only 4 more days...

Is it really possible that time has flown by and yet, is moving too slow?  I'm down to just 4 more days until I'm in the car with the little bit of stuff that is still here in the house and on my way to Ohio.  Just five weeks ago, I turned in my notice to quit my job.  I know, crazy, but sometimes, you have to take a chance.  I'm sure I'll find something soon in Ohio.

Emptied the camera, Eric left with our stuff, and 10 days...

Eric's dad and step-mom drove up to help Eric take our stuff to Ohio.  Eric left with them on Saturday with most of our stuff.  The dogs and I are dying of boredom already.  I have cleaned both bedrooms, and I am going to pack the rest of the stuff that has to come with me this week.  In 10 days, I'll be pulling up to my new home until we find something more permenant.  Yeah!!!  :)

In the mean time, I emptied the camera, and look what I found...

Indy and Dega eating corn on the cob...

my little family

This one is my fave!  I forget what Eric was eating, but I hope we find a place like Long Grove where we can go to festivals and take the dogs for walks.

Finished Socks

I had to share...  Look!  I finished my hot pink socks!!!  Don't mind the puppies!  They were just helping. 

Read thy Scrolls on my Toes

Pattern:  Scrolls by Charlene Schurch

Yarn:  Colinette Jitterbug

Colorway:  132 Fruit Coulis

For who?  ME!!!!

I'm not a fan of Mondays.

I find it exceptionally hard to get out of bed on Mondays. The love of my life and our adorable dogs are all curled up together, and I'm dragging my ass to the bathroom hoping to remember to brush my teeth I'm so tired. The picture of them just makes me want to say screw it and lay back down, but I can't. So, I got up this morning, dressed and out the door in record time. Traffic was even light. However, now that I'm at work, I'm bored. There isn't much going on. Add to that the fact that I have just over two weeks left here, and I really have nothing to do. So, I'm trying to knock out some homework. I'm excited about getting off work and going home. It's been nice getting to pack with Eric. We make a good team, and I'm quite lucky.

Plus, I really want to knit. My socks are so close to being done, and it would rock to knock that out tonight. For the first time in ages, I only have 5 projects on the needles. My socks, Eric's socks, Eric's gloves, our blanket and the favorite cardigan. My socks and his gloves will be done this week. I'm hoping to knock the cardigan out the next week. I have time though. It isn't like it is due for something. After that, Eric's socks... The blanket will be a project that lasts quite a while. I do need to make Eric's cousins some hats and scarfs. They are the cutest girls, and it'll be nice to have something yummy for them for Christmas. Other than that, nothing new.

a bit of this and that...

The weekend really was a nice one. Eric and I got more packing done, and we managed to make it to Chicago to say bye to the city. Can I tell you that Garrett's Popcorn is like crack? It is sooo good. We also went to Chix with Stix to say bye to Kelly. I need to make it up there next Wednesday to say by to everyone. Other than that, life is quiet and peaceful. Here are some pics from the city and the socks that are almost done.

Eric and I at the end of Navy Pier...
Eric touching The Bean...
I touched The Bean!
I more pattern repeart, and I'll be done!!!

12 boxes...

I had the most boring day ever at work yesterday. I really didn't think that I would make it through. I know that I'm leaving, but work is slowing down on top of it. So, it seems like I spend 9 hours a day staring at the walls. I left and drove the 45 minutes home. I live 17 miles from work. I can't wait to not have to drive 45 minutes to get to work. I hate Route 30. Anyways...

When I got home, Eric wanted me to work on packing the craft room. So, that's what I did. I packed up 12 boxes of yarn and books with Eric. Don't worry. There's still another 12 boxes of yarn to be packed. Plus, that doesn't include the stuff that I'm not packing. Since I'm not sure when we will get to unpack the yarn, I'm taking the stuff I'm currently working on or Christmas gift yarn with me to his Mom's to knit so I don't go nuts or go buy more. When I get home tonight, there will be more yarn to pack, but I also have some homework. So, I'm hoping to get a little of both done. I want to go see a couple of friends in the city to say goodbye tomorrow and Sunday. Plus, the pups need to get out. It'll be nice to walk the lake front with them even if it is chilly.

