Socialization progress RE: cats

If you have no interest in hears MORE about those two furballs, then move along. I'm just trying to help you not waste your valuable time. :o)

Cooper, of the nasty eye and uncertain purrrsonality, seems to be coming out of his shell. He was described as "friendly but not people crazy" the way some Ragdolls can be. He avoided being petted but once in my arms he calmly submitted to the hman's desires of fondling his fur. Then he would skedaddle upon being set down.
We really thought at first that his nervous behaviour would be made worse in the mad house that can be our home and planned on leaving him behind. But I just couldn't do it. There was the possibility that he might blossom and come into his own as a cat and pet if given enough love, care, and respect. It seems to be paying off...or not depending on your perspective on hair sucking. And foot biting. he likes to bite feet of people.

Yes, Cooper has decided that in the middle of the night what he really really wants (I'll tell ya what he wants) is to nuzzle up to me purring maniacally and sniffling loudly and then finding the just right place on my head (usually a temple area) and start sucking and chewing on my hair where its shorter than elsewhere on my head. Why, yes I do know that this is nasty and creepy! Thanks for mentioning it but since I was the one with cat spit wettened hair, I am fully aware. I did not so much allow it as could not avoid it. I would remove as much hair as I could from his reach but short of throwing him away or shaving my head, there's not much to be done except discourage him. He doesn't discourage as easily as one might anticipate given his usual personality trait of running away at the approach of people.

Not only this but Harley gets in on it by paralysing me with the cute and needing his belly rubbed at the same time or pinning me down by laying on my chest and rolling and purring and making starfish paws so I am simultaneously relieving Cooper of my hair redirecting his face away from my hair and petting Harley...they are totally tag teaming me!

At 4 this morning we were awakened by the dynamic fur duo racing and wrestling in the hall outside our bedroom and then their pouncings and purrings in our bed (and the hair sucking and noisy nuzzlings..eeewwww). I think its safe to say that after two days in our home Cooper is A) beginning to socialise more positively than we'd hoped in so fast a time and B) he's feeling a lot better than his former listlessness indicated. A repeat of hair suckings and cute attackings happened around 9 AM as well. As my neice Teri Lynn said this morning (she of animal edumacation and smartyness) there is a lot to be said for care thats consistent and remains so until the condition is relieved. Here's hoping his snifflyness and weepy eye can be relieved. I will be staying on it until it is o or the vet says it can't be helped. Speaking of the vet, I don't want to take him in until I have a chance to improve his condition myself.

Now another subject: bathing cats. I am very nervous to attempt bathing the stnkiness that is super Cooper. He smells like cat pee(less than Saturday but still whiffy) and Harley still bears a slight odour of the cattery. The cleanliness liker in me desires them to be cleansed of that place but the human in me fears for my own safety if I try to bathe the cats. That and for their progress in settling into the home and family if I force them to suffer yet another indignity. Have you bathed cats? What do you think? I suppose I could go to a groomer....?

Just remembered

I realised I haven't mentioned the weight thing , food issues, positive thinking stuffs lately.
I have ups and downs on the NO STARCHES edict I put on myself. Lets face it, bread is really fucking good as is rice and pasta and ohmygods potatoes how I LOVE potatoes. That said I did have some of my forbiddens on vacation.
However I came home from vacation to find I had managed to hit the 8 pounds off mark. Two more pounds to my ten pounds by Labour Day goal.

Now explain this to me my darlings in cyberland. Why is it that when I get close to the goal, or achieve some success, that I immediately desire the forbidden foods in an almost addict like way. I have been eating so healthily for the last 6 weeks (except for the ice cream binges in NS...BUT COME ON! Scotsburn makes the best ice cream I have ever tasted and I can't eat it/buy it here!) and you know I am feeling pretty pleased with my progress. I still eat too much at night but the eating is mostly fruits and veggies, some almonds, or some yogurt. I do love me my yogurt...its like dessert thats good for you!!

So my desire for the forbiddens is way high these last couple of days. It could be withdrawals from having some breads and stuffs over vacation. Maybe thats it and not self sabotage? I hope so. Withdrawal I can do (kinda) but self sabotage is just so sad.

Lets recap shall we? Just because it makes me happy to see the numbers..
6 weeks ago: 214 lbs. 2 days ago: 205.7 (lets call it 206)lbs. Yay me! But my undies is still tight. :o(

ALSO, I got inspired by Crazy Aunt Purl aka Laurie and wrote her an email thanking her for her leafless salad ideas. I am a tad tired of the leafy greens I do admit. For the first time ever, she responded to an email from me. SQUEE! Ok...this may sound real lame to you but for me it was a happy geeked out moment. She gets ALOT of email from her readers.

Now if only emails were like real letters and I could frame it.... ;OP

Cat Chat

Well, we drove to the Joymagic Ragdolls cattery yesterday to check out this kitten that the breeder Jocelyn had recommended to heal our broken hearts. As usual, Harmony (4 or 5 yr old breeding female) latched on to Hman and also another lady named Betty proved to be her equal in the "lovin's" department. They were hilarious and we wish we could have walked out with them in tow so that we could have them pushing each other out of our laps for years to come.
We met the 6 month old seal lynx mitted male that was going by the name Pirate in the cattery and he was everything she said he was. Busy, friendly, affectionate, funny, and charming. His eyes are more of a sky blue than saphire and he is not very shy at all. We have renamed him Harley for the quality of his motorcycle like purr and easy rider personality, not to mention his scarred eye that lends him an air of 'danger'. LOL He has already captured Hman's attention's and admiration by demanding attention and readily flopping over on his back for belly rubs and air pawing.

Also on offer for our perusal was a damaged lilac bicolour male. He had no name. He is 11 months old and at some point had surgery on his left eye due to a membrane that wouldn't retract (I think thats what it was). As a result he has a weepy less than perfect eye that has kept all clients from adopting him. He is skittish and shy but not a complete loss. When I held him in my arms he was quite calm and accepting, if not thrilled by the experience. I felt sorry for him and since she offered him to us free of charge, because she trusted that in our home he would be cherished rather than just be a house cat, I couldn't leave him behind. Its my theory that he may come into his own in a home with affection and constant care. He's much more aloof than Harley and I likened him to the strong silent type so we named him Cooper after Gary Cooper. His good eye is an intense blue but not prominent like many Rags, smaller and more deeply set. His eye is a nasty mess for now but I bathed it in boild water with salt added and applied antibiotic drops and ointment last night. He had a sniffly way about him so Jocelyn sent him home with oral antibiotics too. It is my hope that his eye will get better than it currently is and that the discolouration of the fur around it from the weeping will fade. he has warmed up a bit, exploring the house more and actually coming to Hman and I on separate occassions for some pettings. He even jumped up on the sofa next to me ON PURPOSE for petting. He has adopted the basket with the antique red wool horse blanket that was Blossom's bed in the living room out of the 5 baskets on offer.

Last night, when I mosied for my middle of the night peepee, in slunk two kitty ghosts. then they followed me to the bedroom, exploring and making noise. Later a purry fluffy mass climbed into the bed for some snuggles and I am assuming it was Harley due to the purr. Cooper did purr today durring our sofa session, so I now know he is capable.

So there we have it. We got a twofer "deal" and now the house will be cat hairier than ever. Although thanks to Teri Lynn, wonderneice, I have a FurBuster now. I just need to get them to appreciate the joys of being brushed and groomed.

Pictures when I can get them to stay still long enough for for the capture to work. Its amazing how fast they move between the click and the capture!

It came,etc

Fall Interweave Knits dropped into my mailbox today. Its just as awesome as I thought it would be.


My mom had an ultrasound today. No results yet as to what the mysterious swelling is.

Progress

Last night I attended knit night in NDG and got to fondle and drool over the St.Denis yarn company's support magazine (available at LYS that carry St. Denis yarn). When i open my still imaginary yarn shop some years in the futuire I am totally stocking this yarn. Not just because it is the brain child of my friend Veronik Avery, supah stah knit designer, but because it is truly a very fine yarn. The magazine is magnificent. The sizing of garments is for many sizes INCLUDING MINE!! Gasp! Shock and awe abound! Some go EVEN LARGER and are still stylish not frumpy. Y'all know my issues with the frumpy big girl fashions...grrrrr. Just because a woman is larger than the fashionista norm does not mean she wants to have her beauty hidden under a tent of fabric. Most big girls look best with a figure skimming look (do not read that as skin tight clothes...thats nasty) just like any other figure type does. This magazine and, in particular Oona's Hoodie, makes me very happy. Check out the whole collection on Ravelry and prepare to drooooool. By the way, Customs, y'll are dickwads for holding YARN at the frikkin' border. What is wrong with you people!? Although my husband may think it should be listed as a controlled substance at the rate I sniff and fondle it...

Demand this yarn and its magazine at your local yarn shop. The colours are to die for.

Also last night I FINALLY cast off the first sleeve of a certain garment that I cannot describe here because its intended recipient visits. As soon as its gifted you will know all. I thought it would never end! Now for sleeve two, seaming, finishing work... Its actually a very fun wlittle knit and I look forward to making another in the future (I have the yarn already ). I finally feel like I am making some progress in my projects. the Einstein coat/jacket is a never ending piece of garter stitch that feel like it will never end no matter how long I knit. At a nice big gauge I really thought it would go faster. My sister's Xmas gift has only been mildly worked on because it has lots of time.

As for other Xmas gifts....I was toying with the idea of little dresses for two girlies and maybe arm warmers for the older ones but now I am smitten with the valentine cabled hat in the current Knitscene. Its so cuuuuute!

