Jul 14, 2008

Stinky Gym Sock

Boy do I need a vacation. I feel like I in a rut. I fee like an old stink damp gym sock.

I just can't muster any sort of energy at all. My internal clock is fucked up too. I am going to bed waay too late and thusly dragging my arse out of bed waaay too late.

This week is Kim last full week here. I'll miss her and her help. I wish she was staying--I think it would be good for her to settle here. But I don't think she's ready to leave home yet. Oh well. I did get her to quit smoking--hopefully THAT will stick. A few days ago I bought her to nicotine gum.

If you stopped by earlier--or follow my tweets you would have noticed that I cleaned the tub. Rather finished it...it had so much lime scale it took several days if scrubbing. I was contemplating a before and after, but I really don't want to share that much info. Anyhoo, it's such a thrill to have a sparkling tub with a nice new shower curtain (got that a few weeks back). Right now I am looking at the dinner room table that I need to clean off. I should clean it off before Kim's boyfriend arrives tomorrow and DEFINITELY before my parents come. I don't need my mother to make her motherly noises.

Eh, make that stinky dried gym sock stuck to the couch.

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, family, vacation

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Jul 10, 2008

Pavlov's Birdy

Okay--so lately I have been doing this thing that I haven't done since I was a kid. I am sure you did this too.

Imagine: you are 10 years old and you have been charged with cleaning your room. And lo and behold you see a toy/book/game that despite the dire words of your parent (clean this room or else): you sit on the floor and commence NOT cleaning your room. You are lost in time and space, engrossed in your activity. And then the doorknob turns (or if closed doors weren't allowed, ominous foot steps sound) and you jerk up and pretend that all along you were cleaning. HA! You are SO busted.

Well, for the past several weeks, when Jamey walks in the door. I am once again 10 years old, I stop, jerk and pick up something. Never mind I may have spent the entire day cleaning and I am having a well deserved sit down. I stop, I jerk and pick up!

It's driving me nuts. I am not in trouble and my husband is NOT my Dad/Mom. What really bites: I JUST did this again when my sister walked home form her day at work!!!

Bang bang!

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, family, Kid Antics

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Apr 10, 2008

Trashy Excitement

I've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to blog about our brand new GIGANTIC trash cans that came last week.

Our city is rolling out a new automatic trash collection system. 96 gallon trash can with wheels, large enough to fit two adult bodies.

It also includes an equally as large recycling can. (We just cleaned out the van, and dude we are totally going to have the new can filled by Saturday.)

Our old trash can looks puny next to our new cans. Funny enough I am SO excited about the new cans. Not because of the size (it is amazing though), but because of the WHEELS!!! Our old can is a very damaged creature. The wheels fell off and there's a holes forming on the bottom...oh and the handle is missing. And just last week the lid disappeared. I am also excited because these bins are too big to steal. We lost our other wheeled, lidded trash can when someone stole it (it was covered in silver lettering OUR address too!) And perchance someone gets this behemoth into the bed of their pick ups truck, since these are city issued: we'll get new ones!

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, Texans

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Apr 9, 2008

$18.35

My wonderful father in law is coming in tonight for a visit and of course I am cleaning like a mad thing. What me? My house is always immaculate!

This is what I found in the couch after I washed the cushions and vacuumed up months of crumbs (all that coinage was totally worth digging through and sucking up all the nasty icky crumbs and assorted debris from the inner recesses of our couch). Our couch is a very old couch and has a distinct personality--of a street urchin, it LOOOOVES you so much, and gives you hugs and steals the change right out of your pocket.

And as I am a SAHP, I claim my income and declare it good for YARN SHOPPING!!

Labels: cleaning, family

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Mar 12, 2008

Quiet Lovely Day

It is a lovely quiet day. Mic is at a friend's house on a play date. So it's just me and Lorelei--just the girls.

