Erica’s Blog

Mazel Tov!  Mazel Tov!  [I'm not even gonna ASK; I know you know where this is from!  It's been running through my head since Monday when I heard the following news.]

Mazel Tov to Jubal and Nichole on last weekend’s birth of their son Stephen Ray (Stevie Ray???), weighing in at an amazing 9 lbs, 11 oz!  Hubby and the other guys were supposed to have a party (NOT a shower; showers are for girls, I’m told) for Jubal at work tomorrow, but that’s been postponed, since, being a good dad, he’s off for three weeks bonding.

So, one more wash or so, and I’ll be able to present little Stephen with his hemp-i-mono:

40. When I was in college, my driver’s license was taken away for 15+ years b/c of a medical misdiagnosis.

41. I ran a red light the day I got my driver’s license.

42. I am (supposedly) a direct descendant of Martin Van Buren.

43. I’m not Mexican/Spanish/Latina in any way, but I speak more Spanish than Hubby, who’s half Mexican.

44. I graduated from the same high school that SF mayor Gavin Newsom (booo!) did, albeit before he did.

45. My first boyfriend was 18.  I was almost 15.

46. In elementary school, I got to be in a network TV special about the Super Bowl.  One of my classmates’ dads worked for the network and wanted to interview kids about what the Super Bowl meant to them.  My answer was one of the ones that got aired.  As far as I remember, I had a total stone face and talked about how it was all about eating.

47. I lived in the dorms all four years I was in college.

48. I didn’t buy my first car till I was 30 years old.  We still have that car; Hubby drives it now.

49. I usually agree with Dr. Laura and Dr. Phil.

50. I have the first 52 Nancy Drew books and have read them all.  (Where did you think Thing One got them?   I certainly didn’t buy her all those!)

T is for Taormina:

There are two kinds of travelers:  Those who pack light, and those who wish they did.

Look closer.  Closer.  See the looong whiskers?  That’s the infamous leering bearded lady of Taormina. 

T is also for Telecomcerto.  See this.  And this.  And, best of all, this.

Sometime today, I should be getting a package from the kind folks at Elmore-Pisgah with five one-pound cones of Peaches & Creme.  Among those are one pound each of navy and burgundy, which I plan to use for sweaters for the Things b/c those are school uniform colors.

Here’s my question:   Should I make Breeze, Girlfriend’s School Spirit Sweater (sorry, can’t get to the link on TGB right now), or Foothills?  All are really cute.  I’ve already purchased the pattern for Breeze, b/c even if I don’t make it now, I will at some point.  What do ya’ll think?  Thing One’s would be burgundy, Thing Two’s navy.  If I did School Spirit, they’d each have stripes of the opposite color.

Thing One’s Hallowig. I’m still bummed that I couldn’t find petrobarf in a color that could pass for “Titian blonde”, but she’s OK with it. Sadly, I realized last night that I had put the stitch markers in the wrong places, and my decreases were coming out all wonky. Today, I’m going to have to tink back several rows to the start of the decreases and give it another go.  Once I have that worked out, I should be able to finish it in no time.

I’ve been thinking of this scarf as Basket of Browns.  Isn’t that yarn just gorgeous?  This is one that will be for sale at the holiday boutique at the Things’ school in December.  It’s just a simple basketweave stitch, but since it’s laceweight on size 7’s, it’s coming out nice and open-looking and sort of bumpy.  I really like it.  This is what I was knitting during WW last week, when people kept commenting on it.

[Quick, quick!  Which comedian back in the '70s did a bit w/a banjo where he sang I'm a rambin' man?  Quick!]

Well, took the Things to the dentist yesterday.  Thing Two has not one, but TWO cavities.  When we left, she said she couldn’t wait to go back.  Poor kid doesn’t know what she’s in for.  Thing One just needs some sealant on her back molars.  They were terribly impressed with the fancy office, though.  Maybe I’ll ask if Thing Two can get the paraffin hand treatment today to make up for having to get two fillings….

I have this friend, see.  No really, it’s my friend, not me.  Anyhow, I’m worried about my friend.  She’s not returning emails, and I believe she’s only posted on her blog twice this month, which is NOT like her.  Now, I know her plate is full, but it’s really NOT like her not to be posting.  If it were just that she’s not answering my emails, I’d think I’d done something, or she’d decided I was just too ______ [insert appropriate adjective] to be her friend, but with the lack of blogging, I’m reasonably sure it’s got zippo to do with me.  Hey, friend!  If you’re out there, send up a flare (email is fine, you don’t have to “out” yourself here) and let me know you’re OK, hunh?

Bobcat, John & Cindy set the date for Mrs. G’s memorial service — next Thursday the 2nd.  I’ve asked Hubby to take the day off so we can be there to do whatever’s needed.

Finally went back to Curves yesterday.  I hadn’t been since June.  They let me put my membership on hold while we were gone this summer and then extend it b/c of my surgery.  I didn’t get cleared for exercise and…you know…till last Thursday, so this was my first chance to go.  It felt really good, so I don’t know why I sabotaged myself by eating like a maniac the rest of the day.  When Hubby came home and saw the chicharrones and sour cream out in the kitchen, he asked if I’d started the Atkins diet or something.  I told him I was channelling Grandma Ruthie. 

Thing One is on day two of a different kind of restriction.  She did something to her sister on Sunday that we were REALLY upset about, so I immediately took away the two things she’d bought at Claire’s that afternoon with her birthday gift card.  We also said that for a week, she had to make Thing Two’s bed for her and put away her clean laundry for her to show her that she loves her.  Ah, the joys of parenting…

Click for picture from Thing Two’s field trip to the pumpkin patch last Friday.

No pictures of Hubby, but this is Jeremy with the seven ducks he shot on Saturday.  Despite the muck, the mire, the disgusting sludge, being hunkered down in a cramped duck blind for 10 hours, having his food get wet with vile, bacteria-laden water so he couldn’t eat it, etc., Hubby had a really great time.  He plans to go a few more times with Jeremy this year.  If he still likes it, next year he’ll get a hunting license.  Jeremy has an extra gun he can use (Hubby used to own a gun, knows how to shoot, etc.), so that will cut down on the expense of it.  Duck season is only 100 days long, so it’s not like it will take a huge chunk of his weekends, either.  I kinda like the idea.  It’s rather macho, yes?