Silence is the loudest thing I've ever heard. (Peter O'Gorman)

Millie isn't very happy, and it isn't just because of her ponytail. (Although she is definitely peeved at me, and won't come anywhere near me right now.) The kids left this morning on a trip with their father, and the house is extremely quiet. Jorge keeps walking around, looking for The Boy. And Millie isn't even harassing him the way she usually does.

I knew it would be lonely without my kids, but I had made all sorts of plans so that I wouldn't get depressed. Unfortunately, I've done something horrible to my back, and even sitting in front of my computer is bringing tears to my eyes. I went to the doctor this afternoon and he took x-rays, and I'm supposed to go back tomorrow to see what they show.

The worst part...I forgot to stop at the store on my way home, so there is no chocolate in the house. None. Not even chocolate chips.

On the bright side, I did manage to get some knitting done. And in the spirit of tantalizing my oldest, here's a picture of my Koigu Swirled Socks...

Are you taking pictures of my socks? (Pamela Stephenson)

I am so excited! I finally finished my JJayWalker socks. So naturally I'm already wearing them today. And I'll have to wash them tomorrow, so I can wear them to work on Monday!

I'm actually surprised at how comfortable they are! So soft, and cuddly. And I love the way they fit.

And yes, I know I sound like I'm bragging. But that's just because you're jealous that I didn't make this pair for you!

Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty. (Richard Feynman)

Beautiful
Thursday Challenge

Okay, it's been done to death. But who doesn't think of roses in bloom when they hear the word beautiful?

It appears to me that they don't knit socks without holes in them these days. (Franz Schubert)

My JJayWalker socks are coming out so cool. This is the first pair I've knit for myself, and probably the best pattern I've done to date.

(I call them my JJayWalker socks because I work on them while spending time with JJ in the afternoons.) I will admit that knitting for myself is taking a lot longer than socks for Cari or Becky. It's just one more reason I need to go on a diet!

It is hard to be brave, when you're only a Very Small Animal. (Piglet)

I had plans for this evening. Becky went to a friend's birthday sleep-over, and PJ was spending the evening with one of his friends, so I was going to be able to relax and do something nice for me. That is, until Millie found something to play with in the pantry.

I thought it was a lizard at first. Millie is worse than any cat, chasing the little lizards around and then bringing it to me as a gift when she finally catches one. Yeck!

But as I was calling Millie out of the pantry, a furry little creature ran across my foot. It's a mouse! It's a rat! No, it's the kids' gerbil. He must have gotten out of the cage again.

I don't like the gerbil. (I like mice and rats even less, so I was seriously hoping that it really was the gerbil.) I managed to get him trapped in the corner by the refrigerator, and then tried to figure out how to get it into a box so that I wouldn't have to touch it. I ended up just sitting there, guarding that corner and waiting for my son to get home. [Please ignore the dirty floor. I hadn't realized how dirty it was until I sat staring at it for a couple of hours. The worse part was that I couldn't go get the mop to clean it up!]

I did have a horrible scare. I decided to get some of my sock done while I was sitting there staring at the corner. I finished the first cuff, and tried it on to make sure that I had the size right. I put my foot up to take a look at the knitting, and rested it on the refrigerator door. I forgot that the fridge is on casters, and scoots back real easy. My foot went up, and the fridge went back. I thought for sure I squished the gerbil! I didn't dare take a look. What would I do if the darn thing was squished dead? Or if it were just hurt? It took me about five minutes to work up enough courage to peek around the side of the fridge. Boy did I jump when I saw the gerbil peeking back at me! But at least it wasn't hurt or dead.

After 2 1/2 hours, my son finally got home and he managed to catch the gerbil within 15 minutes.

The gerbil is in his new home now, and hopefully he won't be able to escape again. I'm off to mop the kitchen floor...