That's all for now.

9 days

Why stop a good thing when it has me writing, right? ;) 9 days...

In 9 days, Eric will driving back to Ohio with all of our stuff. He's leaving me with the air mattress, a week of clothes and the dogs. His dad is being a sweetheart and driving up with the trailer and van. So, with our truck, there should be plenty of room for all of our stuff. It'll be weird living in an empty house, but I'm excited. It'll bring us one step closer to actually living in Ohio. After he leaves, I will follow him 11 days later. So, it is getting very real, very fast. I'm so excited.

Other than that, I'm actually getting some knitting done. I'm going to work on organizing the yarn for packing, and I am hoping to get new pictures of all my WiPs. I'm hoping to have a finished pair of hot pink socks by this weekend. :)

21 days...

I'm on a number of days theme it seems. It just hit me that in 21 days, I'll be almost done with my last day of working at Nufarm Americas. It's been interesting here, but I'm really excited about starting the rest of my life. Plus, Chicago is only four hours away from Cincinnati. I can come back and visit the people I left behind and my friends. :)

The next three weeks are going to be nuts. I am working, and I'm still in school. The dogs still need to be walked, and there's the two bedroom home to pack. Plus, there is Christmas shopping to work on. Hectic is good though. It'll help time fly by.

In 21 days, I'll be packing up the last bit of stuff I had to keep at work with me, my picture frames from my desk and my Amp monkey. I will get in my car and drive to the house one last time to get Dega and Indy and any mail that might still be trickling in. Then, I'll drive four hours to my new home and start the rest of my life.

Just 21 more days to go...

97 Days

97 days? Really? My life is so different than it was 97 days ago or even than we thought it would be after 97 days. Eric had to leave the Border Patrol Academy due to shin splints at the beginning of September. It sucked, and he moved to Chicagoland to be with me. We thought about what we should or shouldn’t do for a while, and then, we decided that while we figure that out, we’d rather be in Ohio closer to our family and friends. So, on the 25th of this month, we’ll be back in Ohio. So, that means the great job hunt has started for me again. Luckily, Eric was able to go back to his old job, and it pays well enough that if I don’t find something right away, we won’t starve. So, my main focus will be school and working on finding a job. It’s going to be different. On New Year’s Eve 2006, I loaded up a U-Haul and moved to Chicago. Now, three years later, I’m going back. Not that I’m bitching… I know how lucky I am. Eric and I have an amazing relationship. We dated off and on from 1998 til 2001, and I never thought we would be back here. However, two years later, we are still kicking ass and taking names. I like being happy, and it seems like things are just going to keep getting better. 2010 is going to be a year of many changes, and I can’t wait to put 2009 behind us.

Day 3 of 149

Day 3 of 149 - Yesterday blew. I don't know if it was a combination of me being tired or what, but we were down right mean to each other. We both got a crappy night of sleep, and now, it has blown over. It wasn't pretty, but we'll leave it at that.

Other than that, I'm just starting to work on packing. I have picked up some boxes from a friend of mine that manages a Panera and here at my own warehouse. I figure I should start the purge and pack soon. Four months really isn't that long of a time when you work and go to school full time. I am going to the Y after work to swim and destress. I do have a bit of homework, but I'm hoping to be in bed by 9pm.

Day 2 of 149

Day 2 of 149 - A friend of mine told me that I was crazy for already counting, but it makes it easier on me to control the whining and know that I have to be in Texas with a house pretty much set up before we actually make it to day 149. I was looking at how long it would be for other times I will actually get to see him.

