We DID...

The long overdue wedding post is now here...

The weather cooperated, hair and dress and shoes all were just fine.  Spencer's suit still fit and he shaved off his beard just for the wedding.  Martin's suit was ready.  We were ready.  Everyone was ready.

Capt Chris performed the ceremony on the top deck of the boat.

Yes, we were married on a BOAT.

In San Francisco.

On a beautiful, sunny day.

We weren't the only ones who tied the knot.  May I present Mr. and Mrs. Cow.

The cake topper came from Etsy.

It was perfect.

The cake was yummy.

Mr. and Mrs. Honey

We Visits da Mooseum Part V - Running Aways

As we came out of da Tower elebator room, we were hit wit lowd skreems.

MC: Dat's not me, I swears!

D: Good heavens. What the hell is going on?!?

MC: Langwij!!!!

D: Oh, sorry. (more screeches and howls, etc) But seriously, what the hell is going on?

As far as we cuuld see dere were kids lineded up to come into da Moosuem. Dis Mooseum. Da one we were in. Dey weren't even insides and we cuuld heer dem screaming. Dey just kept coming off da long skinny yellow tings out in da street.

D: I think it's time we made our escape Ms Cow. It seems the whole of the San Francisco School District has decided to visit this particular museum. Today. Right now.

MC: I don't knoe whut dat means but pweese huwwy and get us out of here. My eers hurts.

We pretty much ran out of da bilding and round da corner.

Where we founded dis GIANT leafs! I wanted to rest in it. It lookded comferibul.

But it was not vewy comferibul cos it had wee spikey thingys all over. It itchyd my bum. :(

Heer is Mr Turtul. Say Hi to Mr Turtul. HI Mr Turtul! He was enjoying da sunshines.

There were pwetty floaty flowurs.  See dem? I pointses to dem.

And big twistee twee twunkses!

As we were cwossing da street to go waits for da MUNI, we herd a vewi LOWD skweeeels. I think 100 kidses skweeelded all at da same time.

Kids: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT'S A TURTLE!!!! IT'S ALIVE!!! OMG !!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE LOOK AT THE TURTLE!!!!!!!

Mr Turtul's relaxing day in da sunshines came to a qwick end at dat time I wuud tink. Pore Mr Turtul. I shur hope he swamded away frum da skweeeeling kids!

Just den, da MUNI came and we roded back to downtown City. We were hungwe and needed some peeeses and kwiets. We got lost in da Westfield Mall lunch crowd in a quiet corner and ate a nice calm lunch before we heded to da trane to goes home.

On da way out, Donna baut a Beerded Pappa yummy thingy. We waited until later to enjoy dat one doe. When we were comfy and relaksing at home where it was kwiet, we nommed it!

It was vewi gooood! Yumi yumi! Den we took a naps cos it was a loooooooooong and tyring day. Wit some scawi bits.

D: It wasn't very scary.

MC: It was to me!!!! Espeshully when dat ladee appeered like majik to say yuu was in twubbls agen.

D: Oh hush.

 

Donna's notes:

As you can probably tell, we didn't really have the best of days out, but we were actually grateful to have had the chance to at least try.  I don't think we'll be heading out to any sort of museum any time soon - especially if we really want to relax and enjoy the day.  If the rules don't get to you, the million screaming kids will. I've come to the conclusion that there really isn't a good time to go to a museum .  During the week, there are the busloads of school kids.  On the weekend, there are all the people who couldn't go during the week.  During the summer, there are the families, the tourists, etc etc etc.

 

I am grateful about one rule tho, no using cell phones.  And just to add emphasis to that one, I'm pretty sure they have some sort of blocker in place - or maybe it's just what the building is made of - as I lost signal before I even entered the museum and didn't get it back until I was about a block away waiting for MUNI.

 

One important lesson I did learn.  Next time I want to see an exhibit, I'll buy the book.  Even better, I'll get the book from the library. I'd be able to settle in at home under a comfy blankie with a cup of tea, or in a big comfy chair at the coffee shop and just enjoy the pictures in the brightest light I could find.

 

I'll save time and my sanity...and buy some fancy-pants yarn instead.

We Visits da Mooseum Part IV - Roming rownd da Mooseum

After we came out of da resting room, Donna had decided it was time to goes and sees da rest of da Mooseum. We turnded off da head phony thingy and made our way quickly through da rest of da pretty dresses.

Off to da corner at da end of de dark rooms dere was a wee shop and a study hall for fashion peoples. We couldn't go in da study hall room and we were sad because dat would have made the whole trip and all da rules worth it just to see the bookses in dere!

Instead we went to da wee shop and looked at all da books about da dresses. There was lots of lights and we could see!

Donna bought me a posty card with my favorite Balenciaga fashun sketch.




And a book about fashun for us to shares.




We decided it was time for a break and we'd go find a nice spot to sit and relax. Donna wanted to knit on da secret project and I wanted to read da new book!


D: Hmmm....it seems the Museum is conserving energy. How can anyone see the art of it's NOT LIT?

MC: I read somewhere dat lyts can hert art.

D: Well, I can understand that, but good grief! I can't SEE anything.

MC: OOoh...I see lots of lyts. Over dere, walks over dere!

At dis time, we walked into a large room. It had GIANT pikchurs, and da room was lit by skylights in da most buutiful way.