Obsessions and fixations are not really my field. All I know, when the mind really grabs hold of something, look out. ( M. Sage & S. Adelman)

I finished Cari's socks. This pair was knit toe up, using Hellchick's Toe-Up Socks pattern and the rest of the Magic Strip Denim yarn. Of course I did some adjusting: I used Judy's Magic Cast-On (which I love!) and a ribbing pattern from Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks" (seed-stitch ribbing). I think they turned out pretty good. I'm not so crazy about the short row heel (it looks funny to me) but I'm hoping that they look better actually on Cari.

I went looking for the socks I made Becky to get a comparison, but I couldn't find them in her draw. It turns out she was wearing them!


That made me so happy!

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is.

(Ellen DeGeneres)

I’ve posted this picture (along with the explanation) on our family blog, so I apologize for the repetition. But I just thought it was so cool. And also a little disconcerting. My grandmother, at 88, is still so much more adventurous than I am.

When the kids shouted out at us, laughing and teasing about doing a noodle, I was embarrassed. I really didn’t know what they were talking about, and I didn’t know what to do with the attention. Should I ignore them? Or make a comment back? Or just try to be politely vague and move along quickly?

Gramma, however, spoke up right away and said she wanted one. It threw everyone off stride! Mom and I just stopped, and watched the scene unfold (not really sure what we “should” be doing). The kids stopped still, not sure what to do now that their jokingly offered invitation had been accepted. But then Gramma asked for the noodle again, and all of a sudden she was part of their group. The kids wanted to carry her off with them for the day. She was the Grandmother they wanted to have. She was proof that their fun would never have to end.

Later, Gramma told me that she had to take the challenge. She didn’t want the kids thinking that they could just place her in a box labeled “old” and then laugh. She wanted the last laugh.

I want to be more like my Grandmother. I want to accept the adventures as they show up, and not just when I’ve had time to analyze and schedule them properly. I want to have fun, and be open to whatever comes along. And most of all, I want to stay out of boxes.

I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty...But I am too busy thinking about myself. (Edith Sitwell)

Okay. I'm totally obsessed. And totally talented. I've finished my second pair of socks, and these are even better than the first. What's more, I did them by combining three different sets of directions (using the parts that made the most sense to me -- I really need to read up more on knitting terms so that I can follow a regular pattern).

My next pair is already on the needles. This time I'm going toe-up (the other two pairs were knit from the cuff down to the toes). I'm not sure I'm really ready to change directions (remember, I'm the one who knit the first pair inside out!), but I'm going to give it a try.

[Note: I used Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn in Denim. The ribbing is Stansfield 30 from "More Sensational Socks." The directions were a combination of sock patterns that I googled online. I wish I could give better credit, but I'm not sure where I found it all.]

The reason I'll probably be looking for a new job on Monday:

To be fair, I had nothing at all to do with styling the boss' hair. I only took a picture of it.

And printed it out.

And hung it on the wall of the reception area.

Oh yeah. And posted it on my blog for everyone to see...

We interrupt this program for an important message ...

From time to time, you might notice that entries "magically" appear. There will have been no entries for a week or so, then suddenly I've got several entries from that missing time. There is a reason for this.

I have a habit of writing my entries whenever I have a chance. It might be during lunch at work, or while I'm waiting at the train station for my son, or wherever I happen to be. If I don't have internet access, I just save the entry until I have time to post it. I try to remember to post it right away, but sometimes I forget.

When I finally do remember, sometimes I decide that too much time has gone by and I just delete it. But sometimes I want to put it up anyway. So I do.

I try not to feel too much guilt over this. My whole purpose of blogging is for the fun of it. So I do it the way that makes sense to me, so that I have fun with it. I keep saying that I'm going to post on a more regular schedule, and someday maybe I will.

In the meantime, it is what it is. And I hope you can get some enjoyment out of it, too.

A witty saying proves nothing. (Voltaire)

I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to write about, but I can't remember any of it now. Oh well, at least I have an excuse to post a picture of my baby!

The trouble with normal is it always gets worse. (Bruce Cockburn)

Last week it was the freezer. This time it's the refrigerator.