On day 40 of 149, I will leave Chicagoland to drive him the car and fly back. Oh, since I am, if any other significant others on the way wants to ride down with me, I'm okay with splitting hotels and gas money. :) I'm just going to fly back.

On day 88 of 149, he graduates, and I wouldn't miss that for the world.

On day 122 of 149, I will fly down to spend Thanksgiving weekend with him.

On day 131, I will probably be driving down to Uvalde for good. :)

When I break it down like that, I realize how little time I actually have. It makes it a little easier to know that I won't have to wait 5 months to actually see him again.

Day 1 of 149

I'm bored, and this will help me. We have 88 days until he graduates the Academy, and we have 149 days until he graduates the Spanish Immersion program. So, I thought I would share my daily thoughts. Feel free to chime in with advice or opinions. Though, I'm stubborn and can be known to beat a dead horse.

Day 1 of 149 - I didn't sleep last night. Well, I take that back, I did get about 15 minutes of sleep, but I don't think that should count. I took the BF to the airport with his Mom at 4am. We did get gate passes and no charge for his baggage with his EOD letter. That was a nice bonus. I'll admit I was a bit snippy with him. I don't think it was on purpose, but there it was. After I watched his plane pull away, we drove back to her house to sleep (which I got an hour of). I finished loading my car with my crap and drove back home from Ohio to Indiana. (I live 4 hours away.) I'm really sad. I haven't gotten to speak to him much today, and I thought I would. I know I need to be strong. That's not the point of this. I'm just being honest. I miss him.

And that wasn't enough...

This is the sole tote full of yarn left to be put up. Sadly or maybe not, I don't have a spot for it just yet.
I got the itch to organize the spare bedroom into a craft room, and while it is still a hot mess, I made huge progress. All the blue drawers are full of yarn as well as the four cubbies you can see here. That's not all though. This is a 5 drawer organizer in the living room, and this below...

I found this nifty closet organizers for sweaters, and it holds yarn quite well.

What do ya think?

Shakin' Things Up....

under the covered bridge in Long Grove...
Eric came up to see me last weekend, and it was an awesome surprise. After he left, I was itchin' for something new, and I went and cut my hair.

Which now looks like this! I love it. I'm typically a girl that likes my hair like this, and I'm telling ya, it suits me so much better. :)

the coolest swap package to date

I opened the box and squeeled. My very own owl.... I've named him George. He carried a very lovely note from Minerva Lovegood, and I had to force myself to read it before opening the box.

I have my very own, sparkly star lined bag. Isn't it stunning? Say hello to my new purse. I love it!!! Seriously? How freakin' cool! Plus, the strap is the perfect length for me! WOW!!!

Plus, the bag was full of all of this... chocolate - yum! Rosewood needles in 2's - my favorites and I don't have them! something that smells incredible - check! a coffee sleeve - needed it! Some incredibly gorgeous yarn - perfect!!!

And then, 2!!! patterns and a HP journal!!!



I was spoiled beyond belief! Thank you!!!

around the house

Last night, I was cooking 3 pounds of pasta, 6 pounds of chicken and a variety of vegetables for today's lunch. I invited the Shipping personnel to come down and eat with us. I think it'll be a nice way to thank both warehouses for how hard they have worked. While I was cooking, I thought I would go ahead and organize the yarn a bit. I was to use my pantry for food storage instead of yarn storage. Saturday, I am planning on moving all the craft stuff from the various places in the apartment to the spare bedroom. I emptied out the yarn in the pantry into FIVE 18 gallon totes full of yarn, and that is probably only 2/3 of it.

Dega and Indy trying to look cute and innocent, but I know the truth.
Lace, bulky and sock yarn that is wound...

Dream in Color, Tosh and Malabrigo...

Worsted and such...

Sock yarn!!!

More sock yarn!!!

List your "Sunday" rituals.

1. Sleep in and cuddle with puppies.
2. KNIT!!!
3. Watch NASCAR race while knitting.
4. Clean house.
5. Cook really yummy dinner.
6. Knit!

