Yaaaaaaaaaay!

Today is the day . . . off to Disney we go. I got into the Princess breakfast at the castle tomorrow morning. I cannot wait to see the look on Callista's face when she finds out we are celebrating the day of her birthday with the girls! More when we get back!

Time for cozy toes

I don't know about you, but I'm on a sock kick right now. Portable, quick to knit (when you aren't screwing up the chart on a pattern ahem!) and great for your toesies.

In that spirit, Astrid, is having some great bargains:

Meilenweit 6ply Special: now only US$ 11.95 (429 yards, 150 grams)

Opal Best of 6ply: US$ 12.50 (462 yards, 150 grams)
Opal Rainforest 6ply: US$ 12.50 (462 yards, 150 grams)

Regia Country 6ply: US$ 10.95 (413 yards, 150 grams)
Regia Marokko 6ply: US$ 3.95 (138 yards, 50 grams)

And remember, she sends chocolate with ever order, Dutch chocolate mmmmmmmmm.

2 sleeps until Disney! Muppet YAAAAAY!

Poor Simon

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Simon Cowell. He is going to have to have a tongue transplant by the end of the season six American Idol auditions from having to bite his tongue. I am sure there is a ton of editing involved, but how could two cities have such a high concentration of tone deaf people? I know we all have blind spots for the ones we love, but you would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to believe that more than half of these people can sing.

I have sung my entire life, and still can't imagine I would ever be good enough to be a pop idol. And yet, these 15-minute-of-fame-seeking-yahoos have apparently no conscience of continuing to punish the public with their let's just be honest, sh$$.

And then there is the other side of me that thinks this is borderline cruelty to the mentally ill. Clearly several of the contestants did not have their daily Seroquel dose and then off they go to their audition. And yet, it's not cruel enough that I can tear myself away. I'd like to think I am better than this, I'm not one to gawk at car accidents and yet, it's impossible to turn away from these train wrecks.

Thoughts?

Crafty Beotch

I've already mentioned the Disney obsession. We're under a week now until our trip so I have to gush a little. That, and since I have had no pictures in the last few posts, I thought I would give ya a little something to look at. We're a little Character-crazy in my family in addition to being Disney nuts. Yes, we are those people who wait in line to have a giant stuffed animal sign a piece of paper with their "name" on it. I once talked to a former cast member who said that the most bitter people in all of Disneyworld are the people who have to wear the big Character costumes. Go figure. Who wouldn't want a bunch of little rug rats coming at them with hugs and pens wielded as weapons that are at just about the right height of . . . well, you get the picture.

But, I digress . . .

One of the things we've started the last couple of Disney trips is to create autograph books of our own (they end up being more expensive but they are much more cute and the characters make a big deal out of them). This time, since the girls don't know about the trip, I'm working on the basics of the books and then they will get to work on them on the three-hour-kill-me-now flight to Orlando. This is the front of Sugar Bear's book:



And the back cover with the rockin' vintage stickers I got at Disney last year:



I have to Mod Podge the back and the front so that stuff doesn't go flying off. I also put her name on the inside with the date and an adorable Ariel sticker (her absolute favorite). And then I am wrapping it up as a birthday gift. I'm working on Mimi's also, but that one really needs some decoupage help before I can show some pictures of it.

And a final note that has nothing to do with Disney . . . as a woman who has struggled with the loose and hanging arm skin where there should be some triceps (ahem!), would someone please tell Miss Diana Ross that even though she is a Diva, it's time to give up the sleeveless shirts or at least it's time to stop clapping your hand at chest height in a crowd, because sister friend, you are going to take someone out with that flying flesh. She is fabulous, but pahleeze, it's a mess.

Project Compassion

On a day such as this, MLK Day, it is wonderful to spread compassion. And that's exactly what the lovely ladies over at Project Compassion are planning on doing. I believe that I got on Erin's mailing list because I "killed" her in the Sock Wars. At least that's how I think I got on. I know she also dyes yarn and sells it, but I am pretty sure it was the Sock Wars thing.

In any case, she and her friend Michelle are going to collect squares to donate to a mother and daughter who lost three families members to a car accident just before Christmas. This really takes no time at all. They are about the size of a washcloth, and imagine what it would mean to these women to have squares sewn into a blanket from all over the world. Please visit Project Compassion for more details. This will be an ongoing project and they will add different recipients to the larger scope, so if you can't help now, bookmark them, because you can always help in the future. Both knitting and crocheting are accepted. And if you don't know how to knit or crochet, either pick up the sticks or forward this information to someone who can.

Kaleidoscope Yarns Sale

Just wanted to let you know, Kaleidoscope yarns is having a sale on Cherry Tree Hill Supersock and Mountain Colors 4/8s wool. Both are 15% off until 1/19 and are great for socks.

My headache is back, so that is all for today kids.

Comments and observations

Thanks to all of you who have sent messages about me and the silly migraines. The good news is, they seem to be starting to go away. I had a statis migraine that lasted two weeks and then what seemed every other day I was getting increasingly worse headaches. We think, it's a hormonal thing, but won't know for sure for at least another month. In the meantime, I'm off the prednisone, which by the way, is only good for one thing, motivating you to clean your house. I was as wound up as a hamster on a wheel in the middle of the night. But, I got some great organizing finished. I should have tackled the stash. Well, I started tackling the sock stash this morning, and I had organized the fug fur, ribbon, and novelty crap a while ago. But, I've really got to get in there and do more.

For those of you who also get migraines this migraine med Maxalt is some good stuff. They gave me some other samples, but so far that's what is working. My husband came home like a drug mule the other night with all the stuff that I needed. He's a trooper that one. I am lucky to have him to say the least.

The other main thing I got done when I couldn't sleep wasn't knitting, but planning. We are surprising DD Sugar Bear with a trip to Disney for her sixth birthday. I hadn't mentioned it until now because I was trying to keep my excitement in check. I love Disney almost as much as knitting. Maybe even more. It's a borderline illness. :)

Still going

Yes, I'm still sewing up the sweater. But, good news, I know that it is going to fit! And I think I am doing a pretty darn good job at the finishing if I do say so myself. The only thing standing in my way is brutal migraine headaches that are just not going away. Don't worry, I'm getting the testing I need, just a big pain in the keister, cause people, I have things to do. Also have almost finished Allen's first sock that matches his sweater. He'll be lucky if I don't steal them because I am doing them in the same Cashsoft and using the International Rib of Doom pattern. Plus, he doesn't have very large feet and I do, so, they really could fit me. Insert demonic laughter here.

Hit a new yarn store yesterday, Hither and Yarn in Torrington. Well, new to me. I had horrible cabin fever after being cooped up with the migraine for literally a week so DH was kind enough to get me out of the house yesterday. Linda had been raving about them, but I had not made it out there. I went for some Noro Kureyon which I am sure I could have gotten for less from Webs, but I was there and I wanted it. And then I stumbled onto a Filatura di Crosa (or Tahki Stacey Charles or whatever the heck they are calling themselves) book. Ginormous mistake. Because first I found this:

And then I found this to go with it:

And I bought the yarn for it. Not sure when the hell exactly I will be getting to that, but it might just make it to next project status. Whatever I am knitting next is going to be for me. Damn it. I can't seem to find the photo of the two together, but they look really nice. And the book in general is pretty nifty. It's from Fall 2005. There's way more in there I would knit if I could ever even think about doing a big sweater with sleeves again.