The washer is started to grumble a bit, too. How come none of the appliances are happy working?

(This post sounds a lot cheerier than what I really am. But there is no sense in posting my first draft of this, since nobody wants to read "damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!")

My work is a game... (M. C. Escher)

Pink
Lensday

It was Pajama Jam at work today. Which explains the following conversation in Walmart last night:

"Becky, should I get this pair of pajamas for work or is this pair better?"
"Why don't you just wear the pajamas you have at home?"
"Because everyone's already seen them."

I really do believe I can accomplish a great deal with a big grin. I know some people find that disconcerting, but that doesn't matter.

(Beverly Sills)

I finished my very-first-all-by-myself socks! I'm so proud.

I'm already working on the next pair...

[Note: These were done with Canon variated worsted weight yarn, using The Super Simple Knitwit Sock Pattern and a k3p1 ribbing.]

Treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster. ( Quentin Crisp)

Somebody (I won't mention my daughter's name, since it was an accident) left the freezer door open Sunday evening. It wasn't discovered until yesterday afternoon, after all all the food had already thawed. And of course the freezer was packed -- I had about 77 pounds of meat/meals, not to mention the frozen fruits and vegetables.

So I've been on a marathon baking craze all night, trying to save as much of it as I could. I also gave away a bunch of meat (steaks and stuff that I couldn't cook to refreeze). I'm so tired!

I'm trying to look on the bright side. At least dinners will be easy for the next month, with all the pre-browned hamburger and the casseroles did. And the freezer is thawed, which is something that's been on my "To Do" list.

[sigh]

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm. (Bruce Barton)

I can't resist showing off Becky's hat. Although I really didn't have anything to do with it -- she knitted this herself!

I feel like a tiny bird with a big song! (Jerry Van Amerongen)

In honor of my grandmother, here is a picture of a cardinal for Photo Hunter's "Bird" meme. (Cardinals are my grandmother's favorite bird. At least, I hope so since we keep buying her cardinal stuff!)

It's nice having Gramma down visiting. I'm looking forward to getting to spend some time with her.

Now if only I could get my daughter down here!

The time to relax is -- when you don't have time for it. (Sidney J. Harris)

Here's a one week follow-up on my knitting project. I'm very proud of myself. I actually managed to turn the heel, which I thought was going to be a problem. It turned out to be a lot easier than it sounded.

Now if I could only figure out how in the world I'm managing to knit the thing inside out...

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. (Maya Angelou)

Becky and I accompanied my mom and aunt to Butterfly World. We had a wonderful time, and I took lots of pictures. The Gardens were just as incredible as I remember from years ago, when my children were still young enough to be fascinated by the beautiful creatures.

People judge you not by the size of your feet, but by whether your socks match. (Space Ghost)

This is my latest project; eventually (hopefully!) it will be a pair of socks. After about 2 hours (accumulated) of knitting, I've gotten the 1.5 inch cuff finished. I'll keep you informed as it progresses...

Every princess needs a tiara...even if it's made of plastic. (Simply Sarah)

Becky and I went shopping for a tiara this afternoon. After all, tomorrow (May 24th) is International Tiara Day. And you can't celebrate it without a sparkling headband.

It's funny how some days catch the imagination, while others are just ignored. For instance, no one was interested in doing anything May 10th for Clean Your Room Day, but almost everyone at work did something for Eat What You Want Day (May 11th). And for some reason, International Tiara Day has captured everyone's attention.

The instructors spent today helping our students make tiaras (or crowns, for the men) to wear tomorrow. It was funny watching as each class competed to make the fanciest tiaras. Glitter, sequence, beads, and lace were fought over as each instructor tried to out-do the others.

I was very good, and declined to get caught up in all of the fuss making tiaras. [Although Becky and I did end up going to three different stores trying on tiaras before finding the "perfect" one. And I passed up the feather boas (I thought they were a little too theatrical, not to mention itchy), but I did add a couple of malibou wristlets because they were just too cute and soft.]

