Fortunately and Unfortunately

Fortunately we had a well-planned trip to NYC with pre-purchased train tickets, show tickets, and hotel reservations.

Unfortunately when we arrived in the city I did not have the hotel street address.

Fortunately I was able to get the address from directory assistance.

Unfortunately we had already travelled 15 city blocks or so in the wrong direction.

Fortunately it wasn't raining.

Unfortunately when we arrived at the hotel they had given our 2-double bed room away.

Fortunately they gave us the "penthouse" and $20 off.

Unfortunately it only had one bed.

Fortunately it didn't matter much because we had a show to go to.

Unfortunately after walking the 12 blocks to the theater district we found the stagehands were on strike and the show was cancelled.

Fortunately one of the striking stagehands sent us on our way telling us to "have a beer on him."

Unfortunately he was only kidding.

Fortunately we found a deli and had a great sandwich and some wine.

Unfortunately we paid twice as much for the mini-bottles as we would have at home.

Fortunately we had an extra one and we took it to the striking stagehand.

Unfortunately the show was still cancelled.

Fortunately we had money left from the ticket refund and went to the Borders Books next to Madison Square Garden.

Unfortunately we probably could have done this in any city and didn't need to travel 8 hours by train.

Fortunately we had a large hotel room next to the "rooftop bar" where we could enjoy our new books and rest our weary feet.

Unfortunately the drunks from the rooftop bar thought ours would be a good door to pound on while waiting for the elevator at 4:00 a.m.

Fortunately we had 8 hours home on the train to sleep, read and knit.




I call this picture "Spam-a Not"

Please Help Us

Our Puppy has a Monkey on Her Back



reports Eliza..."If you had a monkey on your back, you'd be peeing on the floor too."

we have a winner

Using this random number generator Iput in the numbers 1-21 (removing my own comment) and Deborah is our winner! Thanks to everyone for the great advice.

It was a great birthday and I am a lucky person on the planet. We have a staff development session this afternoon and a train ride this weekend so look ahead to some FO's next week.

The Power of the Internets

Two posts in one day? Stranger things have happened as evidenced by the dogcat photo.



This is what is known as Pet Heaven

A Girl and Her Dog Blowing out the Candles

Balloons, streamers, 42 Cupcakes, a new puppy, some NYC mad money- and a beautiful card (all a night early because he just felt like it.) I'll tell you what it says if you promise not to tell him I told you

I see how much you love me and Eliza- have a happy birthday and love yourself that much

Could a girl ask for a better husband?

Lizer's (it's how you say Eliza in GHB's Brooklyn accent) foot is healing nicely. Thanks for all the great words.

Did you notice the frosting bone on the side?

How many people can say...

"this year's birthday present ate last years?"

Yea, well we continue to be indoctrinated into the land of puppyville. This morning at about 10:00 I did the ritual "ear check" for the 1/4 ct diamond studs to make sure the backs were securely fastened. One was missing. I knew I felt a little unbalanced. Was it while I was donning the fleece sweatshirt? Couldn't be- that's never happened. Then I remembered the 7:00 a.m. puppy ear kisses. Puppy either has a belly worth a fortune or- more likely it's somewhere between the folds of the afghan on the bed. i'm mostly too scared to look (in either place)

fast forward 6 hours..

I pulled into the driveway relieved to see GHB's SuperSport in the driveway. Puppy's day at home wasn't so so long after all and she and husband had some bonding time. And he was home to clean up the first day mess. The look on his face told me something was wrong. What could she have possibly done in a days worth of work to buy her chow? She did nothing. Except run and play all afternoon with husband, get a bath, and then get underneath GHB's size 13 foot with her paw. We're thinking it was just bruised. She puts a little pressure on it. It's not swollen. She is not in constant pain. In fact- here she is now (a side view as I blog)



and yet I fear the ASPCA will be soon knocking at our door. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Where are all the pictures? asks Jenn

Thanks Jenn!



This puppy is cracking me up. It's been one big old Crack (Me Up) Weekend.

She does more than sleep in a ball but I've been too busy playing with da puppee to snap the picture.

She did her first bark earlier today. I think she was "protecting me" from (or maybe scared of) the Big Guy. If she only knew what a sweetie he is. So now she's sleeping on his lap. Must. Share. Puppy.

commands...

So I've really taken to the "hurry up" and "pick a spot" advice on puppy potty training. I think she's understanding it every now and then only sometimes is it hard for me to hang onto the alpha voice.

Hopefully most of you have seen the Will Ferrell/Pearl clip about the rent. I'm seriously considering using "You Pay Now!" as the "hurry up"-"pick a spot" command. I can pull that one off in the alpha voice, it cracks me up in my head, and it's a little bit accurate- if not perfect.

And I finished a sleeve on the Blue Rowan Big Wool Sweater-one more sleeve to go- it should be ready for next weekend's trip to NYC! woo.hoo. (just in case the blog police are checking for knitting content)

3:00 a.m. note to self...

Liza Jane may not pee where she sleeps but that shouldn't be misinterpreted as saying she won't pee where I sleep. I swear mom, I'll wash the sheets before you get here.

On the other hand, everytime we go outside there's a little squat and piddle so I think puppy has a genius I.Q.

Must get some sleep. Enter the happy birthday don't forget about *this* with your dog contest

Cute-o-rama-city-ville

You'll just have to accept a large photo file or two as I get over newness of puppy. In the meantime go to the post before this one and enter a contest!

In the meantime...a contest

Kmkat sent me a lolz to no doubt bide the time until Friday afternoon when, after thinking about her missing her dog mommy while we're at work, Eliza Jane will arrive. I think Annabelle, our already at our house cat, has been posing on the side. Thnxkbai kmkat!