I've got lot's planned. I need to do a LOT of work for Birdy's Knits--writing patterns and such. I also have some tidying up I want to do. It's nice to have one part of my wild equation out elsewhere. (Without Micci Lori has scant need to scream.) And Mic is having LOADS of fun without me.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics, knitting

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Feb 11, 2008

When the Human Head is NOT buoyant

It was Micci's birthday yesterday--his SIXTH birthday. Like an idiot I forgot to bring our camera to his party. Luckily, my friend brought hers--once she downloads them I'll post some here. He had a dinosaur birthday as per his request, we got a awesome roaring dinosaur cake (complete with a volcano and lava pit), with dinosaur gift bags and decorations--complete with dinosaur noses for the guests. Half our guests couldn't make it at the last minute since the mom came down with the flu. Nothing is worse than we Mom gets sick.

I myself can relate, since Saturday I came down with an allergy induced sinus infection (I blame cleaning--I kicked up too much dust). Luckily I was only laid up in bed Saturday and felt better Sunday for Mic's party. Being sick put me seriously behind in my knitting--with my head feeling like it was 50 pounds and dizziness when I sat up: knitting just wasn't in the cards.

In just two days I ran through two boxes of tissues and now I am resorting to rolls of toilet paper. I am constantly amazed just how much snot the human head can produce.

Labels: birthday, cleaning, knitting, sick

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Feb 8, 2008

Breather

My friend Anne took Micci on a playdate with her grandson. I've got 3 hours of scream free cleaning/knitting time (I still have that second sock to finish). Although Lorelei is the source of the screaming, guess who the instigator is? Lori was upset at first--but then I gave her a few slices of the cinnamon raisin bread I bought last night to make up for having to spend the afternoon with me. Of course when she realised that I wasn't letting her eat the whole loaf she did have a teeny fit. LOL

This week has been one big BLAH...the girly hormones kicked my arse this week. On Monday night Anne (along with aforementioned grandson) suggested we go on a picnic then to the museum on Tuesday. We saw the Our Body: The Universe Within exhibit and let the kids run around the HEB Science Treehouse. By 3 I was exhausted and desperately seeking a couch to collapse upon. We left shortly after--4ish or 5ish...I always forget my watch, and went to Cheesy Jane's for shakes and onion rings. But we did stop in the museum gift shop where i scored two hypodermic shaped ones. Awesome. One is for me and the other is for my combat medic brother. AND they write in red ink!

I spent Wednesday recovering from Tuesday.

Aunt Flo finally came on Thursday so I was feeling better, but still tired. But laundry got done--well I've got Mount Everest right now, so I was able to manage three loads. And a cleaner kitchen. The kids decided that evening to make chocolate milk. They are both trying to be "bigger" kids and independent, especially Lorelei. Well Lorelei thought it would just be easier, cutting out the middle man, to put the chocolate sauce directly into milk jug. Sigh, so I got to go on a late night trip to the store to get more milk (which led me to also buy some raisin cinnamon bread).

Today, I am hoping to get a lot more cleaned up and finish this second sock!! I am so tired of this sock!

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, family, Kid Antics, knitting

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Jan 16, 2008

What Time Is It?

It's not bed time! It's tea party time!!

Lorelei is so excited that she can play tea party in her room. We finally got her room cleaned. Surprisingly the total disaster was cleaned in less than a day. I thought it would take two or three days. Tomorrow we have planned a fancy tea party with pretty dresses and porcelain dishes.

Today, I have TWO kid rooms clean. Mic spent the weekend getting his room clean and finally got it done Sunday night. Now, all I need to do is get MY rooms clean.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics

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Dec 27, 2007

It's that time again

Resolutions Baby!!

I make many of the same resolutions year after year...I dare to call them goals. Resolutions always seem to be easier to break than goals. Goals, for me, are more permanent and have annotated plans attached to them. Being raised LDS, goal setting is introduced and taught early and often. The idea stunk in...the application not always--goals for me end up in the same bin a resolutions: the I'll Get On It Tomorrow Bin.