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read,

and all the friends I want to see. (John Burrough)

I'm trying to be good by not posting daily pictures of Millie, even if she is the most adorable puppy around. But it's been at least a couple of days since the last Millie photo, so it's safe to post this one today.

I've come to the conclusion that Millie has a total of five modes: sleeping, eating, peeing on the carpet, playing, and chewing on anything that belongs that she can steal. I expected the first two. The peeing is getting to be rather annoying. The last one, though, has better stop soon! (Her current favorite chew toy is PJ's glasses. No matter where he puts them, she manages to find them. As a result, my future paychecks will be sent directly to LensCrafters for replacements.)

Since George is beginning to imitate Millie and I can't convince either one of them to listen to me, I decided to hire a professional dog trainer. After finding out how much they charge (A LOT!), I decided to hire my daughter. Becky has agreed to spend the next six weeks housebreaking the dogs, as well as teaching them to Sit, Come, Down, Heel, Fetch (for George especially, since he likes to play ball but won't give up the ball once he has it!), and one "fun" trick to impress friends who come to visit. I only have to pay her a quarter of the cost of the professionals, which is a lot easier on my budget and yet still leaves her a rich little girl.

Don't worry, I'll be posting pictures of their progress!

Don't do what you want. Do what you don't want. Do what you're trained not to want. Do the things that scare you the most. (Chuck Palahniuk)

Becky and I went to the Barnes & Noble today, and I bought a how-to book for training the dogs. We have a bargain: she's going to take charge of training the dogs to be well-behaved and in return for doing that within 6 weeks, I'll pay her $100. I'm at the point of calling in professional trainers, but after finding out how much that would cost the $100 is a good deal for both of us. (I offered to let my son in on the deal, but he doesn't see the point.)

It's not just the dogs that need training to be well-behaved. I need to work on getting the kids to do what they're supposed as well. But they're only following my example, and I have to admit that I haven't been doing well lately. The house is a mess (i.e. dirty dishes in the sink, the rugs aren't vacuumed, dirty laundry is piled up, and I can't remember the last time I cooked an actual meal).

What I need is to do is go back to my basic Flylady routine. I know that 15 minutes at a time is all that it takes. But I keep focusing on the lists of things to be done, and I never quite make it to the starting point.

Of course, it doesn't help that I let myself get distracted playing online. (I can't find time or energy to stick a load of laundry into the washing machine, but I can redo the family website -- go figure!)

It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar. (Jerome K. Jerome)

The boy I work with in the afternoons (J.) has relatives visiting from Ireland. The youngest, a 9 year old "Kid", was excited because I had invited him to join us in a trip to a nearby park after J. had finished his chores. While J. worked, the Kid and I chatted. The Kid was anxious to get to the park, so I suggested that he help J. finish the chores.

"I don't have to do chores while I'm here," the Kid told me. I wanted to know why not, since chores were good for you. He didn't believe me, so I explained that chores made you grow tall. I cited J. as an example, since J. is easily 6' tall.

"Are you telling me the truth?" he demanded.

"Of course I am," I assured him, with a straight face.

He looked very thoughtful, and sat quietly for a few minutes. Then he asked me to stick out my tongue. Thinking that he had been distracted onto a new topic, I stuck out my tongue.

He looked at it, then nodded seriously. "Aye, tis black indeed. You're lying to me."

Apparently, my children aren't the only ones who have me figured out.

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. (Robert H. Goddard)

Steps
Saturday Photo Hunters

Lying increases the creative faculties, expands the ego, and lessens the frictions of social contacts. (Clare Booth Luce)

Flower

Lensday

Over on my family blog, we're playing a game called "3 truths and a fib." It's a game we used to do in Girl Scout trainings, as a way of getting to know each other quickly. The rules are simple: tell four things about yourself, only three of which are true. Everyone else tries to guess which one is the fib.