D: OOoh, good call Ms Cow. Look at all the benches. Let's sit for a bit and just relax.

MC: Soundses really good to me.


All this peeses and calm lasted about 2 minutes. It ended as soon as I lookded at da portaits. Da faces were scawy wit BIG EYES dat followed you. We moved to diffewent benches 3 times!

We moved to da next gallery wit pottery. Bowlses and vases shuld be safes, ryt?

No benches.

MC: Ooooh, look at all dose chairses in da nekst room!

D: Those aren't for sitting.

MC: But dey are chairses. Dat's what yuu does with chairs. You sits in dem!

D: Not these, they are an exhibit.

MC: I'm confuused. Dis place doesn't make senses. Can we goes now?

D: I think we should. That puffy chair in the exhibit is looking quite inviting and I'm sure we'll be arrested if we go sit in it...

MC: Don't does dat. Yuu been bad enufs alreddy. sigh.

On the way out Donna handed over da head phony thingy and I noticed a syne by the door dat sed "Tower dat ways".

MC: Whuts a tower?

D: It's a very tall part of a building. Why do ask?

MC: Dat syne sez "Tower Dat Ways"

D: Do you want to see what a tower is?

MC: Yes. It sounds like dere is lots of lyts dere.

D: Indeed. Which way? Oh yes, off we go.

We rode in an elebator for a long time. When we got out we saw pretty tings...






And fars away tings...

When Donna tookded dis pikchur she sorta freekded out..

MC: Whuts rong nauw?

D: Crap. Do you see all those skinny yellow things in a row?

MC: Yes.

D: They are filled with children coming to see the musuems.

MC: Dis Mooseum?

D: Maybe this one, maybe the one across the road. Either way, it's a good time to leave the area.

MC: ok, I is hungwe agen and yuu ate all da waisins.

D: Did not.

MC: Did too.

D: OK. OK. Let's go before we get shushed.

At da base of da tower was a very cool hanging wire sculpchur thingy. Donna took a pikchur. And da flash wents off even doe she sed for it nots to go flashee flashees.

SC: No flash photography ma'am.

MC: SCREEEEAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!! Dere was nowun dere 2 sekunds ago!

D: Ms Cow! My ear!!!!

MC: BUT BUT BUT

D: Yes, I know. Let's just leave. It's for the best.

MC: Sorry but she scareded me! Popded up out of noweres and scareded me! ACK!

Here's the illegal pikchur. At leest da scawy ladee didn't makes us deletes it...

We Visits da Mooseum Part III - Braking da rools

About half way throughs, Donna started coughing. She choked out something about perfume and reached into the backpack for her small bottle of water.

SC: Excuse me ma'am, you can't have beverages in the exhibit room.

D: Oh, sorry, didn't mean to choke to death in front of a Balenciaga masterpiece.

SC: You'll need to put that away now, how did you even get that in here?

D: I was searched when I came in, you tell me. It's one big section and when you look in the bag you can see it.

SC: You must have hidden it.

D: (opens the backpack and shoves it at the SC) Can you see it or not?

SC: Yes.

D: Then it's not hidden, is it?

SC: Just make sure you don't pull it out again.

D: Did you notice it's spill-proof?

At this moment, Donna spots a resting room and decides we needs to go in dere (spelly chekses I ignors yuu).

It was a very pretty resting room. It was also vewy, vewy green.



D: mumble mumble rules mumble can't see mumble mumble mumble... I'm hungry Ms Cow. Do you want to share some raisins?

MC: Yes! Dat sounds yumi. Hey!!!!!! You're gonna gets in twubble agen. I'm sure it's not in da ruuls dat you can eats waysins.

D: Well, we're in the bathroom. They can't come in here and try to keep me from eating raisins, taking pictures and drinking my water.

MC: But but but yuus brayking all da ruuls!

D: There are no rules like that for bathrooms. Not yet anyway. Raisins?

MC: Why yes, tank yuus vewi much! Nommity nom nom.

We Visits da Mooseum Part II - Donna gets in twubbls

(Just a quick note: there are 5 parts to this story.)

We showed our pass to the nice man at the entrance and went inside.

MC: Hay! Hoo turned off da lights?

D: That's the way it is...it's dark in here. I can barely see anything.

MC: Ask dem to turn da lights back on, I can't see.

D: gah. I don't have enough hands to hold my pack and work this audio thingy... (puts backpack on her back)

SC (security guard): Excuse me, I'm going to have to ask you to take off your pack while you are in the exhibit.

D: huh?!?!?! Oh, sorry, just need to get this audio thingy set up and I'll take it off.

SC: You need to remove it now ma'am.

D: Well, can you hold it while I get this stupid thing set up?

SC: No...(walks away mumbling)

D: Wonder what they'll do if I put my backpack down on the floor. Or better yet, this exhibit here, it's the perfect height.

(SC turns and gives D a dirty look.)

MC: Great, you gots us in twubbls. Why didn't you askses dem to turn on da lights?


At this point, we got the headphone thingy working and we walked through the exhibit - with Donna carrying her backpack. It took her a few minutes of looking at pretty dresses to finally stop grumbling about it.