The Fall Interweave Knits looks like its going to be a big winner. I have seen some of the pictures on Ravelry and they have set me to feeling covetous. Likewise the Vogue Knitting this Fall. Autumn issues are ALWAYS the best!!!

I want this book

AlterNation by Shannon Okey and someone else... Its a book that give tips and tricks to alter thrisft store finds into one of a kind garments for the crafty individual. I love thrift store shopping but the finds are generally not so stylin' y'know? Especially the big girl sizes. This book could help me save money and be a little more fashion forward, if possible. Wants it, I does.

In other stories..........

Our trip home to NS was not precisely disappointing but it wasn't a funfest either. There are pluses and minuses to being on the coast. the pluses are beaches and beauty but the minuses are rain and fog. When you are camping rain and fog suck. Everything was damp and smelly eventually (10 minutes in?) and the grown ups kept getting irritated with the discomfort. Luckily to get cleaner and drier I have a sister near by. THANK GODS! Plus she has TV.
Our one beach trip consisted of trying Lawrencetown (too rocky) and Martinique. We spent about two hours on Martinique and even though it was a foggy cloudy day I eneded up with a sunburn on my face. Nothing says white like a sunburn in the fog. Cameron was our little surfer dude with his wetsuit and boogeyboard. He was in the water almost constantly. It was awesome. The surfers at the other end of the beach were entertaining to watch as well. Ben was unimpressed with Martinique. He refused to don his wetsuit and try the waves, preferring to futilely search for beach glass (3 pieces).
WE found the perfect beach for us just 15 minutes from my sister's home (Rainbow Haven) and not once did we get to swim there. It pissed us off to no end. Rainbow Haven is one of those best kept secrets of NS. Even though its a provincially maintained beach it gets almost no press or placement on maps. Its beautiful, lightly wavey when we were there, with snorkelling opportunities. Plus the water was not ice cold.
We did swim at Caribou after a visit to my parents which was far too brief and consisted of idle chit chat and taking them to their doctors appointment. My mom is not well at all and the doctor's tests are slow in happening and sometimes inconclusive.
The BEST day we had was Wednesday. It was warm and sunny! Hman and Thing One went golfing with my wonderful visiting from Calgary nephew who we all miss, and I got to hang out with my neice and her BFF, THE Deb Barnhill. Thing Two spent the day with my grand neices and their dad. he really enjoys his cousins when we go home.

Unfortunately the glory of the day was marred by the fact that I accidentally stood up my darling Barbara and that we were so late returning to the city that my family could not go to the beach before my sister's soiree. I was so in the dog house Wednesday. I had to fondle my new yarn a lot to help me through. And my beautiful diagonal rib (Ann Budd pattern)socks made with Paton's Kroy that Teri Lynn made for me. I love my neice.

Thursday saw more rain and fog and a trip to the movie theater so the boys and our darling Heather (my oldest friend's daughter) could take in G-Force in 3D. This gave Hman and I a whole 1 1/2 hours of childleesness. We went to Boston Pizza and Canadian Tire and then I had him drop me off at Michael's craft store to peruse the yarn while he gathered the young 'uns. I got two colourways of Kroy. Its very soft and pretty sock yarn and not badly priced as sock yarns go.

We decided we were DONE. No more wet dismal camping. Friday saw us leaving NS with tears in my eyes at leaving my family and the ocean behind AGAIN. We stayed at Fredericton's new Best Western and it was heavenly. Arrived Saturday evening at Vacartier's camping area for a Sunday of waterpark fun. We left early to arrive home Sunday night instead of Monday because the camping park is cramped (but the amenities are great)and guess what? It started to rain AGAIN.

The rest you know...arriving home to an ailing Newman.

OTHER BIG NEWS:

Friday as we drove through NS with my sadness, Hman developed an idea. Something tells me he had been ruminating on it for awhile because it sounded a little too thought out to be spontaneous. At first I resisted it. Yet, he made a compelling argument that played on my worries for my mom and how much I miss my family. Thus a decision was made that the kids and I would move back to NS next summer, with Hman joing us as often as he could. He has a plan for that too. Plus I will be holding Lunasea hostage which will at least bring him east in sailing weather. ;o)

Maybe I will get to have a yarn shop in the future.....?

Back Home

We are back home from vacation, such as it was. It was a tiring experience, camping in damp conditions.
There were highs and lows to the trip and it will take maybe more than one post for it all, but right now I don't feel like posting. You see, when we arrived home Last night, Newman was showing signs of respiratory distress which meant a late night trip to a 24 hour veterinary hospital. A trip he didn't come home from.
His lungs and the area in his chest where the lungs are was filling with fluid due to some sort of cardio episode. Lacking thousands of dollars to pursue treatment ( over a thousand dollars for overnight hospitalization and an examination by the cardiologist...then would come treatment and its costs), I had to let him go. It was sickening. Horrifying. Debilitating. My Newnie-Noo gone because I am not independantly wealthy. It was like a nightmare. You know the kind...where people are talking but suddenly you can't understand what they are saying? I mean...here I was at the vet because maybe my cat had a cold? Pneumonia? Give him some antibiotics and home we'll go! Only THAT wasn't what this lovely woman was telling me. She was telling me my furbaby was dying because his lungs and heart weren't functioning properly and that perhaps I should say goodbye. WTF? I had to keep getting her to repeat herself and asked the same questions over and over..yes like one of those stupid people because I was not comprehending what was going on.
Now to be fair to the vet and myself, it was somewhat recommended to take this route. Best case scenario would have him seen by the cardio guy, cured and live a long healthy happy life. That wasn't the prognosis though. Given his young age for this to happen, it was possible and maybe probable that even with treatment and lifelong medication he would not live a long healthy life and he would most likely suffer relapses. It was deemed that euthanasia was going to be the only road I could take.
Anyways, bear with us as we sort through our grief and of all the insane ideas ever, visit Newman's breeder this weekend. Its only been the first day and our home is so empty. Hman is feeling particularly bereft and wants this so I am going along with it. Newman's breeder was so shocked and sad by my news and has offered an older cat or kitten to help us in our sadness. We shall see.

More another time with better spirits and lots of news.

Bad sleep habits

Last night I could NOT sleep. It just wasn't happenin'. Was it the fact that I'd slept til noon after reading in bed until 3 AM? Was it the afternoon caffeine? Who knowses, Moses? But at least I put my wakefulness into a wee bit of chore doing ( no I did NOT fold the laundry....but I shoulda). I unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded it. I repacked all the camping dishes and utensils, making a note to buy spoons etc. Why are we down to TWO spoons in the gear? No idea. Also made other lists of stuffs to get while out today and created a packing list for the boys(1 jeans, 1 sweatpants, 1 warm PJs, 3 undies etc etc).
Anyways, it was after 3 when I hit the hay...then moved to the sofa when the sky was beginning to lighten around 4 something...). Moved to bed at 8 and then got up at 9:30 to take Cam to tennis.

I so need more coffee. Off to retrieve Cammie from the courts!

The Next Day

I am still on a wee bit of a high after yesterdays gathering in my back yard. Most of my favourite knitting friends were in attendance and the weather cooperated as much as can be hoped for in this rainy weird summer of ours. A teensy spit of drizzle didn't even amount to enough to chase us indoors although there was a monster rain cloud that blew by farther away...whew.

The pool was on the chilly side and the day not overly hot with a good breeze. the kids and one knitter braved the pool and I was tempted but didn't jump in. The folks brought treats and their knitting and some brought their kids which was excellent because my guys then had fun too!!!! Poor Hman tried to be sociable but he's really not feeling well. I think he did great considering his home was invaded by about 13 or more knitters...LOL

I may sound gushy or sappy at this point so if you are a diabetic or are easily nauseated pass this bit over.

I said to my friend Janet in a Ravelry message this morning that I felt truly blessed by everyone that showed up to my little knitting party. They and the knitting community I found here mean so much to me, they really have no idea how much. If i didn't have them I would be so sad, miserable, lonely.. In fact I probably wouldn't be living here anymore. The isolation I suffered our first year or so was very hard on me and until I met these people that I could really get to know and spend valuable time with, I was pretty unhappy. The laughter, smiles, joy, and joke of yesterdays gathering just lit up every part of my spirit yesterday and again, I feel truly blessed to have them all in my life.

Merci beaucoup, mes amis..mes anges. Je t'aime.

Happy and Sad

I am very happy because I am hosting my knitting friends on Sunday for a knitting afternoon by the pool. If the weatehr permits. Right now its calling for a mix like today and so far today is pretty friggin' awesome except for the humidity. Lets all send the happy weather vibe my way for Sunday so my friends have an extra fun time. If the weather sucks we will bring the fun in doors so its a GO whichever way the wind blows. I do need to spruce up the house and yard just a tinch tomorrow (who amd I kidding! It needs more than that but these are friends not home decor/cleanliness spies so I will make it all nice enough for them: vacuuming the piles of cat hair shed daily, etc) so that they feel comfortable.

Happy am I also because the nasal spray stuff that the doctor ordered is working on Hman and he is not the sickly crank he was. It worked right away at soothing his sinuses and he could breathe again. The whole not being able to breathe through his nose was making him sleepless and causing all kinds of related issues (coughing, feeling like he was unable to breathe due to muscle spasms in his chest etc). he has found relief and for that I am glad. Now I won't have to smother him with his pillow for being a meany and go to jail.