The game is tougher than it sounds. The way to win is to come up with truths that sound like a lie, and a lie that sounds like the truth.

I actually am pretty proud of how well I can do this. It's a talent that I don't have any opportunity (other than this) to brag about. I mean, imagine how it would sound at work if I told everyone I'm a really good fibber, and then had to call in sick.

As a storyteller, fibbing well is a good talent to have. Fiction is just fibbing that been nurtured and developed. So in light of that, be warned. I may need to practice my talent from time to time. So in the future, when you read something posted here, please remember that the truth may sound like a fib, and a good fib will sound like the truth.

Feel free to comment on which is which!

Every composer knows the anguish and despair occasioned by forgetting ideas which one had no time to write down. (Hector Berlioz)

Hands
Tuesday Challenge

As I drove home from work today, I amused myself by composing this evening’s post. I really outdid myself, too. It was not merely witty, but outright amusing. I even managed to fit in a pun (which has been absent from my writing lately). And yet it was a timely topic, meant to leave the reader thinking.

Unfortunately, by the time I sat down at the keyboard I had forgotten every word. To tell the truth, I can’t even remember what the topic was.

So you’ll just have to trust me that sometimes I show true brilliance and make it worth visiting this blog…

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. (Phyllis Theroux)

The Macroday topic for today is "stationery." I love stationery. I collect reams and reams of it. One of the drawers in my filing cabinet is filled with sheets of writing paper; a second drawer is nothing but various sizes and colors of envelopes. I enjoy taking a plain page and turning it into a thing of beauty with rubber stamps and colored inks.

Even better than stationery are letters. Handwritten, personal messages that are sent with love and postage, evidence that somebody cared enough to provide a permanent record of their thoughts of you. Even a letter that's been spell-checked and printed out can provide a thrill when discovered in your snailmailbox.

Don't get me wrong; I'm as much, if not more, of a technophile as the next person. I can't survive without checking my email several times a day. AIM stays open on my desktop whenever I'm online (even if I sometimes resort to the invisibility feature) so that I can IM with my family and friends. I find it much easier to type out what I want to say; my keyboard has an easier time keeping up with my thoughts than my pen and arthritic fingers.

But I love letters. I savor the few that arrive from my daughter, reading and re-reading each as the treasures that they are. I carried the note from my friend Carol for days, and it brought a smile to my face each time I caught sight of the card when I opened my purse. I have a box of letters that have been sent to me over the years, and even though I keep vowing to declutter my life, the box remains.

You would think that feeling the way I do, I would be better at writing letters. Unfortunately, I'm basically lazy. I've had a letter in my purse that I started a week ago, with a promise in the first paragraph that I was going to finish it quickly and mail it right off. (Sorry, Cari. I promise I'll try to finish it and mail it tomorrow.) I have an envelope with photos to return to my cousin just as soon as I can write a note to go along with them. I have a beautiful card in my briefcase that I want to send to my grandmother. It's in the same file as the funny card for my best friend and the thank you note that is at least two weeks overdue.

So if I owe you a letter, I apologize. My heart is willing, but my hands are sore.

Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears. (Edgar Allen Poe)

There is a really good story behind this picture. I'm talking beauty, pain, laughter, tears, an emergency trip to Walmart. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the full story because it is far, far too embarrassing; it's the type of story that once told, can never be lived down for an entire lifetime. Sorry.

Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it. (Bernard Meltzer)

'Kiss'
Shutterday

If writers stopped writing about what happened to them, then there would be a lot of empty pages. (Elaine Liner )

Macroday
"Glass"


Thursday Challenge
"Circle"


Photo Sharks
"Father"

(I know. This really isn't "Father," it's more "Grandfather" as in grandfather clock. It's also "Father Time." Unfortunately, the more traditional meaning of "father" translates into a nasty word in my house.)

Saturday Photo Hunters
"Hobby"

I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some. (Herbert Rappaport)

The Lens Day challenge is "Spring." To me, spring has always meant the arrival of crocuses, daffodils, and tulips. But down here in Florida, the only tulips I find are in the florist shops.

