I received an email today from one of my close friends that informed me of the traits of my astrological sign.  Now, under normal circumstances, I do not believe in such cow shit, however… this kinda got to me:
SCORPIO – The Intense One (Oct 23 – Nov 21)<—that’s me… supposedly
Very energetic (I am not usually energetic, lethargic would be a better term for me). Intelligent (Thanks, in some aspects yes I am). Can be jealous and/or possessive (one of my biggest weaknesses, call it a fault). Hardworking (yes, too hardworking sometimes). Great kisser (I’ve never had any complaints, so I guess this is right). Can become obsessive or secretive(oh crap, somebody has a hidden camera in my house, shit, I’m in trouble). Holds grudges (uh, who, me? Damn, that’s true). Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long Relationships. Talkative (my parents blame the kissing of the Blarney stone for this). Romantic. Can be self-centered at times (it is ALL about me, right?!). Passionate and Emotional(emotional, yes, passionate, to a point about some things). ———- How is it possible for a set of stars to possibly determine our characteristics?!  Or is it possible that we all just believe in these things too much that we become what others say we are?  Either way, I think I’d just prefer to not know what the stars are saying about me (as if they can speak).  

I’m so grateful that I’ve taught my children to share, they’ve decided to share their flu with me.  I got up this morning and curled up in a ball in front of a heater on full blast under my down comforter.  I had a fever of a hundred and two and was shivering.  No matter what I did, i couldn’t get warm.  Top all that off with the fact that I still needed to ice my daughter’s birthday cake snack for preschool and get her to school.  I did get it all done, somehow; and managed to get her there on time.  Plus, she had a tick on her this morning that I had to get off (gross… ).  Would it be cruel to put flea and tick repellent on my children for the spring/summer months?  I think a nice flea/tick collar could become the latest fashion trend in kids wear… ok, maybe not. 
It’s a good thing that no one ever tried to make being a mom a glamorous job, because between the wiping of butts and cleaning of puke,there is not a drop of glamour involved.  Especially as they become teenagers.  I’ve resorted to answering everything with “yes, I know I suck and I’m the worst mom ever” after telling my kids they can’t have their way.  It saves the frustration of having to hear them say it; constantly.

Preparations are underway for Abbi’s 3rd birthday party on Saturday afternoon… I’ve decided that I’m not going out of my way for this one.  Last year we had a full meal and people complained about the type of food we served… so this year, we’re doing snacks and cake and ice cream.  That’s it.  I’ve already heard complaints rumbling from my mother’s neck of the woods (“You’re not serving a meal? Just cake and ice cream?!”) and I’m sure to hear more from her before this is all over.  No matter who I try to please, I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.  Perhaps we should just leave the state and go to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival (b/c it would be so much fun for my kids, it has nothing to do with me wanting to go and buy lots of yarn… nothing at all to do with that) and say “screw it!” No party. 
In other news, my daughter (Catie) rescued 2 kittens who were abandoned by their mom yesterday.  They couldn’t have been more than 5 days old (just little fur balls), but we had to take them to the SPCA to let them take care of them.  So, they have a nice place with trained people who can care for them (trust me the “mom can we keep them?!” conversation was ultimately followed by stomping feet and screaming about how much I suck).  It only took me 2 hours to convince the darling daughter that this was a good thing.  Arguing with a bipolar child is never fun.  The truth of the matter is that the dog would’ve eaten them… so they couldn’t stay.

I sat down to work on the bag for the Q2 swap today, but ached so bad that I couldn’t muster the strength to knit… that sucked.  So, I just graphed out the pattern instead, then made some cucumber sandwiches.  I made my youngest a pb&j and cut it into a star, she hasn’t touched it.  Amazing, the kid will eat dirt, but won’t eat pb&j.

Missed a phone call from my Rick today… that sucked.  But I absolutely intend to call him tonite; I think.  It’s been awhile since we talked and I need my Rick time.  There is much to be said about having a best friend who’s a guy.  I’ve never had great luck having female friends (they tend to get too petty and bitchy) so the majority of my friends have always been guys (they are less judgemental).  My Rick is no exception… he is hands down the coolest person on the face of the earth and one of those guys who is always there to lean on; no matter what.  I hate to think that he may someday find a special girl and get married, for fear that I’ll lose my best friend.  I don’t want to share him (ok, now we’re going back to that astrological profile… jealous much?!).