Now for the SAD. I started a shrug last summer as part of a mystery knit along and toiled at it until Clue #3 stopped me (and others) in my tracks. The designer came to knit night on Wednesday and got me going again on the project and for that I am truly grateful but sadly, I think this garment will not be made. Its just too much for my addled short attention span to stick with! The lace and the cables and then short rows thrown into it all....I start hyperventilating just thinking about it. It is now destined for the frog pond. This begs the question now: What to do with 1200 yards/meters (I forget which) of gorgeous light natural grey Cestari worsted wool? Its nowhere near enough for a sweater for me. Maybe a different shrug? I think shrugs may be my best option in general, as opposed to sweaters, because I tend to run hot even in winter and if I get chilled a shrug won't over do like a sweater often does. Plus they are faster and take less yarn. There is always that. So, I will bid the mystery shrug of gorgeousness adieu thanks to my A.D.D tendancies and use said yarn for a shrug of less complicated construction. On the plus side, I did get all of the remaining grey worsted Cestari from the shop and having it DOES make me happy. My presciousssss..........

Still without photos...

I apologise to those who demand photo updates. I have pics but they haven't been put onto the computer yet. I am very slow on these things and not very tech savvy.

I made jam yesterday and had a visit with the loverly Audrey (whom I claimed was the Devil...'member her?). She had her laptop with her and reloaded a version of the 4th Dresden File book thats read by James Marsten rather than the computer robot voice that spells words sometimes instead of saying them. Example! We all know that "Shhh" is someone telling some one to be quiet but the rbot instead quotes the person as spelling it out "S! h h h h". Or the name McCoy becomes "Emm See Coy" plus the inflections of the voice and pauses are a bit off. The rest of the books we have on disc are robot read so until we come up with new ones hopefully read by Marsten, I have to stop at Book 4.
Oh yeah! The jam. Its pretty runny but I don't care. Its either runny or I do my usual cook it too long and make strawberry based-rubber filled jars that need to have their contents GOUDGED out. I'll take tasty and runny over overcooked.

Hman has been feeling poorly. His sinuses are keeping him awake and he is VERY not nice when sick and tired. Avoidance has become crucial so that I don't start yelling at him for being a dick. He's sick so I am trying to be understanding. He's the kind of sick that doesn't want your help or kindness. Kinda the Angry Bear Overtired and Stressed Out sick. I would like to traquilize him and move him to a new territory (like a bear!) when he's like this. A trip to the doctor showed that there is no flu or infection or anything else and he was prescribed a nasal spray that "should" help him breathe so he can sleep. Maybe Flonase? Not sure.

Mom is sort of better. No longer AS sickly as she was but still awaiting the appointment with a specialist. My second oldest sister spent a weekend at the house with the folks cooking and cleaning and trying to get Mom to eat more than toast and Boost. I wished her luck and reminded her that murder is against the law. Aging parents...gotta love them but when they defeat themselves with their own behaviours its very hard to stand by and not get tetchy when they ignore the advice of others.

Thats about it today. I am tired after getting stuck in construction traffic last night on my way home from Knit Night and getting woke up through the night with Sickly Beast Man.

I'll go do housework. That'll cheer me up. NOT!!!! ;oD

SCORE!

I went quickly to the Centre d'Entraide (a charity second hand store) in Mascouche as soon as I remembered that I wanted to go and check for canning jars. It closes at 3 and I remembered at 2:30. Duh.. I we drove swiftly ( but not recklessly), getting stuck in constructiony traffic and arrived with 15 minutes left of open hours. YAY!
And YES there were jars. I got 34 standard mouth jars of various sizes for $5. Sweeet. I got all the smaller ones they had (250 ml and I think 500 ml) as well as a few larger ones (1 litre?). Now I wonder if I should go back for more big ones.

I don't NEEEEED more jars. Technically. But I would hate to pay for new when thses have years and years left in them. Thats the best part of canning. Unless the jars get chipped, cracked, or broken they can be reused forever. Not so much the rings (maybe a couple year untill they start rusting) and the lids are a one time only use if you want to be safe.

So, I foresee Thursday as being a jamming day here. I'd like to get a flat of strawberries and make delicious, summery, strawberry jam for myself and my loved ones. And then maybe blueberry jam. And then salsa and spaghetti sauce. And the boys want dill pickles......

Filthy weather

Saturday night while I was at the fireworks it POURED rain. Yesterday wasn't too bad but it did indeed rain again.

Today the sun was out and I was so relieved. I honestly do not think I could ever live in Seattle or Vancouver...ugh think of all that RAIN! With my sunny weather I was able to hang out laundry and gather my calendula blossoms for making calendula oil. I passed over any that were past their prime, focusing on the full bloom, newly blooming, and almost blooming flowers and buds. It was a good chance to dead head while I was out there and keep the plants in production incase the rain EVER stops so I can gather more dry blossoms for infusing or drying for later use.

Calendula is wonderfully soothing for the skin and some skin conditions such as rashes and exzema respond well to being treated with calendula balms and salves. It was so nice being out there and doing what I love to do.

After I gathered my blooms I hunted down a clean mason jar, a ring, and a lid and wiped the jar out with vinegar to remove any dust etc. After I dried it thoroughly I squooshed in my booty of blossoms, near filling the jar! I poured olive oil over the blooms, shaking the jar and stirring it a bit to work out air bubbles and pockets and making sure the oil could get everywhere. Once the jar was full to withing almost an inch of headspace, I capped the jar and gave it a shake to make sure that oil could get around. Then it went into my cabinet on a saucer (incase of an overflow during the infusion) to sit and do its thing. Lets keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't get rancid or icky and that I REMEMBER to drain the oil on time.

As my second load of laundry neared completion and thits turn on the line, a rain storm swept in and soaked everything down again. ARGH! I didn't bother bringing the clothes in. I just waited a bit and the rain passed and my second load went out a little later than planned but was line dried (mostly) all the same.

Last evening I got to business on dyeing a bit of roving for making thrummed mittens later this year. I need pink roving for the thrums and while Ginette did have a pink in stock, it was a silk blend and I wanted pure wool. I put hot water and vinegar in a Pyrex dish and tinted the liquid with food colouring until I had a good deep/bright pink. Then, in went the roving. Its a bit trickier with roving than yarn because the roving isn't spun at all and could felt as quick as you blink. I covered the dish with plastic wrap and put it in the microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes, getting things good and hot. Then it was left to sit and cool down. the dye bath, such as it was, was well exausted and the water left was mostly clear. I rinsed the roving and it didn't bleed and now its hanging in the bathroom on the towel rack to dry, since the weather is uncooperative.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.

FRIDAY

The pool issue was resolved very quickly once Hman got home proving once again that I am NOT mechanically inclined. Not that he is, but he is more so than I. Pump and filter are working just fine and the pool is usable. Its a hot one today so we may be out there more than yesterday. Yay SUNSHINE AGAIN!!!!!

I went to my friend DearKnits house last evening to ease her into the ways of jam making. We ended up with several jars of strawberry jam for her family's pleasure. There were laughs, lots of chatter, more laughs.... She is very fun to spend time with. Her husband is VERY handsome and also funny with crazy mad kite making skillz. You gotta check out her blog sometimes because his kites make for great pictures. I'd love to see them in flight someday. Does anyone out there know the reason for "skimming off the foam" when jam making? The recipes all say to do it but whats the science behind it? When T asked me I was all "I dunno...the recipes say to so do it...stop pressuring me , man!" Then we came up with the "answer" of that the foam gives you cancer....and it got called that the rest of the night...yummy foamy strawberry flavoured cancer...It was funny at the time.

Today I will do more laundry because I can hang it out on the line again. Clothes on the clothesline make me feel very satisfied. Its one of those simple pleasures in life, y'know?

I should also get the waterproofing spray out and spray down the tents before it decides to rain again!

The Sun Came Out!

We have been having a fairly cool wet summer thus far. Not as bad as some but bad enough. Today I was so jazzed to see the sun out and shining brightly. I have one load of washing out on the line and am waiting for another to finish so it can go out too.
I fished a drowned rodent out of the pool today...EEEEEEWWW. While thus distracted making sure the hose was in the skimmer because of the water's drop in level, my pool pump and filter sucked too much air. Now I can't get it to work right. i tried refilling the intake part but the water just kept running into the connecting hoses, never letting the intake fill enough not to suck air again. I am perplexed and diguruntled at this and hope Hman can deal with it because it seems beyond my modest skills. Maybe he needs to dismantle the filter and fill IT with water now? Oy...he's gonna bitch....
So there will be no pooling today because I can't operate the filter and thus vacuum the nasties off the bottom.
Garden news: Peppers plants are making peppers, zucchini plants making zucchini, Tomatoes making tomatoes...
Something animally has dug in under my compost pile and I am ascared...what could it be? Rats? Skunk? Groundhog?

Here is where I will be tomorrow

Pourvoirie Bazinet .

Trout beware!!!

It moved..It budged, it badged, it boodged...

The scale that is.
Last weigh ins have been 213/214.....today was 209. I have very few cravings and no feeling of hardship.

My Mom

My mom is very ill these days. She has had a digestive problem (unsolved) for a few years now, was hospitalised at one point for septic shock about 4 1/2 years ago or so, and now at 80 years of age is down to 101 pounds of frail, lethargic, weakened old lady. She went to the doctor yesterday about her latest problem of throwing up everything she consumes and he told her to drink Boost once a day while he will try and get her in for some tests ASAP. Her latests blood tests came back "fine".