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Does anyone want to buy a van? I need to sell mine, since I'm never going to drive it again.

You see, there was a spider in it. Which means that I can't ever get into the van again. Because where's there's one spider, there might be a second one. Or the first spider may have laid eggs before it was chased away. Which means that there will forever be a chance that I'll see another spider in the van. And I barely survived this one.

You see, I was driving home from the store when the spider crawled across the windshield. It was big. Really huge. A gigantic, horrid 8-legged creature that could easily be the star of his own (okay, "her own" since I've already had it laying eggs) horror story. Luckily I was stopped at a traffic light, or things could have been really bad. As it was, I barely managed to keep breathing long enough to pull over and get out of the van. I wish I was exaggerating when I say that a policeman stopped to help me, convinced that I was either the victim of an attempted carjacking or else in need of medical attention for a heart attack. When I explained about the spider, he just stared at me for a long minute, burst into laughter, and drove away. Without checking the van for the spider!

So I finally pulled myself together, and checked for the spider myself. I I finally found one on top of the car. I managed to brush it off with a really long stick, and then I quickly jumped in the van and sped off, hoping that the spider wasn't going to catch up to me.


[For the record, I know I wasn't being rational. But who could possibly be rational around a spider?]

I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something. (Jackie Mason)

Shopping
Tuesday Challenge

I stopped at the store on my way home to get a bottle of Chili sauce. (I wanted to put on a batch of Marlowe's Meatballs for dinner tomorrow.) That's all I needed when I entered the store, just the one item. But when I left, I needed several bags to carry the items I bought.

We are never too late. We arrive precisely when we mean to. (J.R. R. Tolkien )

"Miss"
Shutterday

I was trying to think of what I could take a picture of to represent Miss in the Shutterday meme. The idea of missing the train did cross my mind, but PJ and I have been very good at making it to the station on time in the mornings.

I really should be more careful about what I think. (The expression, "Be careful what you wish for..." comes to mind.) This morning PJ missed the train. We had just purchased his ticket and were waiting for it to print out when the train started to pull away.

For anyone who may have wondered, it was confirmed that I do, indeed, know how to curse.

Patience is a Virgil. (Elaine)

I swear I only took my eyes off of her for a minute. It's like having a 2-year-old in the house again!

You don't get anything clean without getting something else dirty. (Cecil Baxter)

Clean
Saturday Photo Hunters

Any excuse to show another picture of Millie!

A person who has not done one half his day's work by ten o'clock, runs a chance of leaving the other half undone. (Emily Bronte)

"Books"
Tuesday Challenge

And these are just the reports that had to be done today! (I hate the first week of the quarter.)

Some people walk in the rain... others just get wet... (Roger Miller)

I finally managed to get to Clematis By Night. Clematis is a free concert event that the town puts on every week. Along with the live band, there are craft booths and food tents. And, of course, lots of beer. Basically, it's a big party that anyone can go to.

Profits from the beer trucks benefit various not-for-profit agencies. Becky and I volunteered to help out this week, since it was for an agency I know. I sold beers, while Becky worked at the raffle table. We had a blast! About halfway through the night we had some much needed rain, and I ended up soaked. Becky was under the tent, so she just laughed at me. That was okay; we kept beer sales going, even in the downpour.

Next week, maybe I'll go downtown just for fun. I might even see what it's like on the customer side of the beer table...

All jobs are easy to the person who doesn't have to do them. (Holt's Law)

On the way into work this morning, I heard something that really tickled my fancy. Apparently there are Professional pooper-scoopers. In the United States, this is a 7 million dollar industry, and growing. A professional pooper scooper earns between $7.50 and $15 a dog per week. It just boggles my mind.

On the plus side, when I remind the children to take a plastic bag with them when they walk the dogs, I'm no longer just being a nagging mother. I am preparing them for possible future careers!