Well, my friend “the mighty goat hunter” will be coming by this afternoon for drinks on the veranda, so I need to go clean up a bit and make sure the wine is chilled.

(My middle child just told me that things cooked in the microwave get hot…. NO DUH! I’m trying not to outwardly laugh at her)

~K.

I feel as if I should begin with a Beetle’s song : “woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head, found my way upstairs and had a smoke…” that is essentially my morning in a nutshell.  With a few additions: I took the youngest to preschool, went to the office and begged for some hours then picked the youngest up from preschool only to discover that she is running a fever of a hundred and one.  She’s upstairs resting with a puke bucket by her bed. 

I spent some time today trying to re-wind a ball of Malabrigo that my dog decided would be fun to play with, it’s a tangled mess.  He actually created the huge mess a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had the time or energy to try to fix it since then, now I have lots of time. 
I perused Ravelry this morning for a pattern, I’ve given up trying to find the perfect bag pattern and have decided to kick old school style and go back to my roots (I think my knitting mojo may be there somewhere, at least I hope it is) – dishcloths.  Yep, dishcloths.  There are some great dishcloth patterns out there that are screaming to be used as a bag (I swear, they’re literally screaming “I WANT TO BE A BAG!!!”) and I’m the person who’s dumb enough to try it.  Drove through the battlefield this morning to find a spot to begin taking pictures of local interest with my knitting, and found a few.  It’s my version of stealing your neighbor’s garden gnome and taking pictures of it on your vacation, except there’s no gnome and no vacation, just my knitting with local items.  It doesn’t sound nearly as interesting typed up as it did when I thought it through in my head; as most of my ideas do. 
I’m realizing that I lack motivation to do housework, the dishes are piling up and the living room is a disaster area… but thinking about cleaning it is making me tired and drains my energy… perhaps I should learn telekinesis, that would make the cleaning seem a bit easier to do. 
I successfully planted some flowers last weekend, and I fear that between the ever occurring rain and the chipmunks, they will never see the light of day.  The bulbs have almost all been carried away by furry little bandits and what is left may very well be molding in the ground as we speak.  Although, the rose bush I planted does seem to be fairing rather well, despite the rain and rodents.

I do believe that I am going to go figure out which is more important, knitting or cleaning (knitting always wins)…

Oh snap! That’s right, I got myself a blog.  Hmmmmmmmmm, so, I must have something to say right?! Well, as I’m sitting here writing this first inaugural blog entry, my  2 year old came down the stairs to tell me she needed clothes for bed, it’s never dull around here, I will say that.

THIS WEEK IN KNITTING: my knitting is as follows:

1. Bag for Q2 swap underway (sort of) : after a long drawn out debate with my self (that ended badly I might say), I have set out on a vast adventure that will be Shannon’s bag.  No pattern, just a whim.  I figured I had the yarn, I found some kick ass handles at a thrift store, and I already had the lining, might as well dream something up to go with it knit-wise… so I’m dreaming it up as I go.

2. THE Sock of death and destruction: I’ve recently entered a moratorium on socks due to the need to mourn the ending of an era (so to speak) in my knitting life… so it will sit unfinished in my hope chest until I can come to terms with this and finish the stupid sock. Or I decide to send it to Nova Scotia… which ever comes first.

3. Celtic Cable Scarf: SO NEAR COMPLETION I CAN ALMOST SPIT!!!!  I need one more hank of yarn to complete this one, and then I’m starting one for my sister for Christmas… at the rate I knit the first one, I need this long to make a second one!

Something AMAZING did happen in the past week (and it was a rather shitty week, so the fact that anything good came of it amazes me…) a picture of my daughter’s DS Lite Case is being used by the designer on Ravelry!!! I’m amazed that he thought it was worthy enough to put the picture on the pattern page.

I’m searching for a job to help feed my yarn addiction (Hi, I’m Kelli, and I’m addicted to Malabrigo, and Alpaca), and considering figuring out a way to set up a site for knitters to find their perfect knitting buddy (or knitting Jedi Master as some may say), so that no person knits alone.  So, what does tomorrow hold?! Who knows, but I do know this much, there will be yarn, and lots of it and I’ll try to do it all with a smile on my face.