I spoke to her this morning just before noon her time, she hadn't yet been able to eat anything but did take all her old lady meds, her stomach was upset and she didn't want to have anything. She had been dozing on the sofa when I called because she was wiped out. We spoke for awhile, she bitched about my Dad not doing the dishes last night when he said she would (he had dosed off in his chair and she discovered the sink still full so she did them, even drying said dishes and putting them away immediately...I think that part was for spite..LOL), the rowdies down the street, about how her neighborhood is peaceful most of the time ( except: insert her list here..blah blah blah), how she misses her great grandchildren and keeping up with whats going on with them all (she has 5) and she promised to go have some toast or her beef broth, and drink her Boost as soon as we hung up.

To say I am worried is an understatement.

Soup du jour

GAZPACHO!!!!!

I like gazpacho a lot. I had it everywhere we went in Spain to try the "real" gazpacho. Some were bland and some rocked. Guess it depends on the recipe.
It is crazy simple to make. I'm serious you don't even need to heat the stove if you don't want to. My recipe calls for the tomatoes to be peeled and seeded and for that I would need to have them in boiling water until the skins wouls slip off...and I am lazy. So I didn't. Guess what? Still tastes good!
Served cold its a great light lunch or dinner or a simple started for a meal on a hot summer night.

3 BIG ripe tomatoes
1 green pepper
3 cloves garlic
1 small onion
1 large cucumber peeled and seeded
1 1/2 cups tomato juice OR V8
3 Tbs olive oil
Juice of 1 nice juicy lime(or 2)or lemon.
Salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce to taste.
Puree the whole shebang in a food processor or blender. You may need to pour some into your storage container part way through to keep from over flowing the blender. I did. Season to taste with the Tabasco, salt and pepper and refrigerate until COLD. Serve it cold. I think some fresh cilantro would be a really welcome touch to the ingredients list. I didn't have any :o(.

If you have "helpers" they might enjoy this project. Its also a great recipe for extra summer tomatoes.

Friggin' rain.......

In my jungle like front garden which was supposed to be reminiscent of a cottage garden style, some plants have reached insano proportions. Like my Maltese Cross "Morgenrot", a salmon coloured flower. Its about 4 1/2 feet tall or taller but at least is in selfcontained clumps. Unlike....

The Beebalm.

Its starting to frighten me with its invasive tendency and height. Its easily 4 ft. Its spread has been swallowing the other perennials.

I see much rearranging in my future.

2012

This is the date given by some, to mark the end of the world or at least the end of the world as we know it. It is based on the Mayan calender and the prophecy that the planets will be in alignment and the poles will experience a geomagnetic reversal and thus will the Earth be changed and cataclysms will take place etc etc...

Its also the title of a film to be released in November. The trailer was shown before Transformers 2 and scared my kids enough for one to say he doesn't want to go to the movies anymore because of the scary grown up trailers and the other to question me about whether its true or not. Hmmmm..............
How to answer this question? At first I just said "Oh its just made up for a movie, don't be silly!" because I had forgotten about all the books and websites and 'scholars' who are touting the theory to be solidly based in truth and fact. This is an idea thats been floating around, has been grabbed by some and examined and blown up to be true because of crop circles and solar flares and ancient calenders.
Just because an idea is supported by many does not make it factual or inevitable. Science does state that our poles did "shift" almost a million years ago and therefore it is possible that we will experience such an event...but these "events" take YEARs and YEARS (we are talking lifetimes upon lifetimes) to actually take place. Some think this idea of a soon to be geomagnetic reversal is supported by the Earths currently weakening magnetic field. This is pause for thought I suppose.
So, given the opinion of many, do you think the world is going to end in 2 and 1/2 years? And if it is, why should I bother to try and lose weight!? Oh yes...I am trying to live in the NOW. Right...forgot about that one.

So much for a girl to remember and think about on a hot summers day.....

Holy snappin' ar$$holes

Between 5 and 5:30 this morning we had MAJOR thunder that sounded like the wrath of the Gods was converging right over my frikkin' bed. Holy smokes! It was violently loud, woke us up, freaked out the Noonie-noo, and brought Thing One into our bed in terror. It even had the sound wavical power to move my bedroom curtains at the window by my side of the bed...I shit you not....the pecussive blast waves came in through my open window and made my curtains move. Thats some noisy thunder!!!!
I'm just dying to make some joke about it being Hman farting in his sleep or something but he might get mad at me embarrassing him yet again on the innernetses. Like thats stopped me before. heh heh
Have I told you that he's read two books in the Twilight series? Yes, I am married to a teenaged girl (market audience) and I drew his attention to this video online and told him a certain scene reminds me of him. I am so blessed to have a man with a sense of humour.
What got him started was the night we were bored and rented the piece of crap that is the movie Twilight. He was intrigued at the new spin on vampires such as that they can go out in the sun etc etc. This is so not True Blood! (Oooh...we should share that book series too) So next trip to the library I got him the book Twilight (I have to get them off the shelf for him because its too embarrassing). He read it very quickly and we discussed it some. Next trip to library had him suggest that he wouldn't mind reading the second book to see what happens next.
Now, before y'all go off on how gay my husband sounds (I know I know!) let me be clear that he likes a lot of science fiction and fantasy in reading material so this is just kind of a branch of that for him. Plus theres not all kinds of sexty stuffs to make him uncomfortable like in the books I read. He has also read a couple of womany novels like The Other Boleyne Girl and The Last Wife Of henry The Eighth, but these interested him in being well researched historical fiction not some kind of mindless bodice ripper novel. Its kind of nice to have him read things I like too since I tend to read his books on counter espionage etc when I have absolutely nothing to read. The feminine take on history was interesting for him because when he reads historical novels about the Roman empire and stuff, its always from a warrior or political man point of view. I like that he's a guy who is secure enough in his gender to try out some less than brawny man reading material.
Ok enough about him. He and the Spawn are out seeing Transformers 2 and having some male bonding time. Its been over 3 blissful hours of quiet here since they left.
Knitting: I'm still noodling on the Eienstein and the Xmas gift of scrumptiousness but after the BSJ failure I casted on something else to take the edge off and have been enjoing it too much to really work on anything else. So I have 3 works on the needles that are actually being worked on and 2 pair of socks set aside. 5 WIPs/UFOs....I might start hyperventilatin'. Oh shit...the shrug...that makes 6!!!
Change of subject: I didn't go to Effiloche last night and now I kinda regret not going. By the time I woke from my thunderstorm/rainy day nap, ate supper and took the kids to Blocckbuster to rent Wii games, it just felt too late for me to haul myself into the city, find a parking space that wouldn't get me a ticket, etc. So I stayed home and started a book by Wayne Dyer called Excuses Begone. I hate self help books but find myself drawn to them from time to time. A Dale Carnegie book actually enabled me to control a worry/anxiety habit that I'd had since childhood and had evolved to become middle of the night anxiety attacks, and I didn't even finish the book. It was very simple and effective. Anyways, at the library I saw this book on the New Releases shelf and thought it might help me get a grip on my unhealthy habit of over eating. I am reading chapters and taking notes in a wee notebook to help make the more meaningful and helpful parts stick in my brain and to have them ready for a quick reinforcement.
So far its an ok book for being of the self-help psycho-babble genre. Its about trying to encourage yourself to change your point of view and lose the excuses and mind sets that hold one back from accomplishing goals and enjoying life. I might even take to sticking up affirmations around the house, like my friend Donna did at one point, to reinforce the messages I am trying to take in.
Things I am working on:
The Excuse that "Its Too Hard." A point I found is that I am suffering uselessly in being depressed/unhappy/unhealthy/embarrassed about my weight issues. If I do something about it, hard as it is, I will at least be suffering usefully , which I hadn't really considered before. I'd only pondered the difficulty but not the fact that it was a difficulty that got me somewhere rather than in the same state.
The Excuse that "It Will Take Too Long." Well, yeah it will not happen overnight, getting a grip on bad habits and getting to a healthier size BUT in that same period of time I could stay as I am. I could be 45 and fat in 3 1/2 years or I could be 45 and fit in 3 1/2 years. I decide, no one else does. Not only this, but all we can really be sure of is the NOW. The moments we are living in. The future is uncertain so doesn't it make sense to not think about then and focus on being the healthiest I can be in all the NOWS that lead up to that day? To consider only the present, today, is a lot less daunting than to look at a period of weeks, months, or years of my useful suffering. Everyday I should strive to be a healthy me. Let the future be what it will, I will concern myself with NOW.
These are mind sets that are VERY STRONG and will be a struggle to overcome, especially when I crave sugar or pizza or comfort in food. These are some of my demons.
What are some of yours? Do you have a mind set about something that you want to cahnge or have shanged? I know some of you have lost weight, quit smoking, quit drinking, and deal with other issues. Would you like to share with the class?

Hmmmm.

