Hope to have the hat and mitts complete by the trip...and will be making this instead of the scarf - and I'll be using the same stitch pattern as the Paris-Roubaix set so it matches. Need something around my neck, but not a long scarf...too much bulk under the new 3 in 1 jacket. I'll probably knit that on the way over.



SWTC Bamboo in the Serendipity colorway (also from No-Blog-Rachel)...pattern Holey Moley...for me... Might take this along...it's an easy knit and very portable.




Caron's Cotton Terry...10 skeins...another thrift store find. Going to be a shitload of face washcloths for me and Spencer... I plan on taking some of this on the trip...washcloths are quick, easy, instant gratification...and a great way to practice new stitches.




Made out of some old acrylic dk weight from my stash and a ton o' green and clear glass beads...Celestine...the beads really make this star...I have 3 points left to make. This will be an awesome addition to our Xmas decoration collection...and I will be making more out of different yarn, beads, etc etc etc...love this pattern. Not taking this...too many needles sticking out of everywhere...could cause a security meltdown...wouldn't want that now would we?!?




So that's what I've got on the needles...there are so many more projects running around in my head...for many things, just not knitting. They'll probably stay there for awhile...

*adapted from Devo, Whip it, 1980

P. S. ...

Yes, Stephiface, Spencer does have one black shoelace and one white shoelace. It's "cool".

Warming up from the inside out...

Having this new stove has inspired me to cook more and more...this time, with Da Pot.

Veggies...



+ Meat...





+ Da Pot...




= YUM! *



Our bellies were full...and warm...until we walked across to the store and bought ice cream for dessert...



*This scrumptious delight, Pirate Stew, comes from Fix It and Forget It Cookbook. ooooh...and they have a Low-Fat version...

Not saying I ever won't....

...but I just got this new button from Grumperina (who just got married btw - congrats!).

I've made 3 sweaters in my knitting adventures, but I enjoy the smaller projects so much more...and the occassional uberly large projects (queen-ish size afghan anyone?!?) as well.

Two of the sweaters were pretty much disasters and one sweater was, well, so warm and toasty I couldn't wear it. If I ever find a photo of any of them, I promise I'll post. I'm sure you'll all enjoy it too...they were all made in the '80's...heh heh heh...

In the meantime, we have this...check the new button over there to the right -->

Enter...Panic Mode...and Other stuff again...

There are only 9 days remaining until Antonella whisks me off to the airport at some ungodly hour in morning. But, The Honey is at the other end of the journey, so it's worth it for sure.

PANIC!!!! OK..just had to get that out of my system. My to-do list of things to-do before I go just seems to be getting longer and longer even though I'm crossing things off that I've to-done.

Yes, I'm babbling. Leave me alone.

I've been unable to knit...which means Big Sis's secret belated b-day present will not be done before I leave. Most likely not done. Seeing that I've not been able to knit and all.

Yes, I'm babbling again. Leave me alone...again.

OK...pulling it together for just a moment, I present Spencer and his most favoritest Xmas present ever...from Grandma and Auntie of course, since Mom's don't ever get their kids cool stuff like Grandmas and Aunties do...

First we take a gander at my baby's feet. The little baby feet on the right would be mine. The ginormous battle cruisers on the left would be my baby's...and my feet aren't really that small...women's 8.5 is not a small, petite foot...unless you put it next to Spencer's size 10 battle cruisers. Which are now pretty much officially size 10.5 battle cruisers...yes folks, it's a winter growth spurt.




And here we have Mom (um, that would be me) trying to get up on the wave board. I decided this would be the most acceptable (to me) photo to post. The others, if they existed, would be of me just about killing myself on this funky contraption...and since they don't exist, that means I don't have to bother erasing all trace of them, and therefore they cannot be published for all the internets to see.




Yes, I'm babbling again...get over it.

And here we have proof that this funky contraption does indeed work, the kid enjoys riding around on it, and yes, Grandma, he does use saftey equipment...ummmm...at least while I was filming him and he was just learning...








OOOh...and since Stephieface likes threesomes so much, we'll give her another one tonight... Let's see Panic Attack, that's One...Grandma and Auntie get major cool points with the Wave Board, that's Two...and a Finished Object, that's Three...yep...another threesome.

And now on to the Finished Birthday Object for The Honey...Happy Belated Birthday Honey!!! (it was Jan 3rd - right in the middle of my "I don't feel like blogging" stint so I was bad and didn't post on his B-day)...




This is a photo of the scarf in progress, as I was so excited to have it done on time to ship off, I was at the Post Office with it all packed up before I realized I had no official FO picture. Not only is it a cabled scarf, but it's a reversible cabled scarf...cabled mostly without a cable needle. Even after all those bazillion and one cables, I still love cables. Oh, and I loved the yarn so much (Rowan Tapestry) that I bought more for myself to make some warm wooly accessories for my trip to the UK.