It was really hard to see most of the dresses as it was quite dark in the rooms where they were... It was very dramatic and all, but since Donna doesn't see well in lowered light, she wasn't having a good time. There weren't many peoples in the exhibit yet, but we all managed to bump into each other quite frequently. I'm sure it had something to do with not being able to see each other very well.

We visits da Mooseum Part I - Getting dere.

I'm going to tells da storee abowt owr visit to da Mooseum, but Donna sez I has to uuz da spell chex. Pooh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last Thursday (May 19th - ok so I'm a bit behind, it's hard to type with hooves and Donna took forever to give me da pikchurs), Donna took the day off so we could go to the de Young Museum to see the exhibit about Balenciaga and his designs.

We woke up early to catch the 8am bus to BART and made our way all the way to Golden Gate Park. It took us over an hour to get there so we had to stop and visit a resting room, get a snack and then get on MUNI for the last part of the trip. I have decided I don't likes the MUNI.

We got there soon after the Museum opened and saw some cool things on the way round to the front entrance.






We got searched at the door. Actually, Donna got searched. I burrowed deeper into her backpack because I don't like being searched. MOOOOOOO no likey.

At this time, Donna started cussing under her breath.

MC: whats is wrong?

D: I can't carry my backpack on my back? That's where I'm supposed to carry my backpack. And it's heavy!

MC: Is u twying to say I'm fats?

D: No, I've got a water bottle, snacks, a book, a sketchpad, pencil case, the secret knitting project, a pashmina, and a petite flower of a delicate Cow in my backpack. It's. Just. Heavy.

MC: Wy kants yuu ware da bakpak?

D: Something about not wanting me to back into priceless art. Some idiot must have done that at some point so now the rest of us have to follow more rules. My back already aches, this isn't going to help.

MC: lets just go gets da tikets.

D: Good idea. Oh look how my backpack swings back and forth while I carry it in my hand. It would be much safer on my back where it belongs.

MC: Oh stops whyning alredde. U gonna gets us in twubbls. Get the tikets!!! Get the tikets!!!

The nice lady at the desk gave us tickets right away. We were early and there was no line. Donna seemed to cheer up when she saw the headyphone thingies. We added on the audio tour and off we went up the steps to the exhibit.

Raisins

Or should I say "wayzins".

Remember Ms. Cow and her "raisins from Bike to Work Day"?

Yes. Nomity nom nom...

Well, Ms Cow convinced Cow that he needed to try raisins too, so when Honey's Mum came for a visit, she bought some raisins at the grocery store for Cow.

I think they got a bit carried away.

Enter the sad time...

...well, Honey has gone back home and I'm very sad about it. We had an entire month together and somehow it felt like it was only a 2 weeks. It definitely didn't last long enough. We had lots of things planned, only did one or two things. The most important thing tho is that we did all that "nothing" together.

I miss you Honey!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now the hard work begins.

There are lots of things going on right now, all of which are a HUGE strain on me emotionally, mentally, physically. Separately, there are not that bad, but all at once...I'm having problems dealing.

I'll get back into the swing of juggling anything and everything all at once again, I'm just not up to it right now.

Lots of things need to be done, earned, saved, moved, given away, made, sold, cleaned, and so on and so on.

In a few days or so I'll sit down and try to map it all out. This time, I'm going to try and write it all down instead of just keeping it up in my head. That doesn't seem to be working too well for me.

Most of it won't be put out here in details, but you will hear from me every now and then - hopefully more than last year.

Then again, I might get chatty and then you'll be begging me to just shut the hell up already.

In the mean time, I'm going to mope about for a few days and let myself feel nothing but the "missing of the Honey" before I jump back into the Chaos full force.

Ms Cow and I WILL see Honey and Cow again this year. We WILL!!!!!

Sniff.

Sigh.

Pass the damn chocolate.

Ribbitty Ribbit Ribbit

...squeak squeak squeak...

We're into the residual cough/rough voice/no voice part of this doggone cold.

The sore throat comes and goes.

I'm so full of tea and water, etc I slosh when I walk.

Honey leaves in 8 hours (his time of course) to catch his first plane.

That reminds me...need to sign up for flight status thingies so I'll know if he's delayed on the way here.

Wishing I could have taken care of a few things this weekend...like laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Oh well. The grocery store is right across the street and I can last a few more days before I absolutely HAVE to do laundry. :)

Ms Cow did have her Spa time last night. She had a lovely "bubbelee baff" and is now all clean and pretty to meet Cow at the airport tomorrow.

Wish I could say the same...sigh.

After 2 years apart, I don't think Honey will care that I have grey roots... I know I don't give a hoot about it right now. :)

Gee...almost a month between posts!

Hey, I'm on a roll...

Sorry no postie. I've been really busy at work. On a computer and sitting all day equals total aversion to sitting down in front of a computer at night.

I've been sitting, but not with the computer.

I've done a few rows of knitting here and there. I've been reading. I've been listening to someone else read (books on CD anyone?). I've been playing Xbox (yes, I do). Mostly tho, I've been collapsing on the couch after dinner and falling asleep.

I've started a Pilates class on Wednesdays at noon. Unfortunately I'll have to stop that after this month. I just can't keep up with it financially. I am going to get 2 good months out of it, so hopefully can continue on my own.

Been on the bike a few times.