I had an odd conversation this morning. A dear friend called and began to question me upon my sleep habits. It boiled down to my snoring issues. She was worried that it was a symptom of something more serious etc. Also, she knew I was planning on rooming with two friends this October while at Rhinebeck and she wanted to let me know that she didn't think this was a good idea. She had roomed with me last year, you see, and even with the foam earplugs I supplied, my snoring was freakishly loud and made it next to impossible for her to sleep. She never said anything because, well, why bother? Whats done is done but now she feels I will keep my roomates awake all night. That would not be a good thing.
Now, I KNOW I snore loud. It gets comments and teasing amongst family and friends...those who have witnessed it. It has always been so even when I was thinner but I do think that my weight gain has not improved the situation and has made it much worse. Since I mostly sleep through it, how am I to know that I snore SO loudly, right?
I'm a freak of sleeping nature apparently and should NOT be roomed with! Beware! I wonder how my poor husband can stand it? i know some nights he has to resort to the sofa, but then again, so do I. We just take it as the price we pay being together in a bed.
Jesus, I hope I don't fart an uncommon amount in my sleep as well because then I am seriously nasty business. I didn't think to ask because I was reassuring her that I wasn't upset with her and my mind was reeling with "How do I tell my roomates that I shouldn't room with them for their own good?"
All in all this sucks big time because I was really excited about the trip. Now? Not so much.
Also on the suckage front: The project that I casted on Friday night? Its bben ripped out completely twice and not to be tried again. SERIOUSLY!! I tried the BSJ (baby surprise jacket)in 2007 and screwed it up badly several times and finally gave it up. Now I have a friend expecting a little baby girl in September and I thought to use the leftovers from my Mom's sweater to make a sweet stripey BSJ. How can suck a "simple" piece of garter stitch knitting be so hard???? The first rip was my own fault...I forgot to knit the even numbered rows and instead performed the decreases on them as well. The second fuck up, I have NO IDEA how it happened. There are two short sections at either end of the whole that are marked with stitch markers...each section begings as 35 stitches. Withe the decreases they get shorter...then after so many rows you add 9 stitches to both sections. easy peasy...except somehow one section became about 13 stitches too many after the increases.
WTF? There weren't 13 extra stitches in the beginning! Where did they come from? WHY IS THIS EFFING THING SO HARD!!!!??????
I'm sorry, Kate. I was so excited to surprise you later this summer with a sweet but not TOO girly BSJ. It just ain't gonna happen.
Lets see, what else is going on here ...?
Hman's fishing trip with his dad was a great success and they came home with leftover beer because the other guys brought so much with them. They all caught their daily quotas of trout and his dad raved about the pourvoirie they stayed at. their cabin had 3 bedrooms each with their own bathroom! meals were flexible...if you didn't want to stop fishing in order to make it to the meal, they would serve you when you were ready! thats a big plus. the food was also better than last years he said. And the fish were BITING! We now have several trout in our freezer. Yay!
Today we took his SUV rental back and on the way home we stopped at the Marche 440 for a flat of local strawberries. OH MY GOD they are good. Fresh picked today and delivered not long before we'd arrived. They aren't too bland from the abundant rains we had...very juicy and still tasty. Shiny and bright red. Beautiful.
Then we hit the Grande Marche because they always have excellent prices on meats thought their fruits and vegetables are not so nice. For those I will go to the Fruiterie 440 later.
Strawberries to eat and the freezer filled with meat for several meals. A good day.

Thats It!

This morning constituted the last hours of the school year. Stick a fork in us, cuz we are done. YAY!
To celebrate we went to the used book store and the guys each got two books, then we hit Pizza Hut for lunch. The boys love them some Pizza Hut.
Then it was a quick stop at Blockbuster for a video and a Playstation 2 game, both week long rentals. When we got home the neighbor kid came over and played with the boys. I went upstairs, turned on my iPod and cast on a new project. I just could not help myself. I have over an inch done already too. Can't say what it is because the recipient comes here. While I knit, I listened to the last of the second book of the Dresden Files series, Fool Moon.
Tomorrow is WWKIP Day in Montreal. I'm taking the boys with me. That should work out juuuuussst peachy. Wish us well!

Wacky Wednesday.....

We are no exactlyish 1.5 days away from the end of our school year. I both dread and enjoy the summer vacations. No more alarm clock makes me VERY happy. Constant refrains about being bored and having nothing fun to do do not make me happy at all and I hear my mother's words coming from my own mouth every year. UGH. How awful.
Today Hman had to rent an SUV for his business fishing trip(he leaves tomorrow morning with his Dad in tow) so we had to go all the way to the friggin' airport. On the way back we got the first big feed of local STRAWBERRIES!!!! Nom nom nom... I also picked up some pepper plants since mine are both teensy and only 3 in number. Now I have 11 all together. Or 15. I forget how many I got (8 or 12???). Here's hoping I get some actual peppers from these babies.
I also invested in 4 English cucumber plants. My seeds did dick all so I had to break down.
Seedswise, I rebought and will replant the beets and beans. I think I had some sort of bad beans karma this year. Last year it was the peas that failed. The seeds sprouted..oh yes they did...but those that actually got leaves had them disintegrate or be eaten, leaving only the veins OR never got beyond that initial sprout OR completely lost their tops. This leads me to believe my culprits are birds, cutworms, and slugs. I'm NOT replanting the second patch of carrots. I had the sprouts going great and then they were gone. Instead I am going to try a few edamame seeds. Tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mesclun, first carrots, and spinach are all doing fine. The snow peas got their first blossoms today. Purple ones!
Here's a new mystery. Something dug a hole the size of my fist in the garlic patch. Not a cat because they don't tend to dig this deep. Hman has made my compost area unsightly with wood scraps and bricks etc because "something" was trying to dig in under the new composter. Something big and good at digging he says by the looks of the holes. Skunk? Racoon? Ground hog? Zoiks.
Tonight we are going to use our anniversary gift: tickets to see "Chicago". My black and off white dress is washed and ironed and ready for me. Isabelle comes at 5 pm to baby sit and I will be getting the boys and she KFC for supper.
I got my Briggs and Little order from the Devil known as Audrey and since fondling her swatch made of Regal I am smitten. Its a nice sweater yarn I must say. Softer than I expected. Now I want some. STAT.
On Saturday I went to Effiloche for Ginette's WWKIP day. I was so smart...I brought a jug of homemade sangria and my iPod with my wee portable stereo so we could have music. Yet, I did not remember to throw an extra ball of yarn into my bag and promptly ran out while working on my Einstein jacket. Boo Hisss. There was nothing to do but go into the shop, find something to suit the needles I had extra, and start a new project from my Xmas list. I can't say any more than its fabulous because the recipient comes here. Lets just say she will be lucky if I part with it.
This weekend for the Montreal Knits World Wide Knint In Public day, I won't be such a stunned arse.

Something

is killing my bush beans. More bulletins as events warrant.

Fidgety.

Its a fidgety kind of day. There are things that should be done and things that need to be done and then there are the things I will do. A little of each. Where to start? With the Washing machine. Laundry has suddenly multiplied in size of the pile which leads me to wonder where the hell it was all hiding before Hman found it and dragged it downstairs BECAUSE I know he didn't empty the bathroom hamper...its still full.
Tonight is knit night at Effiloche and I AM GOING. Wednesday's knit night as a fail since I was the only one signed in as a definite so I stayed home to be with myself in comfort. I think i am hitting a 3 week or even month mark of not getting out and its making me cranky.
ON the other hand...Effiloche is also having their WWKIP day tomorrow and I am planning on going for that TOO. Maybe thats too much all at once. Hman will deliver me to Effiloche and then retrieve me in time to go to someone's house for dinner where I will have to be on my good behaviour and not know what to talk about. Dinner with near strangers is always SO much fun.
Then we have Sunday...this Sunday holds a bone of contention for this family. Thing 2 is mightly desirous of participating in a Chaotic tournament (sorta like Pokemon but NOT ) in Montreal. It costs 25$. Hmn has said no...I have dithered. On the one hand, its in line with the kids interests unlike most other things we make him do. I checked and found out that its actually aimed at kids, not 20 something geeks with no life so he may actually have some fun and not lose all his cards. The registration fee entitles the players to all kinds of new cards etc so he is looking at it with an acquisitive bent as well.
On the other hand its a geeky thing thats going to cost 25$ and I will have to be the one to get out of bed early on a Sunday morning to haul his butt into the city and wait around for him to be finished.
Do it and be the best mommy ever for the day....don't do it and be the worst mommy ever and have it thrown in my face everytime we say no to something (we say no A LOT).
I am thinking that he needs to have this one time opportunity to try a walk on the geekside.
Much fidgetyness....much much much...I need more coffee.

PS: Terminator Salvation was kinda cool but too much jiggly camera stuff. Why does everyone do that now? Ugh...my eyes!

Why Audrey Is The Devil and other notes.....