Maybe I'll remember to get an official FO photo of the scarf while I'm visiting...

OH GAH!!!! I'm leaving in 9 days...excuse me while I go off and panic again...

A woman renewed....and other stuff...

That's right folks...no. more. grey. hair. 'nuf said.

On to the other stuff...

Time for the killing of two birds with one blog post...in other words...it's a twofer! I'm finally getting off my lazy, bloggy ass and posting some stuff. Don't get used to it.

First off...remember this?!?



"That 70's Stove" in it's final moments...sniff sniff...I shall miss you...NOT!

and introducing...



The New Stove. I love it so much I almost want to name it. OK, so I won't go that far, but we do loves it lots! Really changes the look of the kitchen, oh I don't know...by about 30 years or so?!?

And now for a trip back in time to ummm, let's see...June '07...the time of the first visit from The Honey....weee ooooo....weeee...oooooo.....weeeee...ooooo...when he gifted me with this...




...or should I say "Him"... Just over 5" of RC Dalek fun and frolic...

Everyone, meet Marvin...Marvin, please don't Exterminate! everyone...




Isn't he just adorable! My very own RC Dalek!!!! Honey earned major points with this one...him and the sneaky Antonella...but I love it and am glad to add him to my little family of named objects. See? I named him...means I love him! (oooh and bonus points to Honey for bringing batteries)

Yes folks, I am a big Dr Who fan...grew up with him, still watch him...did you know Netflix has the first two "new" seasons on DVD?!? Hoo Hah! (Spencer's new phrase...replaces Booyah)

You folks will be seeing lots of Marvin in the future. I have decided he will be my "Dalek for Scale"...cos every now and then you need a little perspective. Besides, Marvin needs to have something to do once he's done exterminating the remaining plants in the house...




OOOOH....I lied! It's not a twofer, it's a threefer! Who doesn't like a threesome every now and then...

Time for a finished object. Not too many details since it is just about midnight and the blogging magic wears off at midnight...at which time i turn back into a lazy ass blogger...

Meet Sidney...




Just over 12" of cushy, knitted Dalek Exterminating Fun...Now in possession of The Honey. It was his Xmas gift...made from the left over yarn from his Leeds United Scarf. 56 bobbles later...



...and lots and lots of knitting around and around and around and I had a Dalek for Honey. Isn't he adorable? And Marvin isn't in the least bit intimidated because he knows size doesn't matter...It's how you use your ray gun that's important.

OK...so it's past midnight and I'll leave you all contemplating ray guns, size, threesomes and stuff. Any second now, I'll lose all ability to.....damn.

ARGH

OK...nevermind about the sock yarn...my fav color is sold out...it was awesome, trust me.

Guess I'll just get something fabulous while I'm in the UK...that's if I ever even want to see another sock by the time I get there...

Oooooooooh....

I'm sure that no more grey hair and some of this will definitely improve my mood. Just sayin'...

So I'm not a sock knitter...give me about a month. I'm going to learn on the way over to see The Honey. If I do manage to figure out sock knitting, that yarn is M-I-N-E when I get back. It'll be a nice treat....'cause you know going over to see The Honey isn't a big enough one already...

hahaha...I really need to get to bed...

sigh....

Still trying to get my self together and dive in to a post-a-rama here at the Chaos.

Just haven't had it in me to do it yet. I'll get there...eventually.

Today was encouraging and setting back all at once...you know...the ol' one step forward, two steps back routine...

One step forwards....one day closer to my Honey Trip...finished off some stuff with work that has been giving me grief and causing it's fair share of sleepless nights...progress on my sister's birthday + 5 gift (that's actual date of b-day + x amount of days overdue)...back to the treadmill routine regularly (that would mean daily)...have the use of a car for the week...

Two steps backs...more blog fodder keeps popping up, yet I don't get around to blogging about it...about half of all clothes purchased recently for the trip do not fit (that would be the bottom half)...High School application craziness...hair still grey...our Xmas tree is still up (and the little guy is still alive and kicking too)...

Tonight Spencer and I went out for a bit of shopping and looking around. I ended up in the Fitting Room (hell on earth) with some pants. The pants I originally bought at the after-Xmas-sales don't fit...they are too tight. A temporary setback I keep hearing. Yeah, whatever. I know I will get back down, blah, blah, blah...but it still didn't help me feel better tonight as I tried on pair after pair of size 18 jeans and slacks. Just 2 short weeks ago, during my shopping spree at the sales, I was wearing a size 14....and during my brief stint in the size 12's, I promised myself that I would never, ever, ever be a size 18 again. Yet there they hang on the door, my new size 18 jeans. It's all I could bring myself to purchase tonight. They were the last pair of pants I tried on, and the only ones I bought. If I still need size 18's by the time the trip rolls around, I will go and buy the others. Tonight I was too tired, and too emo to fork over the cash. And while I took off the new jeans and folded them up, I had a little sit down and sniffle session. Yes folks, I cried in the fitting room at Wal-Mart. A nice short little wah-wah-wah. Yes Antonella, I gave in to the urge...just couldn't stop it. Once that was done, I picked myself up, and walked off to purchase my new jeans. They fit well, were just the perfect length and were on sale. What more could you ask for...don't say it.