I voted. Ms Cow wrote in Cow for Parks and Grasses Boss. Wonder what the vote counters thought of that. :)

Found a great hairdresser. Got great new color, went bold on a new, shorter cut. Lost a great hairdresser. Went back for great new color and to maintain cut. Color worked, cut, not so much.

Growing out hair...and will most likely go back to coloring my own hair again. I can color my own hair in an hour as opposed to 3 hours at the salon. And will still save money over getting it done at a school. As for cuts, I can go to the corner and get a quick trim for $10 with a coupon. Bim bam, I'm outta there! No more wasting an entire Saturday morning or afternoon sitting in a chair smelling chemicals for 4 hours.

It was good while it lasted. The salon folks were very friendly and really listened to what I wanted to do with my hair. I just can't do it any more. Sigh.

I really do like my new cut, but it's a pain. It grows out way too quickly. I can't pull it back and still look nice - it takes about 8 clips to hold it back cos it's so thick. I look like I was having something done at the salon and had to leave in a hurry.

If I leave it down, I get hot. Really hot. Especially when riding my bike. It's like wearing a really really thick woolly hat that dips down over the back of my neck. All the time.

No thanks. I like the option of either putting it up or wearing it down or wearing it half up or whatever.

So I'm going to let it grow back. I miss my biking braids too. :)

Went thru an episode of Kitty not sleeping and MEOWING all night long. Is why I've been so damn tired. No sleep will do that to you. She's sleeping again now, but I'm still not. Sigh. I'm getting better but I swear I still hear her MEOWING even tho she's sound asleep at the end of the bed.

I've been trying to organize and get rid of about half of what I've got in this place before Honey and Cow arrive. Less than 40 days now and the place is not quite where I'd like it to be. I've got lots of things that need to go away and now need to find a way to get them away.

Getting a few items from a very generous friend that need new homes and I really could use here, so need to get back to work. They are arriving tomorrow.

Before I forget again...

Happy Biking Anniversary to me and my pretty pretty bike. Three years last month (Oct 16th) and still going strong. Really wish I could get myself in your saddle a lot more often.

Time to sort, organize and pack up give-aways!

Conversation with a Cow

First of all I'd like to explain something... Ms Cow's 'talking' style. Combine a small voice, lolCats speak, an attitude and a slight Chicago accent...and there ya go.

On the way home from work yesterday, Ms Cow and I had this conversation.

Ms Cow (MC): Oh my, she nots gonna likes dat.

Me: Who's not going to like what?!?

MC: da Queen!

Me: What in the world are you talking about?

MC: you didn't see da big words next to the place where the cars goes fast?

Me: Huh?

MC: dere! DERE!!!!

Me: oh...the billboard next to the highway...

MC: YES!! Dat ting. Dat BIG ting.

Me: It just said "Tattoo Expo at the Cow Palace". What's the big deal?

MC: Dat's not right. Exposing all dem tattoos in fronts of da Queen.

Me: Um...the Queen won't be there Ms Cow.

MC: Yes she will. Is da Palace of Cows, right?

Me: Ummm

MC: Dat's where da Queen of Cows lives!

Me: ummmmmm

MC: Yous just can't goes in dere exposing your tattoos to Her Majesty da Queen Cow. She's vewi sensitives about dat sort of ting. She will not bees amuses.

Me: Ummm...Ms Cow?

MC: yah

Me: I hate to be the one to tell you this, but there is no Queen Cow that lives at the Cow Palace.

MC: What?!?!?!?!

Me: It's just a big building and it just happens to have a name that has the word Cow and the word Palace in it.

MC: Dat's not right. Queens always lives in Palaces.

Me: I'm sure they do, but this big building isn't a palace, it's just a big, big building where lots of people go to have big meetings and expos.

MC: I hopes you not going to drags me dere den. I don't wants to see no tattoos exposing.

Me: Don't worry, I don't either.

MC: Good. Can we go when dey are done exposing dere tattoos?

Me: We can go when there is a big meeting that we want to go to...ok?

MC: OKs...I still don't believes you about dere not being a Queen dere...I has to see for myselfs.

Me: OK, but we're not going there until there is something we'd like to see. Next Spring will be the Flower Show. You'd like that, wouldn't you?

MC: Noms! Yes, I'd likes dat vewi vewi much! Da Royel Gardens will haz lots of good flowerses and grasses to noms!!!

Me: Sigh. (hand to head...)

See ya later...

I've got the use of a car for the next 2 days.

Tomorrow I go to Sacramento to a conference - standing in for my friend who is starting his own business.

The next day, I will be loading the car up with a few heavy boxes and some chairs to take for donation. I asked, he said sure no prob, so I'm going to be getting rid of some major stuff. As much big and heavy stuff as I can! Might as well. No way I'm gonna take any heavy boxes the usual way via bus!

Spencer will be getting rides to and from BART as well. I think on Thursday I'll actually be driving in to SF to pick him and his bike up after school so he can have it here for the weekend.

Time for bed, I've got to be at the Sac Convention Center at 8am, so it's a VERY early start for me and Ms Cow. She insists on coming. Anyway, she's my navigator, so if we get lost, it's HER fault. hahahahaha!

Today's guest bloggers are....

...Hi everyone, today we have guest bloggers...Cow and Honey...Ms Cow and I are recovering from our afternoon at the SF Bead & Design Show yesterday (no photos). Lots of ideas swirling round in our brains. I think my crafting Mojo is actually coming back. Yay!!!