An example of a Modular Tomten jacket with hood.
My friend and enabler Audrey is wonderful. She is smart, funny, an amazing knitter, and she loans me stuff. She also is THE DEVIL.
I have been trying not to buy yarn and have done a fabulous job of not buying yarn. All things on the needles are from stash or are UFO's that need finishing up at some point. Today, I broke down.
Audrey sweetly called to let me know that she was placing a yarn order and did I want to add to it...GULP. First I said no...then I said maybe...then I was running for my colour cards for this brand and asking for 3 of Rosewood and one of Greystone and another one of Mixed Green for a sweater I was envisioning for my sister's friend's baby girl....then I said WAIT! Let me think on this.
Then...and here is the beauty part...(she's soooo GOOD!)...she gently commented that her choice of colours for the project I had in mind were Rosewood, Oatmeal, and Ecru.
It was magic..I put the strands of colour together and the saliva started to flow. Its a delicious classy feminine combination that works for a female of any age. So I ordered 5 skeins of Tuffy (3 Rosewood, 1 Oatmeal, 1 Ecru) so that I can make a striped tomten sweater at some point soon, to fit baby Viola. I already have the most perfect buttons in my button stash.
So much for the yarn diet BUT its not expensive.
I am now listening to book 1 of The Dresden Files series. Its VERY well read. I got a couple inches done on the banner block I am working on.
I have turned my thoughts to Christmas knitting and already the anxiety is making me hyper ventilate. I may need to keep that on the "maybe si, maybe no" level. If gifts manage to get themselves made, great. I have things I want to make for ME for a change and even though its only June, I am a slow poke and procrastinator. I DO want to make my Da socks. Thats a definite and I have the perfect yarn in my stash. Thats the only definite I have.
This Thursday is the wedding anniversary of myself and my man. 15 years of wedded...whatever. HAHAHAHA. I laugh because its sad.... Oh stop! You know I kid. Tonight we went out for a walk after supper (thats another story on how my kids are big snitches) and admired the neighborhood and caught up on each other's business. Turns out on the night we are to go see Chicago at Place des Arts(our anniversary present)his Dad is going to be sleeping over because they are heading out the next morning for their fishing trip. That means he will be away and I will have the choices of hiring a sitter for WWKIP day or taking the boys with me.
This Thursday, the day of our big event we are gonna play hooky for the adfternoon and go see Terminator Salvation. Because nothing says love like murderous robots of the future!!!
Now, for my snitchy offspring: I do not have the best barbecue reputation in this house. Sometimes I hit and sometimes I realy really miss (like last years charcoal chicken). Tonight i decided once again to barbecue chicken, and set some to marinating. I watched that BBQ like a hawk. A slightly distracted hawk. I had the burners down to the lowest settings. I watched the smoke level coming out from under the lid. The next thing I knew there was flames coming out from the back of the lids and when i ran to the bbq the temperature said 800 degrees inside. WTF???! Fearing an explosion but wanting to rescue dinner, I opened the lid, flipped off the burners, and grabbed the tongs to pull the flaming parts out of the fire caused by the stupid chicken fat on the burner below the grill. Luckily it was only the skin that was burned (unlike last years charcoal chicken) and the potatoes in foil were not harmed at all...maybe even improved!
The kids and I ate supper (skinless chicken etc)and when Hman got home the first words out of Ben's mouth were "Mommy burned supper again and the barbeque was 800 degrees and the chicken caught fire but its still good!!!" Then he turns to me and asks "Is it ok that I told Dady about the chicken and the barbecue? I just really wanted to tell him because it was exciting." (at theis point I am rolling my eyes at him and reassuring Hman that the bbq is fine...jeez everyone gets so worked up).
I really must discuss with the children the concept of Need To Know. As in "Daddy doesn't need to know........"

A sunburn.......

I has it. And even though sun exposure generally equals cancer to people, I am glad of the sun burn. Its not painful and the getting of it was just so frikkin' relaxitating that I cannot regret it at all. Sitting in the back yard with book, knitting, cold beverages, and tunes. It was almost perfection. Perfection would have been a lounger with arm rests and a waiter/beverage fetcher.
Awesomeness.
So, what to do today?

What is that bright glowing orb in the sky???!

Nope, not an alien ship come to take me away. It is the SUN!! Gasp! Shock! Awe!!!
Not only this but It is scheduled to hang around a few days and dry things up a wee bit. Sweet.
Its been a particularly chill and damp May. Just like last year things heated up marvelously in April! Woohoo garden garden garden. Then...the mercury dips and the clouds hang around and sweaters are NOT packed away for the season. I've even had to resort to putting on socks and turning up the basement thermostats, cuz baby its cold down here. When the temperature is warmer outside than in, I open the windows instead.
My dear friend Audrey popped in for a quickie visit yesterday because I wanted to show off the changes in my garden. She hasn't been over for a couple of weeks or so and there were many things a'bloomin'. She scolded me to take pictures but the camera is dead and I know not where the charger is! Those irises next to the baptisia need a photo, even though I know I cannot do them justice.
Here is a wee garden mystery: Something stole my dill seedlings. they did not die because then there would be wee dilly corpses but they are vanished completely without a trace. Very weird. There were 5 out there in the herb bed that I had carefully uprooted and replanted when I redid the bed. Now there are none. :o( Since I am toying with the idea of basil with my tomatoes, I can buy some new plants at the Pepiniere Quebec or Pepinere Mascouche, where I prefer to do my garden shoppings (rather than Canadian Tire, Home Depot etc...support local indies!!!).
I have created a very cavemanesque greenhouse enclosure for the peppers. the poor things...I started the seeds too late and actually had not planned for peppers. My Barb in NS had been to Poland this winter visiting her family there and came home with a pile of pepper seeds from her Aunt Henia's own peppers. When she sent some to ME (thank you to infinity, Basia!!) I dutifully started some but its was kinda late. As a result, my plants are quite wee BUT are hardened off and in the garden now. I thought that since they are lovers of heat, and we don't yet have any, I would stick bamboo hoop supports into the ground aront them and then drape the whole section in plastic vapor barrier. Its all held together with staples! LOL I really should invest in a proper staple gun but my desk stapler in the guise of a frog did an adequate job. Now when the sun shines I have to pull open large gaps in my "greenhouse" to ventilate the poor dears but they seem VERY happy already. I think this may make up for lost time.
KNITTING: Momma got her sweater in the mail last Friday and is VERY happy with it. she has done what all knitters do...turned it inside out to examine it closely from all angles and declares it perfect. She had never heard of steeking (cutting a knit garment for armholes or cardigan conversion) and considers it one of those newfangled things us kids today know about (its quite and ancient technique but in her knitting era practically every pattern was knit in pieces and sewn together, where as I prefer knitting in the round to avoid purling and sewing). I am so happy that it pleases her and it fits!! Glory be it fits!!!! Not too big and not too small. She finds the wool surprisingly soft (its very cuddly I must say) and cannot wait to show it off to my Aunt Viola.
I have ceased work on Einstein in order to produce an 8 inch by 8 inch square for the Montreal Knits banner to be unveiled on WWKIP day (world wide knit in public day). I have about an inch done but now I am wondering if it was supposed to be done in stockingnette stitch for ease of embroidering our name on it? Need to call our coordinatrice Janet to find out. I am using a green acrylic I had in my stash. its a lovely colour actually and nicely soft but very fine so I am knitting it with two strands.
The urge to knit baby things is still upon me. Also I have started planning xmas knitting. Dad is maybe getting socks (SHHHH don't tell)since the hat and mittens were such a hit and I have the perfect Dad Socks yarn in stash (an Opal 6 ply in shades of grey, blue and cream). I was thinking on another set of hand warmers for chilly Mom, but fancier than last time. Maybe a pair of "Fetching" ? Or maybe something else. I dunno. I have some superwash set aside for such a project.
For my dear neice's whom I LOVE to knit for because I can make girly stuffs, I am thinking on arm warmers/sleeves. Not sure yet. Or slippers... but sleeves/armwarmers are trendier. Or leg warmers? They range from ages 6 to 11 years old. Last year they each got Instant Mittens because they are fast and mittens are always welcome in winter.
Any suggestings knitterverse?

Serendipity

While wandering in the garden, I was taken by surprise to see that my white irises with a pinch of violet are perfectly complimented by the baptisia blooming next to.
This is not the first time I have been blessed with horticultural serendipity. My tulips are perfect together AND with the rhododendron (unplanned). The chartreuse foliage of the sweet woodruff makes my heart sing when the pink rhodo is blooming...they just compliment one another so.
These happy accidents just tickle me so much. I wish I was able to capture the images for you with the trueness of their colours.
I can't stop going outside to admire those big white irises and the just coming into bloom baptisia. sigh.

A venting cranky rant.on RECIPROCITY

This is not about what someone has or has not done to myself. This is about what I observe about another's sitch. I am NOT a shrinking violet when it comes to demanding my props where I feel they are warranted. Annoying and true. Its just how I am and maybe its in direct relation to those around me who are opposite and don't get the appreciation they deserve. Maybe thats made me what I am, a wom,an with a certain sense of justification. I do for you? I want thanks. I do BIG for you I want BIG thanks. Some gushing is nice as well. Adoration is always welcome as long as it doesn't get stalkery or creepy. I digress...

I know this woman. She is the most amazing person in the whole wide world (no its not you...or you either...go sit down). She deserves mountains of kudos and reciprocation for all she does and has done for the people in her world. What does she get instead? Not a whole lot.
This is a person who is ALWAYS there for the ones that need her, whether for a favor or a shoulder or even occassionally in her life, a hand out. She is the one that gets run to, for wound lickings and head pats and praises. She gets thanked I'm sure.

She deserves more, god dammit.

She only ever says no when she truly cannot commit to something OR when you have used her once too often and now she has your number. Yeah baby, she is NOT a doormat but still there are those that love her, continue to hold her devotion to them, and yet the reciprocation is not what I think it should be. Words just don't cut it.
In my opinion, when she has put up with your shit for your entire life, listened to your sob stories, been both your champion and your conscience, continues to give you attention and love and support, do you favors etc... when she needs a favor in return well within your capabilities, YOU FUCKING DO IT!!!! None of this "time and money and work etc" fuckwaddery. I mean it. You haul your ass over to her house and you do what fucking needs to be done and not only THAT. You refuse to let her pay you. THATS reciprocation. Thats devotion and love. Thats called being a fucking grown up and knowing whats RIGHT. Have you ever PAID her for what she does for you out of her own time, skills, etc? I thought not.
I have been brooding on this for a while now. Can you tell? Now that I am all PMSy and emotional and junk, I am toying with the idea of a phone call. A confrontation of sorts. That would be a very bad idea because I know I would come out as an asshole. This is not MY issue. This is not MY situation. Where do I get off?
So, I rant about it here with my eyes tearing up in rage (because thats what happens when us girls get so mad they want to smash things) at what I feel is one more injustice thrown in her face. She very very rarely complains about her lot in life. Most people probably thinks she just rolls with what the Universe has thrown her way and has an amazingly sunny outlook on the world. Its true. She does. She works very hard at not letting things get her down. She has spent her life as a hard working person that doesn't get the appreciation she deserves from the people she serves hardest. She makes the best of any situation and may be percieved by some as having more than she does, so why not ask her for time, love, support, favors?
So what the fuck are you thinking when she asks you for a hand with something beyond her own not unsubstantial capabilities? She's run into a problem she can't fix on her own, and after all she has done for YOU, when she asks you for help (and doesn't expect it to come for free) you turn her DOWN. What ...the... fuck??