Now, I am 30. I cannot deny (despite having two kids, two cats, and a mortgage) that I am an adult and I need to actually accomplish the goals I set for myself. (I can hear my Mom saying, "About time!!")

With out further ado (and procrastinating and grand standing), my 2008 GOALS!:

1. De-clutter my home (and keep it that way)
2. Organise my life: education, business, hobbies, head of house duties
3. Use my blog as a way to improve my writing rather than a verbal vomit vessel
4. See other knitters knit and showcase my knit patterns

I found two awesome sites this morning that I think I will find quite helpful. First, Unclutterer (found via Slashfood)and great tool from Good Housekeeping (found on Unclutterer) called 30 Minute Clutter Solution. Together with the Housebook I created last year and a dash (or more) of discipline and do believe I can clear my space this year.

As for this blog: my faithful readers (I heart you all) know I have been writing (sometimes I think this word is applied rather loosely) here for nearly 8 years and I have despaired at my lack of readership growth. Obviously the straight journal approach is not working. Not only that, but I feel that I am not exercising my writing muscle except for making sure there aren't any typos (even that I fail miserably)--so I am going to try to write in an essay format. I'll still share personal stories and anecdotes, but without the verbal vomit (my new favourite phrase).

I really, really want to feel the personal satisfaction of seeing other's knit up my original knitting designs. Still after all these years, P and Q: I want to be famouz.

Labels: cleaning, goals, holiday, homeschooling, knitting

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Nov 20, 2007

Ready Set Go!

Jamey brought home our Thanksgiving In A Box. I bought the fixings for Sweet Potato Casserole last night. We are all set (okay HEB still has our pumpkin pie and cool whip, but we'll get that tomorrow). Jamey also picked up the stuff for his famouz Turkey Soup (to DIE for).

Even Micci is excited about Thanksgiving. Yes, Mr I Am Picky As Hell, wants turkey.

The house needs a bit of work: that's for Tomorrow. And Thursday the kids and I can make decorations...

Hello construction paper turkeys!!

Labels: cleaning, holiday

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Nov 11, 2007

Argh---I missed!!

Well my craft show was yesterday--and I sold TWO bracelets!! But alas--with only one hour of sleep and spending the entire day at the show and sleeping when we got home--I didn't blog.

I got a ton of compliments on my bracelets--however they were also unique. I love unique things but I think I am a minority. I think I might have more success on line. and next time I'll be making Teddy Sweaters to sell.

I am actually glad to take a knitting break--I have a blister from all that knitting. So cleaning will be my thang today.

Oh we also have a new kitty, Gina. Phil's divorce is a done deal, he's in the barracks and so we have his cat until he gets his own place again. So far no kitty fights to the deal--just a litle hissing.

Labels: cleaning, knitting, the cat

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Oct 8, 2007

Empty down deep

I think I am rather attached and dependent on my computer. The entire weekend I felt horrible and depressed. I_didn't_even_knit. Yeah, I know...it was that bad.

Every day I realised something else I lost. I am still hoping that when we go to a computer place on Friday they will be able to recover the data. Heck they can recover deleted files from criminals why couldn't they recover knit patterns, recipes, and children's photographs.

I am hoping to sit down relax and knit while watching Heroes.

Good news I cleaned my living room AND got Mic to clean his room.

Labels: cleaning, knitting, whine

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Aug 26, 2007

Monkeys!

One of the things that makes Jamey and my relation ship is our mutual enjoyment of playing "monkey". He enjoys being "groomed" and I enjoy "grooming." (Yes this includes pimple pooping, hair plucking, and the like.)