In further developments, The All Wise Knit Shoppe Debbie saw some potential trouble ahead in River City and offered the following advice at the end of beloved Knit Night last night. (what I really want to know is how in the world she knows how dog/puppy stupid I really am)

1. Don't put your shoes/socks/ etc. in the dog crate. Puppy will come to believe that these are acceptable chew toys.

2. Pee time is not play time. See side bar for further elaboration. Repeat: Pee time is NOT playtime.

3. If she goes in the house, nose rubbing doesn't work. Instead take said refuse outside and take her to it the next time you take her out.

4. Do NOT paper train. Let's just say that there was a dog in her home who once believed that a paper gum wrapper was an o.k. place to "go."

I'll just fess-up- believing that she'll check up on me. I was SO going to give her (Eliza not Debbie) a sock-o-mine for comfort during the day. Also purchased were the little absorb-a-pads for accidents. I know I can look up lots that I need to know on the internet if need be but I'm guessing the "stories to prove it" from friends make the point stronger. Liza Jane is coming on Friday and all dog training advice is accepted and appreciated most graciously.

In fact it seems like this should be a contest to elicit as many responses as possible. I've got another "pile" of Rowan 4-ply (see this post for yarn details) There might be one less skein or two- I've got them on my Ravelry Stash page (Sophanne). Spread the word-leave your thoughts and advice-

It's the Official Birthday Dog Training-Rowan 4-ply contest. Winner selected randomly- don't miss out. Woo hoo woo hoo. Contest ends sometime in the evening of November 7th

baa baa blacksheep...

Not perfect maybe, but no longer just roving- what great fun.

On the "If you were me..." front. Eliza Jane the Brittany/Boston Terrier mix will come home this week. CallyKipCalico will be joining us in about 2 weeks. Can you believe how AWESOME my husband is? Birthday= 1 week from tomorrow.

Deleted comments- Spam Adam referring me to the site "I asked about" (NOT) on weight loss.

Tonight- Knit Night.

Life is good.

My brain is so full

Things I did yesterday-

Discovered the Clairton/Elizabeth/Glassport areas around Pittsburgh.

Treadled a 4-treadle Loom

Ate homemade whole wheat buns on ham bbq sandwiches.

Learned what Bumbleberry Pie was.

Spun some lumpy yarn on my own spinning wheel.

Tried out a Turkish drop spindle.

Saw a nostepinne in action.

Forgot my camera.

What a great day! All thanks to Lydee, her mama, and her Aunt Jen.

If you were me..

and it was your birthday in less than 2 weeks, would you beg for this,


this,



or possibly both with the hope of getting to take home one?


NEWS FLASH!!! Someone sang early happy birthday to me 12 days early AND included the puppy and the kitty in the song- woo hoo!!!!

Spooky Spknit Spknight

In an overwhelming, exhilarating, slightly unsettling turn of events, knit night found me face to face with my psychological doppelganger. Wikpedia suggests that it's the ghost of oneself or an evil twin version. The jury is out on that but it also suggests that it's someone who "walks in your same shoes."

Last week at knit night in a manic flurry of hysterical banter I declared her my NKBFF (New Knitting BFF) Assuming that I, as I am likely to do when recognizing my own cackling laughter and sense of humor in someone else, over-reacted to the commonalities, I wrote it off as "hmm that's interesting."

Last night at my beloved knit night my doppelganger and I were spewing forth words at the speed of NASCAR while everyone else was knitting away in a school zone with students present. So engaged in conversation and cackling (I know I've used that word once but there's really no other way to describe it) were we that I'm not even sure if we were a slightly annoying presence or a show to be watched in amazed confusion.

I guess that's how it works when you make real-life friends (various forms of mental weariness have kept me away from that for the past few years.) For now though it just seems a little spooky, eerie, and Halloweeny.

Sunday 'Venture

The Knit Shoppe held a Sunday Tea here.


There were such beautiful displays of handknits of all sorts, I almost forgot to check out the scenery.




We drank tea and ate rich finger foods. I met some more knitters. I'm thinking I'm not so much the "Sunday Tea" kind of person-I'm not exactly sure why. But if I were one, this would have been the place to be.

Saturday 'Venture

Time for the Greene County Historical Society Harvest Festival Report-a photo montage.

GHB considers the options for a new treadmill.


I find my Rusty Knight and a spinning wheel, antique or not, that looks like mine. (Also the CPH photo shoot)


and you can't go wrong at any festival when there are alpacas.

CMUS-L.B.B.

That would be Crack Me up Saturday-Life Before Blogging

One time I went to Ireland and there were always sheep in the road. For some reason these pictures remind me of a Gary Larson "The Far Side" drawing that's waiting for a caption. It's only taken ten or so years to find the perfect people to show them to!

NKNBFFN

That would be "New Knit Night Best Friend Forever Nancy."

13 people. One of them really loud. (ouch) One of them new to me but not to knit night- I heard her cackle and knew it was density... I mean destiny.

Otherwise life's in the way of blogging- need to knit more- compute less. Not try anything hard at knit night.

A simple top down raglan sweater became a work of art when I wasn't paying attention and let the armholes happen in the front instead of in between the increases. doh.

I bought some more classic elite Beatrice to make an "Oat Couture" Oregon Vest. I'm not sure if I'll love the pattern but this fiber is one of the most relaxing ones I've ever knit with. It feels like meditation in my hands. Peaceful knitting-slow blogging- it will all even out.

official shoot delayed...

It's what's known in blogland as a craptastic picture- photo shoot in daylight with GHB was delayed due to dead camera batteries and night. This proves that it mostly fits and that I am queen at sucking in the pooch.