After all she has done and continues to do, you give excuses. You turn her down. Leave her hanging in the wind. She's always had your fucking back and you turn her down. I am appalled. Surprised. Dismayed.
And now I need a kleenex, you fucking asshole, because you have made me SO MAD.

Blogger messin' Wit Me Head

But thats not hard to do these days. bad case of foggy brain today.
ALSO: cause of life-stipation seems to be PMS. I checked the calendar. I should be un-stipated in a week or two. Until then be prepared for posts from the high of highs and low of lows.
Also I still don't know what I want to BE when I grow up and I am 41. How sad is that? This + PMS= midlife angst.
The weather is still darkish and rainy-ish until Saturday the forecast says. Our pool seems to have a leak because the water level keeps dropping by a few inches from where it should be. No idea where the leak is or how to fix but can't do anything about it for at least a week because Hman is going on a business trip, starting Saturday.
There are 14.5 school days left in the current term. Then its all "I'm bored! I want a snack etc.." all the time. There is not enough Paxil in the world for this. Remember when we were kids and we would leave in the AM to play with friends outside and only return for meals an drinks? Mine won't leave the house most days. There is a park near by and they are old enough now to cross the big bad busy street (oh my nerves) and play with friends that are not right next door. I think the whole "no you may not leave the yard without permission or an adult" has never really worn off. WTF? When we were kids were were craving freedom from being under adult eyes...now its the opposite. This sucks. I became a grown up FOR THIS??
Earplugs. The answer may be earplugs. If I can't hear their screechy little voices like nails on a chalkboard, everything may just be tickety boo.

I don't know how

I am thinking and feeling things and I don't know how to put them into action. Its like I am life-stipated.
All is well don't get me wrong. The economy is likely soon starting to kick our ass. Economising has not helped as much as we would like. Yet, all is well in our home. So its not some deep doom and gloom posting here. I'm just feeling rutty. A form of my own revenue generation would make me happy.

Picture-rama

These are photos that have been languishing in the camera for a month(some of them anyways). Two pictures are from Aunty Jessie's visit, the day we hit the Bio-Dome in Montreal. On the Metro and in a Metro station. The other pictures aren't so good (I need a camera that you just point it and shoot). The picture of myself and the 'man are from Monday's sojourn to the Botanical Gardens, and the sweater photo is a process shot...what it looked like as I was finishing the yoke, still armpitless and un-steeked. The colours show up really well though so here it is.
My ass hurts. Not exactly ass...left hip and lower back and radiating down through the leg. that pretty much ass though, right? Valerie of the magical chiropractor skillz worked on it yesterday (yes...I did whimper more than a grown woman should) and I think I need to ice it today because I stil hurt (to touch the knotted area she worked on is very uncomfortable so noone touch me there ok?). I also may need massage for this one. My dentist's office has massge for patients...can you dig that? FREE for patients! If you have a Dent- Spa in your neck of the woods, you must try them. Its like one stop shopping...dentist and orthodontia (did I mention Ben requires braces now? Oy.) I think there is tanning and also, the massage. Which my back really really wants. And my leg. I don't think I will ask to have my ass cheek massaged because they may think I'm pervy not pained. I am so calling today. Should book an appointment to get those last fillings replaced too. Been working up the courage for that for 2 years now. Last one (right side) was so owwie it too 8 weeks for it to stop hurting. I really should get on that. SIGH.....
Today is effin' GORGEOUS!!! The air smells all springtimey fresh and nice and the forecast is for sun and some heat (28 degrees!). You know what that means riiighht? Thats right! Laundry!!! Also, tomato planting. Thats right. I am getting down with my bad self and plantin' me some 'maters ( "Quebec 5" Tomatoes that are soing splendidly). They are fully hardenmed off now after a few days and nights outside.
I will also order soil and mulch today too. Hman keeps telling me to do it and I keep putting it off due to the expense but if these vegetable beds are going to get planted and produce some food for us, I need lots of dirt first. Hope they can deliver ASAP.
Let's see....what else....
That about covers all our news exceptforthedogranawayandisgoneforever.

DONE

Click to enlarge.

My Mom's sweater is officially finished as of tonight. Its in the washer on the hand wash cycle as we speak. I...am...FREE!!!!

I will mail it out as soon as its blocked and dry. She's gonna love it.

Holiday

Today, in Canada, its a holiday. Here in Quebec its "Patriot's Day" but everywhere else its Victoria Day.
So, since Hman didn't have to go to work and the kids were home from school, we went to the Botanical Gardens and the Insectarium. It was a perfect day. Not hot, sunny, breezy. Perfect. My feet are very tired.
On the way home I was struck with a craving for rice noodles in soup. Of course there are no noodle shops out here so we stopped at the grocery store so I could get what I need to concoct my own version of what I was craving.
In a pot I heated oil to sautee chopped garlic and a grated knob of ginger...mmmmmm ginger.
Then I threw in these soup vegetable that were pre chopped in the store. The container had broccoli, cauliflower, celery, onion, carrot...terrific assortment in tiny piecces. I threw half the container into the pot with the sauteeing garlic and ginger. A few splashes of soy sauce. Stirring and sauteeing...
Then came the chicken broth (Campbell's low sodium, 1/2 container) and some pepper, and a sliced up leftover barbequed pork chop. More stirring and bring it to a boil. Splash of lemon juice because I have no lemongrass.
Once it comes to a boil add the rice vermicelli noodles (I used 1/3 of my package) and put a lid on it reducing the heat to medium or less. I let it simmer 5 minutes or a bit less. Give it all a stir. The vegetables should still have some crunch.
Have a BIG bowl on hand and pour the "soup" into it and then garnish/season with chopped chives, garlic chives, and lemon balm.
Its not a truly Asian dish, as you can see but it was sufficiently gingery and tangy for me and was easy. Hit the spot in a most satisfying way. I hadn't eaten most of the day and was super hungry so this made one huge portion for a big appetite. To serve more than one big eater, double the recipe. It'd be really good with some mushrooms added, or some chopped greens like chard or bok choy, and for a veg version, use vegetable broth and firm tofu instead of meat and chicken broth.

After supper I went out onto the swing seat and finished the left button band of Mom's sweater. I need to pick up the stitches for the right hand side band next, and decide exactly how many button holes it needs. I was thinking 5.

Saturday morning

I woke filled with rage. In my dreaming Hman was carrying on with someone in cyberspace on that "Second Life" website and the avatar he was carrying on with was super hot. There was some major scrapping both in cyber space and out here in the real world, let me tell you. I was a whip cracking wife of rage. Woke up with the anger and a "wait a minute..." thought. LOL Crazy.
Last night at knit night (Effiloche on Friday nights) I sewed down one side of my steek. I made two pwoplw try the sweater on in the hopes that their mediumness was similar to my mom's size. Now I am worrrying that the sweater may be too small. Eek. So help me if it is I may cry. I am so close to completion. Bought the buttons for it and need to calculate how many to put.
Janet gave me a lovely gift and in it was my new favourite lipstick! L'Oreal Juicy Colour (?). Its very sheer to the point of lip gloss rather than lipstick, and it smells like fruit! Colour : Island Punch. Love it.
My new favourite show "Castle" was renewed for a second season. YAY!

Its Friday!!!

