He does care after all.

Brian has spent three months acting like he doesn't care what opinion I have of his hair. At least weekly I griped about his long and shaggy hair. I pleaded him to at least get a trim and "clean it up a bit." My friends all shared their opinions, most agreeing with me, some encouraging him by calling him Sawyer.



But finally, last night he came home for dinner with this.



He has adopted the Jack Bauer (24) hair style. I love it. I've always enjoyed a clean cut man.

I'm plugging away on Sizzle. The stockinette stitch really does get quite boring, especially when it is not in the round. However, I just think about the end result and keep on truckin'. I've decided to raise the neckline a bit. Is anyone else interested in making this pattern? Amber, it would look great on you!

(Back side)


I am holding strong on my stash-a-thon commitment. I tell you, though, I'm having a very hard time when I look at yarns like these. I have purchased laceweight from her before. Her yarn is beautiful and reasonably priced for hand dyed. I want it!!!

House update:
The floor man was out this weekend finalizing our stain choice.



We're going with traditional cherry (second row middle). The floors will be complete by the time we return from vacation. The bird left this morning to stay with the in-laws so his little lungs don't collapse from dust/fumes. I'm so excited to see how the floors change the appearance of our house. Woo-hoo!

What Happens at the Chili Party...

I joined my co-workers this year for Theresa's annual chili party. We had a great time. I got to taste some delicious and creative chili - even some with pumpkin spice in it. (You're not supposed to tell your secrets, Mary.) I had a chili dog with the real stuff - straight from Detroit. This was the same stuff we used to use when I worked at the Irish Hills Dairy Bar. There is nothing else like it. I won (and lost) in darts. And I managed to keep all but my boots on in a game of Truth or Dare Jenga. That much can't be said for Sarah!

See my flickr group for all of the incriminating photos. Luckily, there are none of me :)

"Hello. There is dog poop on your shoe."

At least, that's all I could think of to say. I entered an exam room today to see a 15 year old girl with abdominal pain. She was sleeping on the table, listening to an iPod nano, and stinking up the joint with a left shoe covered in dog poo. She was oblivious. It's not like an unzipped fly. There was no ignoring it, especially seeing as how I had to sit with her for atleast 15 minutes breathing (and therefore smelling). I told her. She replied, so wittingly, "gross"....and left it there. She didn't seem embarrassed. She seemed to have a complete lack of the sense to smell.

What would you say?

Saucy

I have started my Sizzle top. This yarn is the same I made my mom's Mother's Day sweater with. I think it will work out perfectly because it has a little sheen to it and the cotton will be light for summer wear. Patty Ann was right, the pattern claims it will take 3 days to make. I will agree that it may take 72 hours, but it will NOT be a casual three days of knitting. Well, since there are no sleeves, maybe it won't be quite as bad as I can imagine.



Has everyone seen the announcement for the Dancing with the Stars 4 cast? I don't know if I have a favorite. The former Miss USA is sure to be Brian's fave.



I did just read that Ashly Delgrosso is expecting her first child. I didn't even know she was married, but apparently she is - to a Dancing field producer. AND, Cheryl Burke is reportedly dating Joey Lawrence's younger brother, Matthew. No news on Mario and Karina.

Happy Paczki Day!

I have to recognize the Paczki today since it is such a yummy part of my Polish heritage. Take the chance to get fat today - it's the only day of the year that we have permission.

I know most of you expect a post on my day off, but unfortunately I don't have much time to be original today. The sun is shining in Holland and the snow is slowly melting. I am checking things off of my "to do" list slowly, including blocking my Clapotis wrap. I was lazy before and wore it without blocking, but decided I should see how nice it will look all spread out instead of curling over itself.

I have a volunteer event with the Youth Commonwealth tonight. We are going to have a scavenger hunt. I can still recall a scavenger hunt that my friend's older sister put together for her birthday party in the sixth grade. We were led all over the woods and farm. The final clue was a key, which opened a trunk absolutely full of candy. That was so awesome. I hope these kids remember this hunt just as well.

We had another samba lesson last night. It was a lot of fun, and a good work out. Brian also seemed to be having more fun with it. We learned a move called the copacabana. I liken it to a train chugging along. We will probably look pretty cheesy doing it at a wedding, but I guess ballroom is sort of cheesy anyway. Dancing with the Stars is starting soon!!