In this case "in the like" refers to me cleaning our his ears with my pinky fingernail. I have skinny fingers and I keep my pinky nail around a quarter of an inch long just for this purpose. Jamey has weird ear wax that is not waxy...mostly is powdery or chunky and usually requires help coming out. It gets so bad his ears will clog limiting his ability to hear. (NO it's not because I stick my finger in his ear)

Jamey's been sick so he's been on various medicines including musenix and I believe that has a great deal do with the amount of wax I pulled out of his years a few nights ago.

Sorry for the blurriness.

It did come out of both ears and no it's not clumped together. I have seen this before when we had his ears cleaned out by the nurses aid. Which reminds me I totally want a ear flashlight and a scooper of my own for Christmas. And this is actually rarely what it looks like--mostly its golden not dark brown.

Labels: cleaning, family

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Jul 11, 2007

There is no place like HOME

Folks, we've been home since 8 o'clock last night. We had a terrific vacation. On my part it was relaxing and the two weeks seemed to stretch ands stretch. I got to see all my brothers before they go off to war. I got to enjoy Kimmy being a grown up finally (working a part time job has given her some pleasantness she didn't have before). I got a tan (ha! you say--it's a Birdy tan which is still very very pale in comparison to the average Caucasian bear) and more freckles. I also got YARN--very pretty soft pet worthy yarn.

I deleted over 4000 spams from my inbox and uploaded over 200 hundred pictures from my camera. Give me some time and I'll put together a very nice travel diary for y'all to enjoy--with a special diversion at the 3 yarn shops I visited.

We saw the Harry Potter movie today--totally freakin' awesome and I of course cried like a baby at the end. On vacation we also saw Ratatouille and Transformers...both rocked. So that means--only TEN _more_days till Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out. GRIN.

While I was gone Kottke became a Daddy--how awesome is that. Ollie is so cute. I missed a lot being disconnected form the 'net. Heck while at the beach we didn't even watch TV--missed all the rain San Antonio got (our lawn looks like a lush green jungle) and the searing fires and temperatures in the West.

I've got a lot of work to do now that I am home: knitting work, web design work, blog work, and teaching work...never mind the ever present cleaning work. Since this vacation was so energising for me and restful--I am totally ready to jump in a get some work done.

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, vacation, weather

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Jun 11, 2007

Moody Much?

Eck, I've been feeling out of sorts. That pretty much sums up everything right now.

That and the phrase, "I am going to..." I am going to cleanup the house. I am going to redesign my blog. I am going to design a whole NEW website. I am going to open up a Knit Wear design shop. I am going to teach Micci to read. I am going to fully potty train Lorelei and say goodbye to diapers.

Sometimes I think I try to juggle too much. This weekend I was feeling pretty down. I am good at a lot of things. My cup over-floweth. I can write well. I am smart. I am creative. I can cross stitch well. I can knit well. I can design well (both web and knit). Eh, but I can not do any of those things superbly. I feel so freaking average. Birdwell is NOT average. Or this is what I tell myself. I constantly run away from the idea that I might just be average.

I am in the depths of "what is the point?" It's NOT a good place to be mired in. Not_at_all.

In the midst of these duldrums, I did manage to get something done and it was done veyr nicely, thank you very much.

I present the Clapotis.

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: 3 skeins Sinfonia, colorway: Matizado Bosque. Sport weight mercenized cotton.
Needles: Denise Interchangebles in size 8
Modification: I mirror-twisted the knit stitches on either side of the drop stitch on every row. I also purled the drop stitch in order to free myself of stitch markers. I knitted three extra repeats on the straight section.
Resource: Project Notes from Needles and Hooks and Jamye (not My Jamey obviously) for the yarn inspiration--she started the entire Clapotis Fever that spread through my knit group.
Time: May 15-June 10 2007

I really love how the pooling settled. Fantastic. I loved knitting this wrap. It was so much fun and super super easy. I haven't been able to wear it out, but I keep trying it on and prancing in front of the mirror. I plan to take another pic of it with me eating a croissant (see pattern for the why). In any case it'll be a great vacation wrap.

