MOMMMMM...my email is being mean!

You, my dearest email, have turned into a demon.  You constantly taunt me with your "SALE!" , "WHAT A DEAL!", "AND LAST CHANCE CLEARANCE!" subject lines.  Stop delivering the "Biggest Sale of the Season", and "FREE SHIPPING" emails.  Didn't you hear me tell you I am trying to save money?!?!?

Away with you online only Yarn sales, biggest Bead sale ever, and "you bought from us before, here's a BIG coupon so you can come back and buy MORE STUFF" emails.

I'm trying to save money.

I really am.  My target is something very special, so I've been trying REALLY hard to save as much as I can.

It's not really working though.  Not because I've been on a spending spree.  I will admit to having spent a lot of money last month, but it was all birthday money and gift cards.  The BEST money to spend.  THANKS to all who contributed to my shopping deliquency.  I totally enjoyed it.  That has finally dried up, so no more shopping.  Now if I could get my life to cooperate and quit costing me so much damn money, I'd have LOTS saved up in no time flat...sigh.

It's REALLY annoying to get all these emails ALL DAY LONG taunting me with all the things I WANT but do not NEED.  I do not want the torture. DO NOT WANT!

I've spent the last month or so removing myself from email lists.  As the emails come in, I "click here to unsubscribe".

Amazingly enough, they are still coming.  If I know that I haven't signed up for anything from a particular company, the emails are marked as "junk" and get filtered out.  I have apparently signed up for a shitload of crap over the last zillion years I've had an email though - and it's taking a long time to get it sorted out.

At least I don't get a whole bunch of catalogs in the snail mail anymore.

That reminds me, I do keep getting a few catalogs in the mail.  Need to get myself off those mailing lists too.  As much as I love diverting myself by looking at pretty yarn and shiny beads every so often, I really don't need the temptation.

It's not like I don't know where to go if I ever need anything. :)

Because The Fish Slapping Dance is not enough...(NSFW*)



*Not Safe For Work :o)

It never gets old...

Missed it again...

As of August 6th, 2011, I've been writing (IF you can call it that) for 5 years.

Missed my own blogiversary. Oh well.  These days, I'm lucky to remember to be fully clothed when I walk out the door in the morning.  I would have said comb my hair, but it doesn't ever look like I do, even when I actually do it, so, well. Whatever.

FIVE YEARS of blabbing how I'm going to get organized, do all sorts of knitting/sewing/jewelry/whatever projects, and lots and lots of blahbity blah blah blah.

I was going along fine on that whole organizing thingy until I got laid off and had to empty out my storage unit.  About 50% of the contents are still in my living room.

I basically gave up.

Well.  Enough about that.

Here's to another year of writing - mainly about nothing - because let's face it (yeah Donna, I'm talking to YOU- which is myself - oh gah, I'm talking to myself now - on the blog) there hasn't been any significant amount of sorting/cleaning going on lately - for a LONG time. 

How I do love to blabbity blab and brain spew...

Stick around readers.  The closer I get to 50, the more I blather. This should be quite entertaining.  I just turned 48 so things are really getting into gear on that front.

In the meantime, I've got a new bra and it seems to be very comfortable.

That, my dear readers, is good because a comfy bra is VERY hard to find when about a third of your body is boobs.

Carry on.

Whutcha doin'?

Playing Wheel of Fortune on my new netbook and drinking imported English Tea (hand carried over by my Honey) in my "cable knit" mug (the infamous Starbuck's knitting mug).

When I make tea, it just makes me wish Honey was here even more. Not only do I miss him, but he makes THE. BEST. TEA.

Well duh Donna, considering where he's from, of COURSE he can make tea.

Just for the record, he makes the best coffee too.

It's always just the right amout of sugar and milk.

Yum.

Check out the laptop cover.  Cables. Yarn.  That, my dear readers is a KNITTED cover.  With CABLES.  Next to the CABLE KNIT mug which holds my not-so-perfectly made tea.

And no, I can't take credit for making the knitted cover.  If it was left to me, my poor netbook would still be nekkid.

I was a "bad" knitter and bought it. :o)

I've gotten over it though, because it's the COOLEST. COVER. EVER.

It's been over a month...

...since my last post.

So, what have I been up to?

Basically a whole lotta nuttin'.

My to-do list grows daily, hourly even, as more ideas pop into my already crowded brain.

And I really shouldn't act on any of those until I get a few things in my life cleaned up and straightened out.

Mainly my apartment and the reality that my son is a senior now and pretty well grown and getting ready to leave the nest.

I have to get my apt in order so I can move. I need a change of pace and somewhere not so hot, dry, dusty and pollen laiden. Good luck finding something convenient for me at a price I can afford, right? ack.

I have to come to terms with the whole "empty nesting" reality.

Bottom line, I don't feel (mentally) like I'm old enough to be going through the empty nest bit...although sometimes I look and feel (physically) way more than old enough. Gah.