125 Combined Years

We traveled to Detroit this weekend to celebrate a joint party for my grandmother's 75th and my mother's 50th birthday. Polish food, cake and fun were had by all. Alcohol was enjoyed by a few - including my mother :) She received a shot glass with some wise comment about being 50 and decided she should use it immediately. You know, wouldn't want to offend the gift giver....she was doing well until my brother-in-law shouted to my father, "Frank, you're a lucky man." Instant peach schnapps out the nose. Pretty funny. Her real birthday is March 8th, but I guess when you're turning 50, you deserve to have a few weeks of festivities.



I also want to share a cute puppy pic with you all. My younger sister bought her ex-boyfriend a cocker spaniel/labrador mix. They picked him up in the Wal Mart parking lot, so he is so appropriately named Wally. He would hardly sit still for a picture, because like any puppy, he was all over the place sniffing everything and humping any leg that was standing still. He was very cute. I am still not ready for a pup of my own. I think it is completely unfair to leave him alone all day. So, until I'm ready to hire a dogwalker, I'll stick to my parakeet.



As for new knitting projects, I'm thinking of using some pink cotton from my stash to knit this, courtesy of "Knit and Tonic".



I probably will cut the neck line a little higher or use a camisole, seeing as how I am not exactly known for being chesty. I can picture this looking lovely with a pair of cream colored pants. I'm excited to get it started, but have a tinge of my sweater apprehension too.

Cupid, Draw Back Your Bow...

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all get the love and chocolate you need today. Brian and I are planning on getting fat tonight on chocolate cake. Lent is just around the corner, so we might as well indulge while we can.

Shouting from the Blogworld Mountain Top

I hit a major milestone today (literally). I ran three miles on the treadmill without stopping or even slowing down. This took me a whopping 40 minutes because I run less than 5 mph, but I'm still proud. Brian and I are going to run the 5K in the 5/3 River Bank Run this May. He has run plenty of 5Ks, but this is my first and a huge goal for me. I can recall, not too long ago, that I couldn't run a mile without stopping. So, now I have to work on building my speed before the actual race. Anyone is welcome to run the race along with us. Supposedly there is a beer tent afterwards. Nothing like a beer at 9 am :)

We started our weekly dance lessons last night. Our teachers are as old as dirt, but kind. I think I can get on their good side if I bring some samples of Fosamax and Viagra to class (I'm so rude). We started with the samba last night. For those of you who don't know much about the samba, it's surprisingly a lot like the polka....the Latin Polka. Fortunately, my Polish blood makes me a natural at this :) We learned a bunch of steps including the pendulum, twinkle, and our own interpretation of the samba roll.

We are (unfortunately) about this bad. I like to think we use our upper bodies with a little more flair.



My blocking wires came in the mail today. Unfortunately I shipped them to work. Soon I will have wet lace blocking on our spare bedroom mattress. That ought to be fun. I am starting a second pair of Jaywalker socks. This time I am making the larger size, hoping I'll be able to pull them over my heel without fear of ripping the stitches. This pattern is beautiful, but notorious for it's lack of stretchiness (great word).

48 hours

The weekend flew by. Brian and I had a great time celebrating Valentine's Day with dinner and dancing. We took lessons in West Coast Swing out in Grand Rapids with our dancing friends, Roger and Luann. Most people are familiar with the East Coast Swing. You know, the kind you wear a zoot suit to dance. The west coast version is more of a linear back and forwards movement where the man stays fairly still and moves the girl back/forth and all around.



We definitely found the basics much harder to master than the east coast style. Brian and I were fine in the beginner class, but when the intermediate began, we soon figured out we were in over our heads. It's fun, though, and I can see how it would be very useful because you can use it in all kinds of songs. I even found YouTube.com video of a couple dancing to "Sexy Back." We'll try to keep working on it.

After invading my stash, I was inspired to use some of my Lion Brand "Kool Wool" to make some baby items for an expecting co-worker. Well, seeing as how she was having contractions on Friday, she may no longer be expecting.



I debated whether a baby would wear a scarf, but Amber assured me a newborn - yes, an infant who can use their hands usefully would quickly tear it off. And don't they look so cute as a set?! I just winged it with the pattern, using measurements from the Yarn Harlot's book to figure the height and circumference of the hat.

I also finally got around to knitting a little treat that Linda gave me a few months ago.



It's a mini sock-blocker key chain. Now this didn't really use much of my stash, but I'm happy to say that it's the first sock I've ever completed in less than two hours. I love it. Brian is just hoping he'll never have to use it on his set of keys.



Thanks Linda! I'm sure I'll make more. This is my spring sock.