Anyway, on to Cow and Honey...

Helo evribody. Martin has been nagging me to rite a blogpost so I am gowing to rite about howe to get to sea Ms Cow.

Mi firts plan was to desine and bild a bote with sales, and sale acros the see to Ms Cow. Martin was desining the outside of the bote, and i was desining the inside, with places for us to slepe, and hav cow parteys, and a baffrum, but no baff, cos cows dont do baffs. But martins screen broke, and he dusent hav a bote desining program on the old puter. He sed that we can use pensil and paper, but he makes to meny mistaiks and we wud need lots and lots of paper.

Then wen he was cleening owt the kichen he left the model plane a frend had maid on the cher with me and I cud hav a gud luk at it. It is a very fast plane with lots of supersonix so I thort i cud lern to fly and then i cud sea Ms Cow very very cwikly. But Donna sed plane luks just like a target drone and the er forse wud shute it down! Thats not fare!!! I cud paent it blak and wite so theyd nowe it was me but Martin sed they use radar and that dusent sea colors.

But now i hav a new plan! We saw a syense program on the tely, and they torked abowt cwontums. cwontums is wen a partykul is in 2 places at wons, but there very clos together. And they had a pussy cat that was alive and ded at the sam time, but i didnt undestand that bit. Cows ar much cleverer than partykuls, so I cud be here with Martin, and with Ms Cow and Donna at the sam time!! I just need grat big laser and a wite cote, so peepl nowe im a syentist.

Ok, this post now has two authors... Don't you just love these science shows that over-simplify everything? I've tried explaining that the distance between the places a particle might be is governed by its mass, not how clever it is; and that a particle doesn't get to choose where it might be, so there's no guarantee that all Cow's particles would end up in the same two places; and the pussy cat idea shows that one of the two Cows might be alive, and the other one dead! I'm making some headway with that one, because the thought of a dead Cow as well as an alive one would definitely upset Ms Cow. I'll concede on the white coat though, Ms Cow will indeed think he looks clever as well as handsome in a white coat...

Cow is currently conferring with Sidney the woolly dalek, which really concerns me, because with Sidney anything including lasers will involve exterminating things, since that's what daleks do, even cuddly woolly ones. If you hear in the news that the north of England has been reduced to a smoking ruin, you'll know that Cow's career as a quantum physicist has been less than totally successful. And I only made one mistake when we were designing his boat; serves him right for constantly demanding we make it bigger!

NOTE: Cow refuses to use spell check. Honey says that Cow complains that the red squiggly lines are very annoying. D'oh. Maybe we can get Ms Cow to convince him that he really needs to use spell check...

Cowmon Sense and Dressing Up

Hello fellow Fashionistas!

Last post we chatted with Ms. Sammie and we came to the conclusion that she looks FABULOUS just as she is...well, she does!!!

Which gives me a pretty good lead into today's post...

We're going to discuss "working what you've got". Basically, we are all individuals with our own styles and "looks" and we should "work it"! Those in the fashion industry really love that phrase. Those younger fashionistas out there use the term "rockin' it". She's really "rockin' that outfit"!

A few weeks ago, I lost one of my nose spots. I was embarrassed and I was afraid to go out or be seen by anyone.




Well, then Donna and I saw on the news about something very exciting happening in San Francisco and it drew us both out last Saturday (I'll explain later) - even with only one nose spot. I didn't care, I had to go!!! While we were out and about, I learned a lot of important things about myself and others.

There were so many people out and about in the City. It was a beautiful day! I did a lot of people watching as I peeked out from Donna's bag. So many wonderful outfits, so many fashion disasters. It was all so wonderful... We stopped for a rest by the waterfront at a little park by the Bay Bridge. There were lots of doggies there playing in the sun. One doggie had a doggie wheelchair!




Lots of people kept stopping and pointing and taking photos, but he didn't care. And neither did the other doggies. They were all running about, chasing balls, sniffing each other and playing all sorts of doggie games! We sat and watched them play for a while. I thought to myself, he's really "working what he's got". He doesn't care what anyone else thinks of his wheelchair. He's doing his doggie thing and no one is gonna stop him!

Sometimes we choose how we look (clothes, hair color, glasses, etc), sometimes we don't (tall, short, round face, etc). As long as you are comfortable with your "look", no one can tell you it's good or bad. We'll definitely wonder whether some of you have mirrors at home or not (you with the pink eyebrows and fried hair, I'm talking about you), or some of you may make us uncomfortable or even jealous.

There were so many "looks" out there. Definitely a "Good, Bad, and Ugly" sort of day. It was fantastic!!!

OK, now it's later, so time to tell you what drew me out of the house with only one nose spot...

The San Francisco Opera had a costume sale!!! They opened their warehouse to the public and put up 25 years worth of costumes for sale. Partly to clear out their inventory, mostly to raise money for the Opera. We saw it on the news Friday night and just HAD to go take a look.

The day started out with going to the bike shop with Spencer where they did the final adjustments on his bikebikebike. He left from there to go riding with his friends, so Donna and I took off to SF for the sale! She was so excited she hardly slept Friday night. She kept mumbling something about it being a bit of a dream come true. So many wonderful, hand made costumes in one place!!!!

