Baa Baa Knit Stitch

>No… I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. It just seems that way for those of you who have been waiting for me to actually write something on the blog rather than just post survey results. 🙂 As I said before, life’s been… interesting. Not a lot that I can actually go into here, but suffice it to say it’s a combo of clients, church, family and stuff in general. Nothing major, but just a lot of little stuff.

When last we visited, I was about to head out in the Party Van(tm) for Hilton Head and A Stitchers Gathering. For an excellent review of the classes we took, I’ll refer you to DF Teresa’s blog. The event was held at the Marriott resort, and the folks there couldn’t have been more friendly and accomodating. The weather, unfortunately, didn’t cooperate: it rained cats and dogs on Friday when we were there, so that pretty much curtailed any outdoor activity, especially since in the evening there were gale force winds, and those and the Party Van(tm) didn’t mix too well.

But, on Saturday between classes, we were able to take a brief walk on the beach:
(That would be DFs Jill, Ann and Heather proving we were actually at the seashore. Note that Jill was the only one actually experiencing sand between her toes).

Highlight of Saturday evening had to be the costume party. Teresa and I had been planning for months to go as “pit lizards” — those ladies who stalk pit road at NASCAR races in hopes of snagging a husband/driver/baby daddy. Our costumes were well planned:(For those of you not accustomed to seeing me as a blonde, I’m on the left.) The mismatched 8s are a henna tattoo that is actually still fading and are the work of a still slightly perplexed Indian shopkeep in Town Center Mall. DF Andy went with me and did an excellent job of explaining to him how the tattoo should look (we had also brought pictures), and he was game for the whole thing. I tipped him well. 🙂 What you can’t see in this picture is the 5″ heels I’m standing on. Richard and I went into the local Shoe Carnival and when this nice young man came up and asked if he could help us, I replied that I needed some “cheap ho shoes”. After he stood up from being doubled over from laughing, he helped me find these lemon-drop yellow numbers that were leftover from summer. I’m still amazed that I remained upright on them.

Of course, while the classes and food and such at ASG are great, this is the real reason I go:
On the back row are Debbie B, Vicky, Teresa, moi, and Joy. Front row are Jill, Ann, and Angela. The “come hither” pose in the front is The Magic That is Heather.

The most kewl thing about ASG is that, were it not for it, I wouldn’t even know Jill, Ann, Angela, Joy, Teresa, Heather, and DF Judy. They’re now some of my best friends. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes very unexpected goodies come into your life?

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Which Website are You?

Thanks to Min for the meme.

I promise a post soon with some ASG details and a catchup on life. Work has been… interesting. The rest of life has been… interesting. And interesting in that ancient curse way of “May you have an interesting life” sort of thing that I’m probably not up to sharing entirely. But life goes on. 🙂

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>My crew is packing tonight and tomorrow for our annual trip to A Stitchers’ Gathering, held this year in Hilton Head. I’m headed to Rome tomorrow to get the Party Van(tm). We’ll mortgage the house to fill it up. Ann will be here tomorrow night, and then we’ll gather Jill (who has threatened me with death if I show up at her house before 10) and Heather on Thursday morning and head Southeast to the coast. The weatherman says we’re likely to have rain, but we generally don’t see the outside of the hotel once we get there anyhow.

Teresa and I have planned our costumes for the costume contest. Pictures will follow here after the event is over. I’ll just say that I’ve gathered a number of items that are completely out of character for me. We also figure that not many people are going to “get” our costume, but we’re highly amused by it, and that’s all that matters in the long run.

Unfortunately Richard and Oscar can’t accompany me on this trip. Richard consoles himself by going on an Indian food and “movies I would never want to see in a million years” binge. I’m sure that Oscar will do what he’s been doing lately and hang out on the sofa. The cooler weather we’ve been having has not been kind to his arthritis and he’s not moving around a lot. He’s still enjoying his food tho: particularly his boiled chicken and Beggin’ Strips. I’ve actually managed to get his tramadol down him the past couple of days, so please say a small prayer that he’ll continue to cooperate!

I’ve been doing a wee bit of stitching and knitting. My knitting can’t be shown on my blog just yet. It’s a gift for my swap partner in the Starbucks and Yarn swap, and I want it to be a bit of a surprise! As for stitching, I’ve been working on the needlebook in the “Ye Shall Prosper” stitchalong. I was supposed to have the front finished last month; no, it didn’t happen. 🙂

Be on the lookout for an update after we return (and I rest up!!!).

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>October 15. D-Day in the tax world. The final deadline for all those returns for 2007. Of course, there are still some people with a zen-like attitude toward tax filing, but I digress. It’s the final deadline for all those people who actually want to file their taxes in a timely manner. Finished up the last ones last night and got them e-filed. Including mine, thankyouverymuch. In the process, the house went to Defcon 8 when I realized that I hate the way Quickbooks processes payroll taxes with a white-hot passion usually only reserved for some political candidates and select NASCAR drivers. Bob does his half of the company’s books on Quickbooks. I’ll be chatting with him about that sometime soon… after I’ve quit swearing in my head.

Of course, I still have to finish those not-for-profits that are due on November 15.