Accountability

When I last spoke to fellow knitter, Amber, about the stash-a-thon, she suggested I photograph my stash (yarn stash for any of you perverts out there). I have been putting it off because I really don't want to be ridiculed by anyone. However, I have decided it is time to come clean. Here is my stash in all of it's glory. It is a fair pile of wooly goodness. Much of my stash is Lion Brand, perhaps that is why I haven't used it up yet. The other bulk of my stash is Fiber Festival finds that I have designated for certain sweaters. I think I am afraid to knit those projects because I always fear how the sweater will fit.



I noticed I have somewhat of a color bias going on.



Here is my small stash of sock yarn - really, it is quite small. It makes me wonder if I forgot some in a box somewhere.



But, of course, I used a lot of my sock stash for the Socktoberfest and have also been doing a bit of gift knitting.



Besides my stash, I have a shoulder bag full of bits of leftover sock yarn balls. Does anyone have a great pattern for children/baby socks?

You knitters out there probably don't think as badly of my stash as the non-knitters. You know it could be worse.....

Mine does not drown small children.



Mine does not resemble a yarn store.



And my sock yarn does not require it's own filing system (oh, but I wish it did).

Up and Running

Well, I picked up a new modem this morning, and through the grace of God, I somehow hooked it up and did the installation correctly. It's funny because Brian so casually tells me, "oh just call Comcast and have them help you figure it out." It's like me telling him to call Singer for a broken sewing machine. I don't get the technicalities of the computer - internet hook up.

I can officially tell you that I am SICK of the snow. Yesterday was a disaster. We had three out of seven staff call in - frozen pipes, sick kids, and broken down cars. Our medical assistant then went home at noon on strict orders of the boss because she was quite ill with morning sickness (the kind that doesn't just last the morning). So, Tim (the doc) and I flew by the seat of our pants with our one receptionist doing her best to do phone triage and pull charts. We brought back patients, saw them, did our own phone triage and callbacks. I'm sure many of the patients were quite shocked when they actually heard us on the phones. After work, I headed to the gym and started towards home to get dinner going. The roads seemed fine - just snowy. I was approaching an intersection and could not have been going more than 20 mph because I would soon need to brake for the turn. All of the sudden, my car started fish-tailing for no good reason. I swung too and fro and then ended up nose deep in a bank of snow. I probably over corrected the steering. I know you should steer into the fish tail, but it was all happening so fast. The snow was so deep that I couldn't even open my door. Luckily, one man stopped to see if I was alright. Within less than five minutes, he, another gentleman, and an SUV full of high schoolers stopped to push me out. I was grateful for nice Hollanders, grateful this didn't happen on a deserted road, and grateful there were no cars around when I swirled around the intersection. I slowly drove home to find a heap of snow, created by the plow truck, blocking the driveway. What a mess.

Our snowed in weekend was a nice relaxing treat.
Brian spent a fair amount of the time snowblowing, while I laughed from the window (as any loving wife would) as he literally got douched while it blew right back on him.



We tried to get a pleasant wintery picture for next years Christmas card. The blizzard of '07 would not cooperate. Brian actually ran up to the channel to take this photo. In the few minutes that he was out of the car, the wind picked up so much that he, the lighthouse, and the lake all disappeared from my view. Again, I couldn't help but laugh. Sorry Bri.



I had plenty of time to knit on the flower basket shawl. It's coming along splendidly. I'm going to end up with extra yarn because I was afraid to run out by doing another repeat. It should be a fine size once blocked, though, as it is several repeats larger than the pattern called for.



Squishy even took an interest in my knitting. I think he likes the color.



The good news is today I am home. I do have to drive to Grand Rapids later for one of my Junior League after school programs, but I think the roads are better today. If not, it always makes for more story telling.

Off line

I am so sorry to say that our internet is dysfunctional. Since Friday night we have not had the pleasure of the internet due to a janky modem. So, until we can get to Comcast next week there will be no pictures of my knitting. I know, it's so sad. Have fun watching the Super Bowl tonight.

Green(ish) Thumb

This spring I am going to try my best at gardening - vegetable gardening that is.



I have visions of endless fresh salads, sauteed squash in a second, and biting into a beefy tomato like an apple. But I also have visions of little green worms on my broccoli, dried up brown plants, and squirrels taking off with my green peppers. At least I won't have too much invested if I fail...just my time, sweat, and patience. I have beans, peas, green peppers, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, broccoli and several kinds of lettuce. I have logically plotted out my garden and purchased a starter kit for the tomatoes and peppers.

Does anyone have any advice for me? (other than picking the squash before they're the size of a small child)