And its also payday so I will be buying me some dirt for the gardens today. And ordering a yard of mulch like last year. And possibly a yard or two of compost. We shall see.
I have to rave again about my Mother's Day gifts of frying pans. Earth Chef ceramic coated non stick pans. I am so in love but they only get used for special things like Cameron's morning eggs (they slide outta the pan I tells ya!!) and when I made pancakes. Oh man. It was heaven for someone who is trying to be a good momma but is nowhere near being a morning person and her kids are clamoring for pancakes before school. UGH! Imagine all that AND having the bastardy things stick to the pan and make a frakking mess and burn etc. No more now that I have my ginormous Earth Chef pan that I have declared off limits to all other hands but mine own. ben put his request in today for pancakes tomorrow and that I make a huge batch so that there are some in the freezer for school days. I may do so.
Did anyone chck out Bones and Grey's Anatomy season finales this week? They sucked IMHO. I knew Izzy and George were leaving but didn't see how they could do it so I was surprised that John Doe was George even though he somehow knew Meredith (maybe her dad?? maybe an intern?). The last scene where Izzy is in her prom gown in the elevator and George meets her in his Army uniform was kinda sweet but open ended...are they both killed off or not? Did the shows producers relent and keep Katherine Heigl even though she's been a bitch about the show? Hard to say. Strangely thougfh I routinely cry at something on Grey's Anatomy I had no tears or sadness with this episode. It left me flat.
The Bones finale turned out to be a dream that post op Booth had and now that Brennan may acknowledge her feelings for Booth he doesn't recognise her thanks to his brain surgery. (rolling eyes here...how many brain tumours are there in prime time TV this season now??). All that boring dream scenario and then "Who are you?" at the end. Grr. Let down.
I swear if ABC doesn't keep Castle on the roster I may have to give up TV, not that that is a bad thing but really...
My computer is acting all pain in the assy since last week. we had a virus scare and have been running extra security stuffs but all that does is slow down and confuse my poor machine. I am losing patience. when I am bored I surf and my boredom has grown expedentially in relation to my lesser surf capabilities thanks to slow confused freezy computer. Grr...
Garden talk: I repotted my mint but am thinking I need to unpot it and divide it instead because at its current state it will be potbound again by the end of the season. Or maybe I will just get a new mint plant because I don't remember if this is spearmint or peppermint. I really need to start labelling things. I used what bags of soil I had to top up the herb bed but it only did about 1/3 of said bed. I dug out my struggling chives and replanted them as well as the sprouting calendula seedlings from last years dropped seeds. I keep meaning to gather the blossoms to make calendula ointment but then get distracted or lazy or I plain old forget. Since when I grow culinary herbs I fail to harvest them or preserve them, maybe the bed should become medicinal herbs instead. Or not...maybe I should just plant the whole thing in garlic.
The peas are getting taller! Last year I had maybe 3 pea plants. Out of two boxes of seeds. It was bizarre and terrible. This year looks awesome for snow peas.
Tomatoes are going gangbusters in their pots and should either be repotted deeper or soon planted outside. They are getting nice and big. The peppers are small. I have 6 plants and they are piddly. Really needed to start them sooner.
I am considering forgetting about my pole beans this year. They were for dry use and the beans are very large lima style ones and I don't think we will like them. Just bush beans this year I guess but that means I have room for more tomatoes for freezing and preserving. Thats a good thing...I hope.
So as it stands I am still on the "hurry up and wait" cusp of gardening wherein I am waiting for the season to be far enough along to proceed with more planting and haven't finished the beds. it will all come together in a big rush and flurry as usual.
Don't you love Spring?

It makes perfect sense.....

Franklin Habit's observation's on the Star Trek movie show a whole 'nother dimension and dynamic to the whole good vs evil, Federation vs Romulans plot at the heart of the film and Star Trek in general. Loved it.

Knitted out

I was saying to my niece today how I have lost my knit mojo...that my mom's sweater may have killed my knit lust. All that old lady pink and all. I've lost my desire to fondle yarn and make pretty knit stuffs. Then I thought maybe I was just tired of knitting for others and big stuff...tired of socks and mittens and sweaters. maybe I should knit some baby cutenesses...but what to do with them since I have no babies and there are few I know of. Plus my stash is not composed of baby acrylics in pastels. i have some pretty serious yarns to play with that a Muggle might machine wash and dry and destroy what could have been an heirloom knit! gasp! Perish the thought.
Then I considered how I would like to have something knit to wear to Rhinebeck in October. Like my not started Einstein coat (Sally Melville design)that I have the yarn for and have had for 6 months. My unfinished shrug from Sweet Paprika that I wish someone would finish for me would be welcome as well. I actually did cast on Einstein this afternoon, knit one row and then wondered if it will be too long for my short round personage and stopped all work.
Maybe its the time of year. I didn't knit much last spring because of the gardens. I think I have a case of garden fever again. There is much to do yet I can't do it yet until I have more dirt which I need to order...and mulch..again. Lots of hurry up and wait and then it will get crazy for awhile with the planting etc and then all will calm again until I am over run with cucumbers and lettuce again and swear I will never do THAT again. Which we all know I will.
Don't ya just hate getting stuck in a rut?

Mother's Day

Its been a rather nice Mother's Day this year. I was allowed to sleep in but cleaned up cat puke immediately upon rising. After some coffee I was informed that I had to get dreesed so that we could go out. While Cameron was at his art class we hit an unfamiliar Pepiniere in La Plaine. There we perused the offering and selected two more blue berry bushes to go with the two we have now. Next year may see us have blueberries!! They had some lovely fruit trees which made Hman wish for more room for fruit trees in our tard...or is there room? So we are looking at the back yard now with an eye to whether we could squeeze in two or 3 more fruit trees, like a couple of plum trees? Hard to say at the moment.
After returning home I was given two more gifts. Earth Chef nonstick frying pans, one very large and one very small. Yay!!! I had asked for exactly that! They are ceramic non-stick, which is healthier than teflon and its residues.
I am told that I will be given a lovely supper and the surprise has been let out (as usual) by Cameron. Apparently there is lobster involved but I will act surprised for Hman and Ben.
Its a chilly day though. The temperature has dropped to around 10 degrees and its cloudy with a threat of rain. Mansfield Park is on the tube to give me a dose of Austen.

Yup...all in all a pretty great Mother's day.

Sadness.... I has it

My sister should be just about ready to board her plane back to NS right this second. I was able to hold it together until the car turned the corner then I got misty. She'd been here a weeek and while thats a nice length of visit, its hard to let her go.
Of course instead of showing her a really kick ass time on her last day I ended up having MY ass kicked but a cold/flu virus that a certain second born son has passed on to me. He was home sick from school yesterday since his mucus level had reached critical mass and he was nauseous, and I ended up spending the morning and part of the afternoon in bed waiting for the cold meds and Cold F/X to kick in. They eventually did but I was still woozy and breaking into cold sweats for all my 'lets go and have some fun!!" attitude. What DID transpire was she and I curling up on the sofa reading and then she went to get Ben afterschool and they went shopping, returning home for supper. Ben was thrilled at the one on one time with his godmother beloved aunty and I passed out on the sofa while part of supper was baking in the oven, not needing supervision.

After supper we went to find some little gifts for her to take home ( Canadiens themed stuffs) and then got home in time to curl up on the sofa to watch Bones (OOOH! Baby talk and Boothe has a TUMOUR!!!) and Greys AnatomY (Lame but I cried anyway)and then it was more meds and back to bed for me.

So here we are on a Friday with the kids home on an inservice day, its kinda threatening rain, and I am still not very spry. I think I will stay home from knit night tonight.
Oh...Mom's sweater had to be ripped back a little bit and the neck redone. A few more rows and its bind off time and then its the steeking. I am so close to being finished I can taste it. If I actually sat down and did it I could finish it this weekend!! But chances are I won't.

Monday's Doin's

Yesterday we took Aunty Don't (Jessie) to the Montreal Biodome. It was fun but tiring. Oh my hips and feet! Its really such a cool place though. You can learn so much about the world in this ONE building. Its really really fascinating. i got a couple of great pictures of our city adventure.
Today we are looking at staying home and puttering. I need to deal with litter boxes and laundry and we plan to go get our Blueberry bushes today too. Maybe get them planted before night fall as well? We shall see.
The wind we have had the last few days has finally died down and today is really nice and warm but not HOT. Maybe it will be later but the forecast is only for 19 degrees.
So there we have today's doings...maybe I will get a chance to start the neck of Mom's sweater too. I think I have decided what I will do...2 and 2 ribbing for the neck like the cuffs and Garter stitch for the button bands.

Jessie brought her Colinette socks back to me (at my orders) because the heels wore out. I have ripped back one sock to the leg and am going to reknit the feet...the toes will be done in another Colinette colourway. there is a lot of yarn in a pair of socks and Colinette is not the cheapest sock yarn out there. This time I will try to reinforce the heels better. :o) I hope to finish THESE before we go back to NS is July for vacation.

Still home

We could have gone BUT to change our return date would cost a "pushed a button fee" of a thousand dollars. Thanks American Airlines. For nuthin'...!

He played 36 holes of golf today in an attempt to regain some Zen. It was seriously disturbed when one of the clients that still went to Puerto Rico called and said it was "even better than Hawaii. So wonderful...like a dream its so awesome..blah blah blah..." Here, let me hold that knife for you and hand you the salt to shake into my wounds..no REALLY! Let me.

Of course he is playing golf again tomorrow. Just needs to hit things I guess.

On the plus side my wonderful sister arrived yestyerday and we have been chatting almost non stop. Its so nice to have her here. she is slipping under the spell of The Newnienoo and Blossom has latched on to her like a misdirected duckling after the wrong mama. Its awesome.

Hard thinkings and head scratchings Chez Nous

The flights are non refundable to the company. The villa rental is non-refundable unless we cancelled 60 days before the reservation date and thats money out of Hman's expense account. His extra special clients still need some ego rubbing and company love but the money to treat them to fun etc is now gone from the expense account thanks to H1N1 fear.
So, after brooding and scratching heads all day yesterday and last night and this morning, we thought "Well, maybe just go and take advantage of the villa (its paid for) and the air fare (its paid for) and just there will be no conference to deal with"...
So as it stand right now its possible that we can still go on a business trip but not for the time originally planned and no staying at a fancy resort for a few days in the middle (like I care) to play nice with the company.
If Hman can get the villa's reservation of 3 days before and 3 days after the conference put together into 6 consecutive days, then we can be there for 6 days...if not then only 3 days. This is contingent on the clients plans (some are still going since the air fare is non refundable), company policy, and can we change our return flights to accomadate the change in plans.
I have cleared it with my sister who was now coming for a visit rather than to be responsible for the monsters...she is all but shoving me out the door and onto a plane at her end.
I will know this afternoon.

Best part? WAY less packing! MWAHAHA..couple of outfits that I can launder and my new pretty bathingsuit. No company functions to attend and pretend to be nice at, just being on a trip with Hman's top clients (and they are becoming his friends in many ways as well because they see him almost as much as I do...hahahaha). No "corporate wife" show to put on. This could work.

The waiting is the hardest part....