This past weekend sis-in-law Sandi came down from VA to go to the spring apparel market in downtown ATL. She was buying for the family store, and Richard and I went down to assist (Oscar stayed home, since his fashion sense is somewhat questionable). What we found, other than a bunch of dresses better suited to a line of stores titled “Hos-R-Us” was that there were very few people there buying. Vendors were twiddling their thumbs and not writing orders because there was simply nobody shopping. Normally at the spring market, there’s not room to walk. Our guess was that, due to the current economic conditions, people are waiting to see how they do over Christmas and then order in January for immediate delivery. You gotta have stuff to sell… At any rate, we helped Sandi order some nice dresses suitable for church and funerals and some spring and summer tops (she had already ordered pants). Found a cute line of flip flops too.

Our most amusing moment came when the three of us, wandering around to see what new things we could find, wandered onto a floor with temporary vendors set up… and it turned out to be the “gangsta” floor. We were just a tad out of place there. Interestingly enough, it was the only floor with a police presence — not the floor selling diamonds, mind you, but the gangsta floor. We quickly realized that we should leave and found an escalator to head to another area where we were more culturally comfortable.

I managed to do some damage at a place that sells beading supplies. Swarovski crystals for $1 and $2 a dozen depending on size. Gold beading wire like JoAnn’s sells for $18.99 a spool for $6. Yeah, I love being able to shop at the mart!

Be proud of me… I successfully avoided the knockoff purse stores. Most of them were full of the giraffe print Dooney and Burke knockoffs in a rainbow of colors. Who knew giraffe prints were so big?

As for stitching and knitting — HA!! So no pictures this time. 🙂 Next week is ASG… DF Ann is headed down a week from today, and she’ll join me and DFs Jill and Heather in the Party Van ™ as we drive to Hilton Head next Thursday for the weekend. There’ll be a cooler in the car full of LaCroix for swilling, puppy chow courtesy of my mom, and we’ll meet up with DFs Vicky, Debbie B, Angela, and Joy… as well as CJ from California and Carol B from MD to hang out and enjoy the weekend of merriment. Oh yeah… there’ll be needlework classes too. 🙂

A thousand apologies to most DF Teresa, my roomie for ASG, who I totally inadvertently left off the meet up list… I now must bribe her with some beautiful yarn, or she’ll kill me in my sleep.

>Alas, folks, I have been remiss in posting! Blame it on the market meltdown… and Wachovia… and Washington Mutual… and the fact that it’s nearing October 15, when the final tax returns are due for 2007 and trust me, most people filing this time of year are not happy.

But I did let the ever patient and persistent Trisia know that my package arrived this past Saturday. And this package of goodies was well worth the wait…

Trisia had a clear message for the Postal Service:
Think they got the message?? Me neither.

But what a bunch of goodies awaited me when I opened it!!! I think I scared His Royal Lowness when I squeeed in delight.See that Starbucks cup?? More about the wonderfulness in it in a bit…. A wonderful pattern for socks to be made with the contents of the cup… handknit mug mats to match the contents of the cup… A generous Starbucks gift card (Trisia has obviously seen me there before my weekly trips to my clients)… a plug in beverage warmer that I’ve wanted but never bought for myself, perfect for tax season… A Yarn Harlot book to keep me laughing!… gorgeous handmade stitch markers… kewl sock shaped point protectors… Whoppers for a snack (one of my faves)… some dip mix that my stitch group will enjoy very soon.. and some green tea that I’ve already enjoyed.

As for the yarny goodness in the Starbucks cup??? Two skeins of sock yarn, dyed especially for me and named for me to boot!Woot! How tremendously kewl is that!!!! 🙂

Thank you Trisia, for a wonderful package. It’s been a doubly good experience: not only did a box of great stuff make its way to me, but I also made another good cyber friend to boot.

If you get want to see more yarny goodness, go check out Trisia’s site for her wonderful sock yarns. I know where I’ll be doing some shopping for future swaps!

And this is a special shout out to my cousin Joe… if you’re reading this… glad to have found you again!!! 🙂

>I received my Guilty Pleasures Swap package from Barb on Saturday.

Behold the wonderment:
See that bright blue yarn on the right?? That’s WOLLMEISE, people!! The Holy Grail of yarn. If you’re a fan of The Maltese Falcon, it’s The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of. Seriously, I thought someone had to die and will it to you, yet Barb managed to get a skein of it for me, in a wonderful blue, and with a pattern specifically designed for it. Woot!!! The other skein of yarn is Silky Mmmmmmmalabrigo in a beautiful teal. Woot again!!!! And Knit Picks circulars to work on them with!!!

Barb also kindly included some treats: tea and cashews (absolutely the best nut in the world), some Altoid mints, shea butter for my dreadfully dry skin, a teak scented candle, and a sweater stone which will come in handy for some of my woefully pill-ridden sweaters this winter.

I feel so very spoiled!! Thank you so much Barb! I hope you like the package I sent to you half as much!!!

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Your Birthdate: January 8

Watch out Donald Trump! You’ve got a head for business and money. You’ll make it rich some day, even if you haven’t figured out how yet. A supreme individualist, you shouldn’t get stuck in a corporate job. Instead, make your own way – so that you can be the boss. Your strength: Your undying determination Your weakness: You require an opulent lifestyle Your power color: Plum Your power symbol: Dollar sign Your power month: August