Speaking of which--vacation is coming up in a little over a week. We have the laptop with the wireless so if we find a hot spot, I might be able to blog a bit. I even found a yarn shop in Myrtle Beach--I am totally dragging Jamey to it.

With this mood hanging over me--vacation will certainly be interesting.

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, knitting

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Jun 1, 2007

Already?

How did it get to be June already? And for that matter Friday! How on earth is it Friday already!! I kept thinking it was Thursday...luckily it's only 9.45 am--so my day isn't totally screw up.

June is cleaning month. We go on vacation at the end of the month, and my goal, yet again, is to have a clean house when we go on vacation. Right now though--my main goal is to find my pins so I can block some lace.

We went to a Silver Stars game last night---it sure would have been nice for the basket ball layers to show up though. The poor girls couldn't get a basket to fall if they were paying the balls.

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, Sports

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May 20, 2007

Rejuvating?

This was a nice weekend--I feel fully capable of taking on this upcoming week...and all the housecleaning in front of me. L. came by on Saturday, ignoring the deplorable mess, and sat and knitted with me for a few hours. She is so awesome! L. and her time with me was my oasis in a day that was rather terrible and harsh (much like a desert). Later, we Jamey came home we packed up everybody (and a can of Guinness) and went off to watch the first Silver Stars game of the season at V.'s house (she who has NBA TV and a big screen TV). The kids feel asleep in the car and they KEPT sleeping after we got there---so after I got a few gulps of my Guinness down, life seemed so much better. We ate some great food (kids still slept), and talked and watched WNBA retropectives while we all waited for the game to start.

The game was a complete bust and it was so embarrassing, but I got to knit and when the kids did wake up they were delightful and utterly unlike themselves. I brought my Clapotis to knit on---it's a lovely pattern but it doesn't look remotely like what its supposed to be. When asked, I told everyone it was a wrap...mainly I got a cocked eyebrow, "Really?" Late last night I got to the first drop stitch....so slowly it's coming together.

Today, Jamey and I had a lie in. It was bliss--the kids even refrained from destroying the living room. L. husband, C., was totally my hero because he mowed the jungle that we were trying to pass off as our front lawn. Jamey's knee has been bothering him a lot since he started physical therapy--so the lawn has been beyond him. As for me: HA--I am taking my Doctor's advice, when I can get a Israeli issued gas mask THEN I'll mow the lawn (seriously THAT's what she said). We went on errands in the afternoon--in search of new work pants for Jamey--he keeps wearing out the crotch. Then we went to the park and let the kids loose...I am hoping this will provide a LONG, restful sleep for the tyrants of my heart.

We'll see what tomorrow brings, eh?

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, Kid Antics, knitting, Sports

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May 9, 2007

I'd rather have a hamster...

Hamsters don't throw up milk curdles in your bed.

Lorelei woke me up at 6.30 am throwing up in my bed. So off to as bath, off with the bed clothes and no more sleep for me--poot.

She's fine--but I am thinking gulping down milk at light speed on an empty stomach had something to do with it. She woke up a bit earlier to get some milk and promptly feel back asleep.

It's not so bad--I was having a hard time sleeping with new knitting patterns dancing around in my head.

I have so much work to do today. The kitchen and living room in major attention, I need to finish my new website, and knit for some deadlines...(yes mom for PAY--not totally for pleasure). And I am exhausted from getting up so early.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics

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May 8, 2007

Nudge, Nudge

Poke, poke.

Thwack!!

Oh what? Hey--miss me? My mom called me this morning and asked me if I was okay--I hadn't blogged in a while. Bad bad blogger. Funny though, since my mom hasn't blogged since April.

I digress. I've been busy--but that isn't an excuse--I check my "blog roll" daily and I miss new news and can get annoyed. Bad Birdwell.

I've been knitting--several deadlines are looming, web designing, and being very very boring. I didn't feel that I had any interesting to say.