And now I sit here stressed and down...wanting so much to have me a bit of vanilla ice cream. Which I will not because it's almost midnight, I'm hitting the sack after I publish, and it's not a good thing to do anyways. I have in the past turned to food when stressed (both emotionally and physically) and I don't need to get back on that nasty wagon. Don't need to be eating myself into size 20's either...oh HELL no...

Really don't know what mental shape (or if I'll be clothed for that matter) I'll be in come time for the Honey Trip. Screw it all, I'm going anyway. I have a few skirts that fit...and one pair of jeans...and if I still can't sleep, there's always the flights over for a nice long nap or two.

In the meantime, I look forward to the day where I don't feel like a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon anymore, my hair is no longer grey, and I get a good night's sleep.

Well, at least I can do the no longer grey thing...Looks like that's happening before the week is out. I need a mood boost.

A day late and a gift short...

And for something I didn't get a chance to do yesterday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG SIS!!!! Hope you had a good day yesterday!!!

Here's a hint to your gift...yes I'm knitting it...and yes, it's taking me a while...and yes, it's two shades of blue...oh, but this is the back of it. I've been working on it for almost a month now, but the color work is slowing me down. I've never done color work, so it's a learning process. I am getting better at and am beginning to cruise, so you should see this before I leave to see The Honey.




And now for something that has always bugged me about my Sis...she is older than I am (for the interest of family togetherness we shall not mention by how much or in fact any numbers whatsoever) but she has very few of these...




...grey hairs... You can count the number of grey hairs on her head on one hand. Really really ticks me off. I, on the other hand, am not so genetically blessed...neither is Mom... Dad was...didn't show too much grey for the longest time. Lucky.

Mom however, has not been grey for a long time (wink wink), and I'm usually not either (more wink wink). But, I got tired of doing it myself, then figured I would treat myself to a salon cut/color before I went to see The Honey, then life happened.

The Money Pit, aka Spencer's school, has come up with yet another scheme to relieve me of my hard earned ca$h. So...I am back to coloring my own hair and will visit Chris (the god of scissors) for only a cut in a few weeks. Sigh.

In the meantime, I look in the mirror every morning...counting down the days to when I can color it again and it'll stay colored all through my trip...and curse my grey hair genes...and my sister for not having them!

Take a good look Honey...you'll most likely not ever see this much grey on my head again!!

Should I be insulted or run with it?

Go read this article about the new rules for Drivers Licenses that we'll be coming up against soon. Go ahead...I'll be here when you get back...

While I'm ecstatic that I fall in the 'born before the date that shall go unmentioned but you obviously know now' and won't have to deal with it all until much later, I can't help but almost feel insulted that by the time this goes into effect, I will most likely not be a threat to national security.

"The over-50 exemption was created to give states more time to get everyone new licenses, and officials say the risk of someone in that age group being a terrorist, illegal immigrant or con artist is much less. " **

Hah! Tell that to the airlines and courtrooms of America. I like to knit, therefore I am a threat. They must not have gotten the memo...oh, and if you're a 'grannie that knits'...rock on grannies! You can take over the world now and no one will suspect you because you are over 50 and not a security risk.


So this all gets me to thinking then...why on earth does my 70-something year old Mom get frisked every single friggin' time she flies? She's over 50, so she's in the 'low risk of being a naughty person' category and she's not even packin' needles...asswipes.

Anyhoo, when my over 50 time comes, I've got my knitchucks...I'm in...




** Oh grrrr...since I've written this, they've changed the article that I'm linking to, but trust me, that paragraph in quotes is from the original...

Here's some clever...along with a public service announcement...

...actually some lazy...just some copy and pasting of links... but still you will learn and get public serviced in one entry...

Originally linked from Claudia...knitting your food...


...and what do my wandering eyes spot when this is over?


Such a catchy little tune....

Knock knock...

......uhhhhhhhhhh....I'm here?!?

Promise I'll post soon...have lots of fodder, but have been in a very non-bloggy mood. Said fodder includes: Finished objects! Pictures of Spencer getting his latest Karate level! Video of Spencer on his new wave board! Our new stove! Our Christmas tree! Our non-burned all the way cooked Christmas dinner! Works in progress!!!

Told ya there was lots.

OH, and I'll try to be clever and interesting too.

24 days...yes my friends...the countdown has begun. I have e-tickets and passport in hand. The trip to see The Honey is ON! And, yes, I could already be packed, but I decided living out of a suitcase for a month was a little too much, so I will wait until my departure time gets closer...