Where did the years go?!?

So what have I been doing?

Watching netflix and playing Wheel of Fortune on my new netbook.

Yeah, lots getting done here at Casa de Chaos. (she wrote sarcastically)

I feel like I'm living a comedy bit from the 70's. Can't remember who it was but I thought it was totally hilarious way back then...

Teacher: So what did you do on your summer vacation?
Student: I got up, I got dressed, I went to the corner and hung out with my friends, I came home, I ate dinner, I went to bed.

Teacher: What did you do the second day of your summer vacation?
Student: I got up, I got dressed, I went to the corner and hung out with my friends, I came home, I ate dinner, I went to bed.


Etc etc etc...

Now, it's not so funny.

I am so stuck in a deep rut.

I'd say "Calgon take me away", but that would only may my rut muddy, and then it would be even more difficult to get up and out of it.

(I know, pretty lame attempt at humor.)
Time to reset, recharge, re-whatever my reality.

Lost Work of Art

Spencer drew this for me back when the blog first started. Back in the summer of 2006.

This was during his Manga drawing phase.

It somehow got put into his closet and was "lost".

Found tonight while we were cleaning out said closet.

I. Love. It.

Could have caused so much trouble...

...with the title I wanted to use.

It had to do with the fact that I'm on my own a lot lately - Lonely.

It's at least a zillion degrees outside - Hot.

I don't see my son a whole heck of a lot lately - Mama.

I'm needing something to drink - Seeks.

Preferably something tall and cold - Tall One.

Which could have gotten me a lot of hits.  It still might.

Anyway.

I made this**:

A big pitcher of cucumber, lemon, and mint water. Although there is no mint in it at the moment since the grocery store didn't have any mint. Mmmmm...hits the spot.

Spencer drank half of it when he came home before he took a shower and went back out again.

I've become a pit stop/diner.

Thank God I don't have a washer/dryer, I don't want to be the laundry-mat too.

Besides, his Dad would never see him if he didn't go there and do laundry every so often.

There has been a lot of knitting going on during the Chaos Commute.  Not much happening at home lately.

Too. Damn. Hot. To. Knit.


**Recipe:
1 cucumber, sliced
2 lemons, sliced
5-10 fresh mint leaves


Add all to glass pitcher, add water, let it set for a few hours in the fridge.  After a day, you can take out the slices and leaves if you still have some water left.  It's very refreshing on a hot day.  Ours usually doesn't last that long, cos it's just so darn refreshing.


If you have a camelback water system, drain the water thru a sieve to get rid of slices, leaves and seeds before you put the water in it.  Tastes so good when you're out running or riding.

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.

Waaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnt

OK, these are definitely going to be knit for next winter here in the warehouse.

Was checking out Ravelry today and decided to see what my friend Stephieface has been up to...she has it in her favorites. Thanks Stephieface, I'm going to fav it too.

Nothing like Dr. Who Tardis things to keep you warm... Did I mention I have a Dr. Who Tardis ringtone?

:o)

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.

Things to Do...

...as always in the Chaos, there are MANY. THINGS. TO. DO.


As is normal here, I've not done very much. Although I did get a lot done this weekend. Oddly enough, it doesn't look like I did anything.


All the small steps will add up to things looking better soon. I just know it.


I am currently working on a secret knitting project with a tight deadline.



It's going quite well considering all the stitches involved and that I haven't ever made one of these before and I haven't knit on anything in months and sometimes I can't concentrate and I loose my place on the pattern quite often.



...and...and...and...


In other words, a Typical Chaos Knitting Experience.



One main thing crossed off the TO-DO list this weekend was rescuing a blue dryer ball from behind the dryers. Poor thing has been trapped back there for a week.

A full set again.

Coming Soon: Ms Cow dishes on our Day Out at the Museum.

Question...

How many times does one need to play the demo version of "Collapse! Chaos" on their phone before they get tired of it and just buy the full version?

Apparently I have not hit that particular amount yet cos I've played eleventy-billion games already - the same first level - over and over again - and I'm still not tired of it.

First, I LOVE this game. I don't know why and I don't care. It gets me through many a train ride and bus wait.

Second, I don't have a data plan, so I can't buy the full version even if I wanted to - and I can't just download to my computer and then upload to my phone. It's not fair. Not fair at all.

Third, it would probably be a bad thing for me to get the game on my phone. I can see me missing stops, missing trains, and missing buses because I was so engrossed in a silly little game. That I LOVE.

Fourth, my new phone is awesome. Awesome I say!

Is the sky falling?

It just might be.

Why?

Because I'm taking a day off from work - during the week - when I'm supposed to be working.

ummm...isn't that what a day off usually means?!?

Anyway...

I need a break. I need some culture. I need some inspiration. I need some peace. I need to do something cool. I need to get out.

Ms Cow has finally convinced me to take her here - we're going on Thursday.

And if she behaves herself, maybe I'll buy her this.