Perhaps not--here's what's been happening. Micci got a toothache on Wednesday night--putting a screeching halt to his Hooked on Phonics tapes--who wants to pronuciate vowel sounds when your molar is throbbing and sending white hot flashes through your jaw. I of course felt like a terrible Mommy--I don't make him brush his teeth enough AND we knew he had a small cavity but it was discovered during the holidays and it got lost in the madness. So yesterday (Monday) were saw the dentist and poor boyo had to have his molar removed. He was a trooper though. He had his moments of WTF this is NOT right. The X-ray session was not his shining moment--but hey I hate it too. Those little plastic thingies HURT. But he got T-rrfic mind altering drugs and he was mostly fine after wards. Jamey unfortunately HAD to work and we got to hang out at the Chick-Fil-A down the way for like 6 hours. Since i got up at 5.30 that morning all I wanted to do was nap--but they frown on sleeping at resturants while living your children to run around like loons. (I totally conked out as soon as we got home.)

Today--Jamey was off--so we did a mass amount of errands. Bought my Mother's Day gift from the kids (yarn for my Clapotis--which I am totally dying to knit up...for like ever). I also stopped by a craft mall as well to scope things out...planning on selling my knitting-wares.

Last week, I got a bit burned out creatively (hate that)--so designing--both knit and web--we shoved off the stove and I indulged in actually knitting someone else's pattern and Stephanie Plum--I LOVE these books. This week I turned the heat back on and I hope to get my new website actually finished. Oh and cleaning--I really need to do that as well.

It has also been horribly horribly humid. I can't stand it. I feel sticky and icky all day. On Saturday I washed my hair, my fine, fast drying hair...it was still WET an hour later and because i had to get going I put it into a ponytail--it was still wet when I went to bed. Sure we have needed all this rain, but frankly I need some nice dry days. We haven't been able to mow our lawn because it's been too damp. We have a six foot dandelion tree growing by the kids swing set--I'll see about taking pictures of it tomorrow.

Okay I posted. Happy?

Labels: cleaning, daily rant, Kid Antics, knitting, weather

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Apr 12, 2007

If I Could Bottle This:

If this isn't the finest birth control--I don't know what is. Lorelei without a doubt is my trouble maker. She's a sweetie and a darling-but she has found more ways to be a weasel than Mic ever did..

I was working in another part of the house, when Micci came running in, "Lorelei's all green!" I sigh, expecting Lorelei covered in Sharpie tattoos. All part of the circus that is my home (she has a knack--just like for finding candy--for finding Sharpie markers).

I come in to the kitchen to find this:

Lorelei had gotten into the McCormick Food Dye. I should have known better--it was much too quiet.

While I ran her a bath, Lorelei proceeded to run around the kitchen chanting, "Baby Feet! Baby Feet!">

I dumped her in to the bath and took this picture: a circle in my kitchen.

I came back after spraying down the kitchen with cleaner (so it wouldn't dry completely). The water was green. I had to fill the tub twice. And Lorelei still has traces of green, blue, red, and yellow dye.

I spent the next hour scrubbing Lorelei and my kitchen floor. But my goodness (I can hear my mom now), the floor did need a good scrubbing.

Sigh.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics, kid pics

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Apr 2, 2007

No Foolin'

I toyed with the idea of playing some sort of April Fools prank yesterday on my blog--but after the news I got yesterday and the finality of it--I wasn't in the mood for pranks. My brother is getting divorced--he's only been married 8 months.

I am obviously not going to talk about it here. SO this'll be the last of that sorts of news or rants until the divorce or annulement is final. I just have to say I am heart broken for my little brother.

I finished the 4th S.P.E.W. hat--the second that I have actually knit up. I am not sure what I am going to knit up next and whether it'll have ears or not.