When we finally arrived, there was a very long line...it was about 4 blocks long! In the sun. We had no water, no sun screen, and no hats. We were totally unprepared. We knew we were in trouble when we started seeing people with lawn chairs, coolers and sun umbrellas as we walked further down the line. We were so out of our league. As we turned round and headed back towards downtown, we vowed we would try again at the next sale. This time we would go EARLIER and we'd be ready for ANYTHING! All we really wanted was to look at how the costumes were made and then look at the really fancy ones and try on some too! How fun would that be?!? There were some designed by Versace!!! There was even a long beaded dress by Bob Mackie! How exciting, no?

Donna and I just love costumes. We love to look at them, design them, and construct them. I'm studying costume design now...





...so it was very disappointing for us not to get into the sale. We were a bit upset at the world, and that's when we went wandering about trying not to feel too sorry for ourselves. It was a gorgeous day out, so we didn't want to come and lock ourselves away all day again.





We even had a visitor stop by as we ate our lunch!



Anyway, back to costumes... Costumes are fun! They can transform you into anything you want to be - not to mention they are fun to design and to make! It's fun to be someone or something different every so often, but you don't need to do it all the time - just be your own wonderful selves!!

Today is one of the most favorite days of all in the US to dress up - Hallowe'en!

So remember, be yourself - work your own style - have fun dressing up - and use your Cowmon Sense! Happy Hallowe'en!

Next post we'll take a look at a new book we picked up the other day - talk about FABULOUS!



The Kyoto Costume Institute's: Fashion, a history from 18th century to 20th century...drool!!!!

Oh, and Donna has fixed my nose! Yay!

Still working hard at being unemployed...

Hello everyone,

Things have been tough in the Chaos here. Lately I've been a bit down so NOTHING is getting done around here. Just the basics to get by. Being sick last week, disappointment after disappointment and life in general has just been dragging me deeper and deeper.

No creativity let loose, no making of anything, no sorting, no organizing. Nothing.

I get up late, I chat with Honey for an hour, I sit on the couch with the Kitty and read or sleep the day away. Horror of all horrors, I've actually been watching daytime TV!!!! Talk shows only, no soaps, and the talk shows are of the more "classy" type. No Jerry Springer or that other dude allowed. Sometimes I put on Discovery Channel all day.

I've learned a lot about building cars (Overhaulin') so I guess it's not really time wasted, right? Yeah, right.

My Mom and Sis sent grandma's vintage beads on Saturday. The USPS attempted delivery on Monday (that was QUICK!!). Silly me decided to go out and enjoy the nice weather, so I missed them. I've been trying to get it re-delivered ever since. I finally cornered the carrier today and he promised he'd bring the box tomorrow.

I can't wait to get my hands on them! I have lots of plans in my head and hopefully I can pull myself up and out of my current funk enough to work with them and get going on some really cool stuff!!! Which I hope I can continue and grow into SOMETHING going on around here besides moping and feeling sorry for myself.

Today I decided I need to put myself on a schedule. Time blocks need to happen for daily/weekly chores, deep cleaning, sorting/organizing, creating/making, bike riding, exercising, relaxing, and so on. I need to pull myself up and get my butt in gear or NOTHING is going to keep getting done. And I want this place looking good by Christmas. I want to start the new year with an organized place. I know if I just made myself do something little every day, I could do it. There really isn't that much to do, I only need to apply myself a whole lot more.

I'm even thinking about going back to school. Don't know what I'd study yet, but the thought is there - again. Especially since I'm having such bad luck on the job front.

On the wrist front, I've been dealing with pain from a "cyst" type thing on my wrist. My insurance company is stalling the doc's office. They're not being very timely with responses for pre-auths, etc. I don't know what is worse, the pain or the frustration. Meanwhile, the pain gets worse and worse. Gee thanks insurance company. So glad you care so much for your members. So very glad this isn't life threatening.

On a happier note, Ms Cow will step in and do some more fashion posts. She's really getting into this...she is making notes for a post as I type. We bought a new book about Fashion History and she's had her nose in it since Monday. I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Part 2 of My Chat with Ms. Sammie

Ms. Cow: Hello again my dear.
Ms. Sammie: Meow...meow.

MC: Remember I said I'd have some things for you to look at?
MS: Merowww...
MC: OK, let's get started then...Here we have humans trying to get with the black and white...



I think it's too geometric.
MS: Meow!
MC: I knew you would agree. Here we have some Ben and Jerry Cows being well, Ben and Jerry Cows. They are very...um...avante garde...



MS: Merow?!?!?!?
MC: OOOH! Look at this Ms Sammie. A kitty really going all out for the black and white Cow look!!



MS: MEOW! Meow meow meowmeowmeow....MEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!
MC: Yes, my friend, I agree. It's a bit much and really, Kitties should stay Kitties and Cows should stay Cows. It's the way Nature intended.

MS:MEOW!
MC: Exactly and you really do wear that solid white well.
MS: meow (blushing)




Until next time, use your Cowmon Sense!!

New Feature...Cowmon Sense Fashion with Ms Cow!

Welcome everyone to Cowmon Sense Fashion!!!

Donna is off working very hard at being bored and so on, so I decided to post a little something for the fashionistas out there. She made me promise to use spell check so that everyone would understand my fashion tips. She has a valid point. Sigh.