We are both very excited! If we're lucky, we'll hit a docent guided tour. If not, well, I'm sure we'll manage. We have ALL day.

Oh yeah, and I've posted TWICE in one day. Yeah, the sky just might be falling. Just hope it waits until Friday. We've got plans.

Cold.

Measurements being taken today to knit warmth producing accessories for my co-workers, and of course myself.

I need a commuter project or two or three. And we're bloody freezing in here.

Just looked out the window. It's raining for the third day straight.

Just checked the temperature gauge in the office/warehouse. 62F outside, 61F inside.

Our heater isn't working. Maintenance has been called.

Just looked at the calendar. Three times.

Yes, it's May 17, 2011.

In the Bay Area.

In California.

I think we're supposed to be having mild and dry and sunny days, right? Right?!?

As slow as I knit, I should be finished by the time Winter rolls around again...if it ever leaves.

I think I'll start with fingerless gloves.

Give it a few days. I'm sure I'll be complaining about the heat and that it's too hot to knit.

Happy Thursday! ***

***This post is being re-posted because Blogger LOST the original I wrote yesterday. Thank God I have things setup so that EVERY post is emailed to me because there is no way in Hell I could have redone this and been so damn clever a second time round. :)

**************************************************************************

Good things today so far:

Bike to Work Day!

It's like my own personal Halloween. My costume is my biking getup (which needs it's own blog post) and I go from Energizing Station to Energizing Station holding open my bag and getting loads of free stuff dumped in... Haul this morning, large size of the official Bike to Work tote bag, tangerines, fig newtons, juice, various maps of trails in the Bay Area (very handy!), reflectors, lip balm, reflective ankle thingy to rein in your pants leg, a recyclable pen, a water bottle, Clif bars, and various coupons to local sports shops. Ooh, and this really cool magnetic blinky light which I still haven't figured out quite how it works. Ms Cow got herself a wee little box of raisins for being a brave bicycle passenger (the trail is rather bumpy lately). All that was only from 2 stations. They LOVE to shower you with stuff - the list of goodies I turned down is even longer.







I hurds it trew da grapesvyn... Kalifornya waisins, nomity nom nom nom...








Paperback Swap

I LOVE this site. I've mailed off lots of books to good homes and just ordered 5 more for myself. Another Terry Pratchett book (Tiffany Aching, bk 3) and the first four books of the Stephen King "Dark Tower" series. Can't wait to get them!


More Energy

This doesn't really need an explanation, does it? Biking two days in a row and I feel great. Really should have started doing this a lot sooner.

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

Can't wait to see what the "Energizer Station" sponsors have on the ride home. I'm really hoping for a new dingy-ding bell. The East Bay Park folks were giving them out last year, so I hope to get another this year. The poor thing is all worn out. It dingity-dings on it's own now. Every time I hit a bump. Even a small bump. So I'm pretty much dingity-ding-dinging my way down the trail.

It's like it's saying:

"Look at the awesome outfit this woman is wearing! Here she comes wearing an awesome outfit! Look at her wearing that awesome outfit! She's riding a bike! And wearing an awesome outfit while she rides! Make way for the biking chick with the awesome outfit! You want an outfit like hers, you KNOW you do! Cos it's AWESOME!"

~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~*********

Update!


I originally wanted to write this update last night, but Blogger has been having some issues, so here it is on Friday. It's also not going to be so clever and funny as it was last night - in my mind.


Final list of "treats" from Bike to Work Day gathered up along the way home: more maps (I'm pretty sure I've got a complete set for the East Bay now), a chocolate chip cookie for Spencer (and yes I did give it to him), Red Vines for Spencer, cheese sticks, various and sundry juice boxes and mini-Gatorade bottles, various and sundry chips and fruit snack bags, mandarin oranges (YUM), Clif bars, Fig Newtons, more raisins for Ms Cow, and lots of bags. About 4 more bags than I really wanted. They were begging us to take extras though, so I did and they will go this weekend to the charity thrift shop with the rest of my donations.


I was very careful this year to only take what Spence and I would use/eat - no need to be greedy. Do I REALLY need more pens when I have a drawerful at home? Didn't think so. There were quite a few snacks because, well, Spencer is 16, quite tall and has entered his "bottomless pit of a stomach with two hollow legs" stage. Any food brought home is DEFINITELY consumed. So no waste there. The extra bags go away tomorrow and the maps I will keep in my "map box".

At the last stop before leaving the trail, I decided now would be a good time to have a drink of some refreshing water since it was quite warm and hauling all those snacks was causing me to break out into a pretty good sweat. Well, being the graceful dove I am, I managed to dribble half the bottle down my shirt. It was actually quite refreshing since I was indeed rather toasty.

Indeed.

Not quite so refreshing was the small swarm of gnats I swallowed on the last leg of the trip.

Updated List: Minus one bottle of Gatorade used to wash out my mouth...

I really need to keep my mouth SHUT when I'm riding.