My Mom and sister are due to arrive in a few hours and the house smells delicious. I made my Famouz Baked Beans to welcome them. Maybe tonight I'll add the recipe on to my blog--it's really tasty. Right now I ought to be tidying up and vacuum and find that darn dust pan (it's been hiding from me lately). I do perform better under a deadline--especially when it's threatening to crush me.

I have to end with this picture of Lorelei--she kept sneaking out when I was taking pictures outside this morning (the light was perfect). Yes, Lorelei rarely ever wears clothes--but we live in South Texas so it's a survival thing.

Yes that is Sharpie on her legs--I left her last night in the care of her Daddy when I went to get some Whataburger and I came back to a tattooed baby.

Labels: cleaning, kid pics, knitting, Obsessions

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Mar 17, 2007

Being Eaten Alive my Small Humans

If you've been wondering where I've been, I've been slowly tortured by small hairless monsters masquerading around as my children. Right now my head is pounding, I am counting the second till J. comes home and I can start my Irish celebrations.

Between the screams, yells, squeals, and crying--I've been driven to distraction--my mother and sister are also coming the first week of April--so I have major house cleaning to do. So, Tuesday and Wednesday I was cleaning my bedroom--somehow the kids interpreted this to mean--let's go poke around mom's bedroom and see what we can destroy!! (Sorry but my children provoke the overuse of exclamation points).

Whatever Lorelei got into was eclipsed by what Micci thought would be a fun game. He found my respectable yarn stash (yeah the lovely lace weight wools, silks, alpacas, and other weight natural fibers. He took a green sock yarn and burgundy (it's called black cherry heathered) worsted weight yarn and made a spider web through out my bedroom and bathroom. Here I thought I was going to have a leisurely night--full of knitting--after all Jamey volunteered to figure out dinner. Instead I spent minutes untangling yarn from around my nightstand, bed, dresser, bathroom closet door knob, a the laundry tower, shower curtain rod, water closet door knob--all of which was wrapped several times... And I haven't even got the worst bit. Phisto asked why I didn't take pictures--well my bathroom is a mess, but the worst of it--well pictures would constitute yarn snuff. Mic had opened a hank of alpaca and silk lace wight and I guess tries to make a spider web out of it, but couldn't because it instantly became a horribly knotted mess.

It took me and Jamey from 7 pm to 1 am and 10 am the following morning to 4 pm to untangled and rewind the entire 440 yards of yarn. I didn't eat--I didn't drink--I didn't do anything, but untangle and unwind yarn. Phisto also said she wouldn't have bothered and would have just tossed out the mess. Well I LOVE this yarn--so that just wasn't an option.

Friday wasn't too bad since we were out and about all day--today they just seemed to be little monsters--hitting, biting and screaming at each other.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics, knitting

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Feb 28, 2007

Otherwise Occupied

I've been busy cleaning, knitting and reading. Life's been pretty quiet and I've been tired.

Yesterday was especially trying--but it got loads better when Jamey came home bearing 2 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Then I followed someone's advice and downloaded the Firefox browser from Mozilla. Wow! The difference is amazing and immediate. I was tearing my hair out waiting for web sites to load...given that I spend A LOT of time on line--I was quickly headed toward baldness. I was beginning to feel like I was on dial-up again. Shudder. I haven't tried out all the Firefox features yet, but I love the speed and the tabs. Note: Firefox has a spell check built right in--and as I mis-type, it underlines it--fantastic.

L. lent me The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold to read. I was extremely naughty and read the book in on sitting--I finished it at around 3 pm yesterday and starting it at 9ish. It's a very interesting read. A different sort of story. I also joined a blog (yeah like I need a another--but ya know blogs are addicting), but it's a Harry Potter AND knitting blog.

I am slowly getting better at this cleaning thing. Not where I want to be--but my house is looking better. Only problem with having a clean house--the kids take the clear spaces and march in them. The marching is driving me nuts.

