Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Questions for the Queen

Oh yes, it is time for me to answer those questions that have been keeping all of you up at night:

1. How is that baby, Blake? Our nephew Blake is 8 months old new and precious. And he adores Ryan. Blake is getting to the age when he's a little wary of me if he hasn't seen me for a few weeks. But one look at Ryan and he's all smiles. And I have never seen Ryan take to another human being like he fawns all over Blake.

2. How did you like the Academy Awards this year? Well, let me tell you, you have no idea how close I came to disaster this year. We have discovered that both Dish Network and Fisher Communications are run by the devil. ABC is being held hostage by these greedy capitalists and Dish appears to hate me. Dish has assured me that I can expect an entire $1.00 credit on my next bill for the pain and suffering I am experiencing from missing Lost, Desperate Housewives, and the greatest television event of the year, the Academy Awards. And they know just what they can do with that $1.00. Because I told them. I came home from work on Sunday night, prepared to spend the evening encased in a black shroud. And then my husband, the love of my life and my reason for living, put himself to good use and discovered some dude named Justin who lives somewhere on Planet Earth and was streaming the entire show onto the internet, which Mike downloaded onto his laptop and then connected to our tv. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the miracle of modern science. We still have to download podcasts of Lost each week that mypinktoes' husband uploads for us to keep us from completely sinking into total and utter despair. I'm thinking of creating a Dish Network voodoo doll. Any ideas?

3. You don't seem to blog very often these days. What is wrong with you? Well, you can see that watching tv at my house takes much more effort than it should. So there is one reason. Let's see....hmmmm....you've met Eric. There's another reason. I feel compelled to do laundry on a semi-regular basis, I'm still selling lever shocks (and by "selling" I really mean spending lots of time on ebay uploading information and then selling one thing, and then flinging myself onto the floor in total agony at the amount of hours and fees it has cost me, then I pick myself up and do it all over again. It's a pretty good workout), and I drive to and from school about 25 times a week. I don't know. I'm busy, people! Things to do, people to see, places to go!

4. How is Mike's job search going? Watch the news much lately? It's going about like that.

5. Does Eric seriously use that Snuggie? Every day. Every single day. Not a day goes by that the Snuggie is not put to use. I even caught Mike using it one evening on the couch with his laptop--just like the commercials. That was...not pretty.

6. Knitting anything fun these days? Well, I'm working on a couple of pairs of socks, Mike's sweater, my mom's mittens, and I began a scarf from the Nancy Bush Estonian Lace book, that finally arrived from my Amazon gift card purchase in December, out of Jaeger 4 ply merino wool that I had in my stash. And baby hats. Always the baby hats. Things at Venue have really slowed down (not just for me, but for the entire shop), but Willow & Bloom is still going great guns.

7. Can we get an updated list of the broken things in your house? Oh yes, delighted to share that with you:

Front window--still broken.

Garage door--deader than dead.

Greenhouse window in the kitchen--slowly sinking into the ocean. Apparentely the lifespan of a 30 year old greenhouse window is about 29 years.

Speedometer on the van--broken, and then miraculously brought back to life through the power of prayer.

The interior of Mike's car--scary. Ok, that's not really broken. What IS broken is his ability to recognize the layers and layers of crap and the rattling of empty diet coke cans as they roll around the floor of his car. And the rear windshield wiper and one door lock on his car is actually broken.

Underdog DVD--missing. We have the case but cannot for the life of us find the DVD. Anyone know where it could be?

Mike's laptop monitor--broken and will die, looking much like what happens if we try to watch ABC, if you touch his monitor at all.

My new vacuum--stair attachment broken in two. Well, that makes sense, with me trying to use it and all...

There--don't you feel enrich with knowing all of this updated information about me? I for one feel much better having gotten it all off my chest. And now, since Ryan is home sick for the second day in a row, I have to go watch Shrek. Again.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I know you've been waiting for this!



Officially 6 years old today and all Snuggied up with his brand new birthday Nintendo DS.

Tonight--dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, at the request of this little bum. And then I think Eric can die happy because after eating at the most awesomest restaurant ever, Eric will have achieve everything he ever wanted in life.

Always aiming for the stars, that Eric.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I didn't think I would have to worry about this for a few more years...




Yesterday when I brought Eric to school I noticed his friend Sam (and by friend, I mean girl friend. As in, she is a girl. And his friend. And he really likes her. And she really likes him) was practically beside herself in nervous anticipation. Sam is a chatty giggly thing anyway, but yesterday she was unable to contain herself. And Eric was amused by this until he realized why she was all atwitter.




Sam had written Eric a love note. And was holding it in her hand, jiggling around, saying this is for Eric but I'm too nervous to give it to him but I want to give it to him I wrote him a letter I need to give this to Eric because I like him and Eric immediately pretended that Sam had completely vanished from the premises and would make no eye contact with anyone until his teacher opened the door to let them into the room, which allowed him to make his escape from The Line.


Never have I been so anxious for that child to return from school.




I love you. I am
turning 6 in May 10.
I like your fossil. Sam B!??

When he got home, Eric opened the letter and then had me decipher it, which I have to say took some doing. And clearly the fossilized sharks tooth that Eric brought to show the class made quite an impact on that brazen little floozy.



Eric then hid the letter in his secret lab, which is a carpeted crawl space in the dormer of his bedroom, decorated with Pokemon cards and signs that say Kepe Out.






Already a heart breaker at the age of 6. Must be those blue eyes. Or the 9 cowlicks in his hair each day. Or his devil-may-care attitude about his wardrobe choices.


Yes, while Ryan is busy collecting his Student of the Month award for quality work and hobnobbing with the Principal, Eric clearly has other priorities. And all of this begs the question--has Ryan ever received a love note? And why don't I know about it? I mean, if this illicit activity is going on in Kindergarten, surely the 3rd grade has a few of these things floating around. But then again, the fact that Ryan has not already dug a hole and buried himself in it could be proof enough that cupid's arrow hasn't struck room 203. However, he does seem to get really angry whenever I mention the name Willow...





When I am not occupied with invading my childrens' privacy, and sharing it with you, I have been doing some knitting. These are the Druid Mittens for my mom, out of the New England Shetland. It is a much much stiffer yarn than the KnitPicks Essential Tweed and is, frankly, kind of a pain to work with. But it does make a beautiful mitten.


And speaking of KnitPicks, I just received some needles from them. Everyone raves about KnitPicks needles, but I've always been a little skeptical because they are so inexpensive. But I have to say, love them! I bought 2 sets of double pointed metal sock needles, which are fantastic, and just what that New England Shetland called for. And they were only $3.99 a set. Seriously. Four bucks. I also bought a new size 7 16" circular. Fabulous. Better than my Addi Turbos. $5.49. Addis are $16.00. I mean they are really nice needles and I completely support Skacel, but how do you argue with $5.49?





And I've started on Mike's Town and Country Sweater from Lisa Lloyd's A Fine Fleece, using the Cascade 220 I ripped out of the how-not-to-knit-a-sweater-for-your-husband sweater.


Not that I'm doing any knitting today. At all. Today, well, nothing about today is for me. This Saturday is Eric's birthday party as well as dinner group. At My House. Yes, you heard it right, folks. 2 parties on the same day at my house. Today has been about ordering a Spiderman cake. And watching Eric try to select a pinata. And cleaning the boys' rooms. I mean, I even dusted up there! And after fixing a dinner that will be rejected by at least one child, I get to watch a bunch of 8 year olds play basketball.


And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I keep a bottle of wine in my fridge.