For those of you who don't know me, I love Fashion! I watch fashion shows on TV, I read fashion, design and sewing blogs on the internets, and I read fashion, style, and sewing magazines. I am a student of design and hope to have my own cowture line some day. I have my own little notebook that I carry round taking notes and jotting down ideas, and of course, sketching out my designs. I'd show it to you, but it's all top secret. Don't want any naughty fashion spies stealing my designs!

My first post today will be about Black and White. It's the latest thing! And being a Black and White Cow, I'm at the height of fashion. Today I interview Ms Sammie, local house cat and demon kitty from hell - who is ALL WHITE.





Ms Cow (MC): Hello my dear. Can we talk?
Ms Sammie(MS): Meow.




MC: Ms Sammie my friend...you've got the White bit down...you need some black to break it up. It's just so...pale. You're not a Vampire Cat are you?
MS: Meow.
MC: Let's have a look at you...lovely coat (pet pet pet)...yes, some black here and there would be fab!!!
MS: purrrrrrrrrrrrr





MC: Yes, yes, yes, that's all nice, but what are you going to do about getting some color?
MS: Meow
MC: Getting hair color dripped on you when Donna is coloring her hair is not quite what I had in mind...
MS: MEOW!




MC: Yes, yes I know...it's color...but it's brown. She needs to dye her hair black. Then you go give her a nudge. Better yet, take the bottle of dye from her! That spot is just too small.
MS: meowwwww
MC: You tried my dear, you tried. Don't fret, she'll be at it again in 4 weeks. We have time to formulate a plan...

Next episode, we'll have some examples for Ms Sammie to look at...until then use your Cowmon Sense*!

(*copyright 2009, Ms Cow Cowture)

Black and White and hope you read it all over...

Hello everyone. Today I'm turning over the blog to some guest bloggers who will be making appearances every so often. All that excitement over bikes and tires and evil poking thorns has just worn me out. I need a rest.

And now, take it away guest bloggers!!!

Hello evriwone! My name is Ms Cow. My bestest frend Cow and I will be stepping in whenevr Donna gets too bizzy or lazy to blog. Today we are just going to tell a bit abowt ourselfes. I'll go ferst.



I live with Donna and Spensr in there howse in Kalifornia. My best frend Cow lives in Eenglind with her Honey. My othr frends are Kitty, Sock Munky, Marven the Dalek for skale and Sidney the knitted Dalek (he also livs with Honey and Cow very far aways). Cow and I haf desided that we haf a solushun for this far away stuffs. I am lerning how to drive and will drive across the U.S. to meet him when he sales over in his bote.

Here I am bukled in safe.



I likes to du many things but will safe that for othur posts.

And now it's Cow's tern:



Helo evribody. My nam is Cow and I liv in Inglund with Martin. My bestest frend is Ms Cow but she lives a long long way away with Donna so I hav maid a cuning plan. I hav desined a bote so I can sale acros the see. Martin has tort me som notts and I hav red a buk abowt saling and I hav bean lerning navygaiting with his gps. It is very esy cos you pres a buton to tell it were your going and it tells you were to turn left or rite and even wich rode your on. Heer is a pikchure of the bote



Martin ses we hav to maik a complykated pikchure cald a lines plan befor we maik the bote so I hav bean helping him do that. Wen he isn’t luking I maik it a bit bigger so ther is mor rum for Ms Cow to hav cow partys! But don’t tel him that or hell be cros.

My other frends are Soc Monkey, and Sidney and Marvin the daleks. Next time I will tell you mor abowt them, and abowt wen Martin and Donna took us on a ship, and we sat in the captens char.

Mooooooooooooo


Heer we ar togethr on a visit




(Editor's Note: The Cows didn't want me messing with their spelling this time out. I told them they really need to take advantage of the spell check function as I'm not going to spend all day correcting their spelling - I'm supposed to be on a break!!! We'll see how that works as they are both very stubborn.)

Sammie on Sunday is postponed to bring you...

...Kublacon weekend...

We got home at 1am on Friday night/Sat morning....

3am Saturday night/this morning...

Just walked in about 3o min ago.

The boys have been non-stop Warmachine tournamenting. Yesterday they set personal records...13 hours straight at the tables with back to back tournaments. They were pretty much zombified when we left the Con this morning. I had to wait until we arrived home before I could give into zombification since I was responsible for getting them home. :)

Ms Cow and I just aren't used to all this late night activity...

Up and at 'em again by 8:30 this morning. Good grief.

Tomorrow we are up early to get to the Con by 9am. "One last game"...kinda like "one more row" only you destroy someone else's army instead of finishing a sock, or sweater or something warm and cuddly.

I'm tired, kitty has missed me (and I her), and my bed should be warmed up and ready for me to dive in...good thing I'm lazy and haven't taken off our heated mattress pads yet. It's been cold here!!!!!! And it's even colder down at the Convention - it's down in Burlingame just past the SF Airport. Foggy and very very windy!

And now, kitty and I are headed to bed...warm, soft, wonderful bed....

What I did this past weekend...Stitches 2009

....first...we get ready...

Here's Ms Cow all strapped into her carry tote - which also doubles as my knitting bag when she tags along.



This was taken early Friday afternoon. She was a bit excited, so had to make sure I didn't forget her.

Later that evening while the laundry was going...I made these...

5 sets of Pink Ribbon Stitch Markers...



3 pairs of Pink Ribbon Earrings...



7 Pink Ribbon Cell Phone Charms...



All of these Pink Ribbon goodies were dropped off at the Yarn Dogs booth at Stitches for them to sell to raise money for their "Knitters for Knockers" Avon Walk Team 2009.

If you'll remember, back when No-blog-Rachel did the walk with the team, I provided some goodies for them to wear and sell then as well.

Saturday morning, we're all set to go and head out on BART to meet up with the rest of the group... Here's Ms Cow in her tote with my knitting, nestled inside my rolling shopping cart. Although I did take the cart on BART, I did not take it into Stitches. Figured there would be way too many people and I was right. Just wish everyone else who had a rolling cart would have left there's in their cars as well....



Some random shots of Stitches...












At some point the 5 of us...6 if you count Ms Cow, actually stopped for lunch...

Ms Cow never left the bag...she preferred to stay strapped in her safety ribbon for the duration.



The convention center was swarming with people, running here and there, oooohing and ahhhhing and running into each other...she was much safer staying in her carry tote.

Before and after lunch there was shopping, of course. After lunch, 3 (4) of us sat in on a drop spindle spinning demo at the main stage. OOOH, that was cool.

After the demo, there was more shopping.

About 5pm-ish, we all decided that we'd had enough and headed home. We stopped off for a lovely dinner and some questionable Italian lessons at a Macaroni Grill.

Waiting for the BART train home...poor Ms Cow has passed out. Good thing the knitting is there to cushion her. And no, not one of us actually knitted at Stitches. I did knit one row on my two-at-one-socks to show two of the ladies how I managed to not get myself all tangled up...but that doesn't really count.



Thanks a bunch to the wonderful AmpuT who drove us all in her converted van. Dudes, that thing rocks! It was so cool! Too bad I didn't get a photo of it when they pulled up at the BART station to pick me up... hee hee hee.

There were 5 of us (plus one wee little Cow) riding in style down to Stitches. The other 3 ladies I didn't know before this, so I have 3 new knitterly friends. And we had such a fun time! They are all so funny, we were laughing and smiling the whole time. Except for at the end when I think we were all about ready to collapse and decided we needed to leave and get some food. Once we got some food in us tho...heh heh heh heh...

OK Cherry, here's some photos now of what I bought while there...

Everything out at once...inspected and kitty approved...



Close up of some discount Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn in Wisteria, the Whimsy Scarf Pattern (going to use the Cherry Tree Hill to make it), a few pin/buttons/badges...I seem to be collecting them...I heart sheep...Stitches 2009, and a Fiber Fiend Monster dude.



Two Square Circular #1's, 24in. These things rock. I was hoping to find something like this for my sock knitting. The transition from cable to needle is wonderful, and the cable is soft and supple...no kinking or curling here! YAY! I am just rocking on Honey's socks now. :) Ooh, and one of the 2 drop spindles I bought. One top whorl and one bottom whorl. And check out the leather straps. Those are for my Suede tote bag lined with firemen fabric that has been hibernating while I look for handles.



Here is an awful photo of the second spindle, a Blue Faced Leicester Roving braid and some lace weight Yarn Place Grace and Jojoland Harmony yarn. The Grace is all mine (multi colored with greens and blues and greys) and the Harmony is for a gift (swear to you guys it's the colors of Rainbow Sherbet). As I start the projects I'll have better photos - and I've stashed it all in Ravelry, but need photos there too . It was too dark and dreary for the last few days to get any good ones tho.



And lastly, Ms Cow is leaning on a big ball of some sort of roving fluff in a really cool coppery brown color. I have no idea what it is...I bought it cos of the color. :) If I'm going to be learning how to spin, I may as well like the color of what I'm totally ruining...



Not shown in any photos...the very large size S wooden, extended crochet hook. Stitch Diva ran out, so I had to order it. That should be arriving in about 2-3 weeks, depending on the amount of orders that poor man who makes them ends up getting out of them. Once I get that hook, the Random Acts of Acrylic Blankie is back on!!! I'll burn thru that acrylic in NO TIME!!!! I really LOVE Tunisian Crochet...

Anyway, I pretty much got home about 8:30pm-ish and just about collapsed on the couch. But not until after I had put everything out on the bed and photographed it. Cos you know I'm just gonna tear into everything and then there will be no more photo ops.

Anywhoo...spent all day Sunday and part of today recovering. It was not so much the sore feet and back from wandering up and down the convention hall floor, it was the wool sensitivities! I started sneezing towards the end right before I left, but didn't think anything of it.

Was fine thru dinner.

By the time I was settled in at BART waiting for the train home, it had hit. And hit in a BIG way. My eyes were swollen and watery and itchy. My nose was getting stuffed up. And my throat was so dry. And my hands...they were itchy as well.

Delayed reaction. Sigh. I had done so well all day long. I thought I would be able to survive unscathed. I was wrong. I guess I can handle a yarn store size amount of yarn stuff, just not a convention hall sized amount.

Oh well, this will definitely make me think twice about ever going again. But I'm as so glad I went this one time and finally saw what all the brouhaha was about.

Yes, it's big.

Yes, there's lots of stuff to buy and see and all that.

Been there, bought that, had the reaction...don't need to go back now or ever wonder what I was missing.