On the knitting front, my socks are a centimeter from the heel shaping--I am so excited. I can't wait to wear these babies. All this cleaning business my knitting is being neglected, sort of. I need to start some new projects, but by the end of the day I am so exhausted I have no energy to design.

Labels: books, cleaning, daily rant, knitting

4:51:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Feb 20, 2007

In Preperation

I've been busy...cleaning and reading up on Harry Potter. My brother and his wife are coming this weekend--hence the cleaning. And well I only have 151 more days until the next (AND the LAST) Harry Potter book is out...so I have been reading forums and the re-reading the books.

I have made a sizeable dent in the disaster that is my home. On the roster today is putting away the baskets and baskets of clean clothes and cleaning up my bed room (putting away clothes will pretty much take car eof the mess); I also have to de-clutter the dining room. Sounds like fun, eh?

Sigh.

What I need is a self cleaning house. Or a house elf.

Labels: cleaning, Obsessions

2:26:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Jan 19, 2007

Got me a "Plan"

I'm getting my shite together. I am sure Mom will be happy. Jamey and I came up with a daily plan that should keep me on track with my household chores. This weekend I am also going to be tossing some stuff on the curb for the semi annual bulk pick up. It's going to be hard, because, ya know, I might need it some day.

I know I have to get anal about cleaning and sticking to my schedule. I needed the routine--but my hippy carefree side was dragging its feet. Hoever, by sticking my schedule--I may have a weebit of time to blog in the motning, but really won't be seeing lot's of new stuff till after 7. Oh and I have a new bedtime: 11pm. No more staying up past midnight or longer. Poot. BUT, the kids have a bedtime too--finally--we did have a bedtimefor Mic but after Lorelei was born we fell out of that routine. WHen Mic overheard us talking about nap time, his head spun around, "What? A nap? ME?"

Today we spent the day out and about. First was Jamey's follow up appointment from his knee surgery. All looks fine--he's still in the immobliser, BUT he can drive now. So it's back to work for him Monday morning! Thank god--having him under foot this week was "trying" at times. Then it was off to get the oil change and a fun filled few hours at Peter Pipers Pizza.

Craig leaves tomorrow morning--the kids had tons of fun with him when he was here and we are going to miss him SO MUCH.

Labels: cleaning, Kid Antics, surgery

8:41:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Jan 16, 2007

Dooce finds Will!

This is why Heather is just a better person than me and why she is my Golden Goddess. My own War on Clutter resembles with frightening accuracy Bush's own war in Iraq. Sigh.

Jamey asked me today if I was even going to propose to clean today. Dammit it's too cold! I don't wanna--besides I did do dishes today.

Yes, I am a lazy so and so who reads and knits the entire day. Shut up Mom. I just can't summon the earth moving desire to really dig into this monstrous project. Perhaps it's the knowledge that it will just get messy again--just like the last several times I moved heaven and earth and had a totally clean house. Heck Mic's room was clean a DAY before he totally trashed it again.

I am too tired to continue to be Sisyphus. I don't have the energy to rise up and say no more all this crap is going to the curb!! And that is what has been eating me up for at least a year. After going to the doctor and ordering a bunch of expensive tests--it all comes down to me my spirit-my Will.

I gotta find that Will.

Have you seen my Will?

Labels: cleaning, daily rant

11:36:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 1 Comments

Dec 28, 2006

An invitation

Tomorrow I should be trying to unearth my living room from the Christmas explosion. There's toys and christmas wrap and parts of boxes all over the place. I've been trying to ignore it. I've been feeling rotten, what ever sickness the kids gave me is ever so slowly devouring me toes on up. I am sick enough to feel craptastic, but not enough to actually have an excuse to stay in bed all day.

But I am about at the end of my rope. I can't make any more excuses. So tomorrow if I blog--without a report of "The Living Room is CLEAN!" Berate me soundly and tell me to get the fuck back to work! You lazy slob!

Labels: cleaning

12:39:00 AM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments