Monday, July 30, 2007

Weekend Update

I went to the Needle Arts Expo in Tukwila this weekend! This is an event for distributors, yarn store owners and yarn makers and was not open to the public. The owner of the yarn store I work at, Let It Rain, brought us along to look at the companies new lines of yarn/patterns/products. I also got to take advantage of the cash and carry: wholesale to even deeper discounted yarns!

It was pure heaven. I was out from 3-10 pm and I'm probably not allowed to go to another knitting night again, but it was worth it. I got a tons of projects, project ideas and nearly all my needs for Christmas. Plus, yarn to make myself a sweater, which I have never done (you guessed it, the blue Frog Tree silk-cotton blend in the top left corner).



Also this weekend, we got a Big Boy Bed! He's very excited but nap time and bedtime are definitely more....interesting. I also nearly ended up in the emergency room Friday having braxton-hicks contractions because I was so dehydrated. I good reminder to take care of myself. My husband was out of town so I was a little scared, but I promise to call for help next time. Something always happens when they go out of town, doesn't it? The dog peed in the house, one cat puked and the other knocked a plant down a flight of stairs. Lovely.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Les Schwabb Rocks The Hizzouse and Entitlement

I'm not one to offer up a corporate endorsement, but Les Schwab, the tire place, made me feel special on Friday. Butters and I did all sorts of errands, starting with having LS take a look at my leaky tire. B touched every tire in the waiting room, proclaimed some "booful," some big, and some Truck Tires. We must have waited about 45 minutes when they told me it was done, they patched the hole and sign here, No Charge. Really? I don't owe you anything? But I didn't even buy my tires here. The Man Behind the Counter said, "No charge, it will leave you more money for McDonald's." Well, I was so taken aback by the complimentary service, I didn't start into a Why McDonald's is Bad speech, I just thanked him and moved on to the next stop.

I felt special all day. I figured it must be because I was pregnant and chasing around a 2 year old. My husband got home and burst the bubble, they give free patch repairs to everyone, even if you didn't buy their tires!

My shock made me think about entitlement. Because as I was waiting, and there were 3 other people in there, I actually thought, they should serve me first because I'm pregnant and chasing around a 2 year old. When I walk the dog and cross the street, I give the evil eye if you don't stop for me. T and I had an disagreement once and he mentioned my sense of entitlement and at the time I thought he was ridiculous. But I do feel certain things are owed to me and that I should be given certain luxuries. I tend to use the same excuse as if it has no expiration date. "I gave birth to him", "I carried him for nine months", "I stay home and watch the baby" It got me a week vacation in Italy, but I'm not sure if I've used up too many points! When can I stop using aspects of motherhood (and womanhood) as a get out of jail free card?

And, has it earned me a day at a wholesale cash and carry yarn outing with the knitting store?

Last weekend we went to the in-laws and Butters had a blast playing with his cousin. He even at corn off the cob. They grow up so fast, his feet were even smelly the other day! Little babies don't have smelly feet, my boy is growing up!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Be-lated Anniversary

My husband and I celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary on Thursday last week.

It was a beautiful summer day in Kentucky when we said this to each other:
I promise always to be your friend, lover, confidant and helper and to nurture the bonds that bring us together. I will support you in all of life’s challenges, l hold you gently in thought and in action, laugh with you, cry with you, and delight in your spirit and individuality. I will cherish you, above all others, for as long as we both shall live.

Here is a bit of what our life is like now, and why I'm so happy I married this man! Butters and T were playing on the floor with a wooden breakfast food set. It's a tray with waffles, eggs, bacon, and various breakfast foods. Also invited is a toy Sir Topham Hatt from Thomas the Train (hopefully Lead-free). Here's the conversation, with T in a deep voiced Sir Topham. Sir T is always very supportive and encouraging his engines to be hard working.

Butters: Mmmm, waffles
Sir T: Yesss, waffles, a very useful breakfast carbohydrate
B: Mmmm, want some bacon
ST: Ahhhh, Bacon, champion breakfast meat
B: Yogurt
ST: Yogurt, a gift of the Swiss
B: Strawberries (pronounced ba-bawees)
ST: Yes, keep doing what you do, strawberries. We can count on you.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

My public apology to the Yarn Harlot


I started reading the Yarn Harlot's blog when we moved here to Washington and I was instantly addicted. I get pissed at her if she doesn't update. She usually doesn't post on the weekend, but I check anyway, hoping for a surprise. (I know I need to get bloglines and they'll tell me, I'm just old fashioned, I guess). It's strange b/c you feel voyeuristic, looking into some one's life. She writes mainly about knitting but also about life-her teenage daughters, home improvement, etc. She is a vegetarian, she supports breastfeeding, she organized knitted hats for the homeless, she rarely wears a bra, she has naturally curly hair-I guess I can really relate to her!

Last year, she came to Third Place Books and gave a speech. I dragged my aunt, who was visiting and my man stayed home with the boy. I was giddy as I sat in the back row listening and knitting. I was third in line to have my book signed. I've met a number of famous people-but I was more excited about the Harlot (Sting, Robin Williams, Bonnie Rait, Julia Butterfly, Sean Penn and one of the Grateful Dead members walked in on me in the bathroom at Randy Hayes' house, he probably forgot about it seconds later.)

In January, I attended the Madrona Fiber Festival were Stephanie (aka the Harlot) was going to teach a class for about 15 students! Sign ups started at 8 am. I was online at 7:59 waiting! I emailed her ahead of time and she actually wrote back asking about my expectations, I planned on being the best student there. I kept reminding my husband that I would go, it's was well thought out. I had my bag of knitting projects with questions packed for at least a week. Have I imparted to you how important this was to me?
Well, now we get to the apology part. I woke up totally sick and I had a feeling I might be pregnant. I wouldn't let this stop me. No medicine, no caffeine, only Ginger Ale and mapquest directions-I drive 1 1/2 hours down to Tacoma and nothing goes right. I get lost, I have to pay for parking, I'm driving with a plastic bag on my lap. But, I'm there in time to check out the market place (where I'm tempted to learn how to spin and I pass up Socks That Rock-that will never happen again!!!)

The Harlot lead a great class, but I don't shine. I barely participate, I think of funny things to say, but I just don't have the energy, I don't bring out any of my questions, I don't even have a pen to take notes. So Harlot, I'm sorry. I WAS about 4 weeks pregnant and busy spitting cells and catering to a baby the size of a grain of rice! I enjoyed your class and wanted to say funny things, like when you talked about how knitters are productive people and statistics show the more kids you have the more you knit, I thought, 'Maybe knitting just makes you horny?' You would think that was funny. I had a question on my first sock that I worked on for your Knitting Olympics and wanted to find out how I ended up on the purl side. (It's okay, I figured out that I picked up in reverse.) I know as a mother of three you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and maybe next year I'll bring along a 4 month old and I'll be even more distracted!

Until then I offer you my 2 biggest secretes for curly hair: Aveda's Be Curly is worth every penny and if you get super frizzy try a dot of olive oil in your hands and run it through the top layer.
(Picture is YH and me at Third Place Books, when I was looking pretty good and now I don't look quite like that anymore. I even put in earrings for the occasion!)

Monday, July 9, 2007

A summertime visit to Kentucky. Butters and I went to the pool, 4th of July parade, saw lots of fireworks (very loud and bright eyes according to B), went to the farm, Coney Island, Cincinnati Zoo, and we got to see a lot of family. It was a good time.