Clothes are packed.
Grocery list is ready.
New Saturn's gassed up.
PC's out of work already.
Pumpkin's going to "grandma's" for awhile.

It's been 2 years since we've done this and 1 year since we went somewhere without an ulterior motive (wedding, family, etc).

See you next week... and yes, the knitting is packed too!

Happy Dancing

1 down, 12 to go....


survived my first MS Project Management course .... with an A!!!

I think that deserves a yarny treat, don't you?

Don't you just love it when an LYS really gets on board with something? One of my LYS is now providing reusable bags for purchases (just like the grocery store!) that are free of charge until Labor Day and priced "reasonably" after that. They look like the grocery bags, so I am thinking the fee will be nominal and probably not a huge income booster for the shop. I like this shop for a whole variety of reasons, the first being the staff... fun, friendly and superb knitters. A few are on Ravelry and they try very hard to keep up with the ever-changing hearts of knitters. Plus, they have an awesome "back room" where you can go dig for your yarn, if you ask nice.

Wild & Woolly on Meriam Street in Lexington, MA.

Tell Pat at the front counter I said hi!!

*ahem* PC?

If anyone wants to know what I'd like for my birthday--- this would be good. Or at least some funds toward it. :)

WANT.

Porn

Yup. I said it. P.O.R.N.

I am talking about the new American Apparel advertisements all over the blogs, boston.com, cnn.com... they are everywhere. I don't shop there. Never had. And I can honestly say, no matter how much certain teenage relatives might beg, I will not spend any of my money there.

Why?

The ads!! Young girls in short skirts on their hands and knees crawling? Two girls and one guy "snuggled" up wearing underwear and socks only?

I am NOT A PRUDE. I can appreciate a racy ad (David Beckham's underwear ad? winner!) as much as anyone else, but this is bordering on child pornography and I am vehemently opposed to children being shown as sexual objects. I hate seeing 8 year old girls wearing make-up and half shirts. I am glad the "show your belly" thing has passed as well as super-duper-ultra low rise jeans + thong! trend.... but, these ads.... blech.

I have been quiet about them for several months... quietly seething and keeping my mouth shut. But, with school starting in a few weeks and knowing that girls will want to wear this to school... I need to speak up! We don't have kids, but we have teacher-friends and this is just so not acceptable. Teens are being lured into sexual relationships by each other and the media and then we complain when kids are actually having sex! I'm sorry, but if you buy your daughter a dress from a store that advertises it being worn while she's on all fours, crawling and writhing, you have no business complaining when you come home and find her in just that position.

Rant over. Seriously reconsidering having kids knowing this is what i am up against.

Why I became a scientist

I so want his job!

Because....

Danielle pushed Thom off a bridge and Terri threw Pete under the bus....

PC has been sent along after them.....

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
PC: It makes you happy.

Me: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?
PC: It has taken over the house.

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
PC: Umm.. No, it doesn't have to be. It can be.

Me: Do you think my knitting is on the expensive end?
PC: I have no idea... based on the amount of yarn you buy, probably, but I don't know how much yarn costs. I don't ask because we don't share bank accounts.

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
PC: I read, it's not really a hobby.

Me: What about all those first edition signed Harry Cruz books on the special bookshelf?
PC: What about them?

Me: Are they a hobby?
PC: They're a collection. I bought them because I wanted to read them.

Me: Has my knitting in public ever embarrassed you?
PC: (shakes head) No.

Me: Never?
PC: Never.

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?
PC: Uh, Cherry Tree Hill. Is that what it is?

Me: That's my favorite sock yarn. What about type of yarn?
PC: Ummm... (pause for thinking) I'd say merino wool or alpaca.

Me: Alpaca it is!! Can we buy some alpacas?
PC: If you got the money, buy away... we'll put them in the backyard. The landlord won't notice.

Me: So, can you name other knitting blogs?
PC: Yarn Harlot, (squints face).. the one on the train-- the Subway Knitter or whatever. I'm sure there is more. I know you've mentioned them.

Me: So, do you mind that I want to check out yarn stores everywhere we go?
PC:(laughs nervously) No more than you mind that I want to check out music stores wherever we go. Or used bookstores.

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
PC: Importance to who? Me or you?

Me: Me. Knitters!
PC: To test out the pattern you are going to use, the yarn you are going to use. To make sure it works right. It's like a trial run.

Me: very good. Do you read Minestrone Soup?
PC: yes.

Me: Have you ever left a comment?
PC: I think I have. I usually just make my comment to you as you walk past me when I am reading it.

Me: Do you like my blogging?
PC: yes.

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?
PC: Yes. Definitely

Me: Because of the yarn everywhere or the time I spend knitting?
PC: Both.

Me: okay. I guess I should stop bloggin' today and go grocery shopping (point taken). Thank you for helping me out... Anything you want to say to the people who read this?

PC: No.

Money, money, money

So, I wouldn't say "money problems" but more money concerns have been a topic of conversation in our house lately. And while we can always pay our bills , with a wee bit for fun and adventure, and we have less than a couple hundred on the credit card bills... sometimes it gets tight. Or ... at least tight enough that we say "hmm... where did our money go???"

Great people that you all are... I thought I'd ask for some advice. Trimming the fat, so-to-speak, without losing a lifestyle... is it worth it?

My ideas:
1. cut grocery bill. We have started doing this by going with a list, shopping BJs and Russo's (cheapest produce in MA, I swear) and Trader Joe's (yes, for whole wheat pasta and some non-traditional "staples" (quinoa, couscous, better'n'butter) it's cheaper)

Q: what about a meat CSA?? Have you done this? One of the ones I am interested in is 10lbs for $70/month, with a 6 month committment. Would 10lbs last 2 people a whole month?

2. no more home phone service. :( We use our cell phones almost exclusively, but our internet is bundled with our phone (our house can't support digital cable-- -something about wires), so this will be tricky, but doable. I hope.

3. switching banks (i am doing this!) to one with better online banking...so, who do you like better??

A) citizen's bank
B) sovereign bank
C) alternative... suggest one!

So... there you have it. Not really money woes, but money thoughts. (Please don't think we're broke or need anything, we really don't--- it's just time to be adults and think about money in a smarter way!)

:)Mini