List all the activities you'd do if you weren't so afraid.

1. Ride a bull
2. Go rock climbing
3. Get my belly button pierced

List all the qualities you love about being human.

Wow! What an interesting first list. Having never thought about this, this will definitely be from the seat of my pants...


1. The ability to French kiss my boyfriend
2. Sex for fun
3. Knitting
4. Being able to learn more than one language
5. NASCAR races
6. Watching Maddie play softball
7. Long, challenging conversations
8. Riding the bike

List Your Self

So, I bought a new book, and I'm going to use it for blogging. It says that it is "a provacative, probing, and personal expedition into your mind, heart, and soul".

We shall see what y'all think!

Quidditch Round 3

Final Round! Soar Ravenclaws!!!

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?
b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?
Nicholas Flamel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?
c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).
d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

Trying something new...

Eric and I were supposed to go to Charlotte next month on vacation for the NASCAR Coca Cola 600, but it looks like we'll be going to VA Beach instead. I'm terribly excited and sad at the same time, but it'll be nice to vacation just me and him. Plus, I get to see a bunch of my old friends. I can hardly wait. As soon as I have more details, I will post them.

Oh, and I'm joining Weight Watchers today. A couple of my friends have had great luck with that, and I think that it will help me as well. :) Tonight, I'm going to go to my first meeting.

Overall, life is good. Just busy.

nice weekend....

I had a great weekend, and even better, I got flowers at work today.

Such a nice feeling...

It's getting better!

Well, I woke up this morning tired. I had a final on Sunday, and with all of the other drama in my life, I have just been wore out. I have been refocusing on enjoying my life, and it looks like it is going to be much better. I have always been the prim and proper girl about manners and what people would say. As I said the other day, that's over! I have to say that it is so far, so good. We hit a bump in the road yesterday with someone, but that was quickly squashed. I wasn't kiddidng. Eric and I have worked way too hard to get where we are to let someone take that from us.

So, after work today, I'm going to go home and catch up on house stuff. I am working fast and furious on a baby blanket for Eric's cousin. Since I'm going home this weekend, I need to make sure that it is done. I'm 1/4 of the way there, and I started it on Saturday night. Plus, the new episode of NCIS is on tonight. :joy:

I did mail off my HSKS swap kit, and my pal liked it. So happy about that. :)

A new class for school started. I'm only taking one this time since it's algebra, and that always kicks my ass. So, I'm hoping for that to go well. Other than that, I'm a boring girl!

Taking Back my Life!

I have let far too many things and people upset me over the past couple months. I have given control of how I feel over to people who aren't worth my time, and frankly, I'm tired. I guess I can't really blame anyone other than myself for letting it get this bad. Well, it's over! I'm done with people using Eric and I, being mean to people I care about or just being horrible people in general. Seriously done!

Now, I'm going to focus on me and Eric and what is good for us. I'm done being nice and polite because it is the right thing to do, and for the psycho c u next Tuesday who trying to bring drama to our lives, you are in for one Hell of a fight. Grow up and get a life. You can't have mine.

new tattoos and updates to old ones...

This is my first tattoo. I want to get it recolored, and I'm thinking about adding something to it.

This is my second tattoo that I got last year. I need to have it redone cause it has faded, and I need to have something fixed on it. Other than that, I love it.

Between the two clovers above, I want to get one. I would like a mix of the two somehow, but I haven't worked it out. Also, I'm going to change the word to "creid" which is Gaelic for believe.

Lastly, this is an anchor that I would like to get tattooed on my ankle to represent the time I spent in the Navy.

I'm so tired.

Working six days a week sucks ass! Seriously!!! I just got home. I'm tired. I'll post more tomorrow.

Speechless

Quidditch 2 while life is falling apart...

Luna & Ron
Snape & Lily

Godric's Hollow

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
c. Saturday
2. During all this chaos with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, people still had lives to live and Ron's oldest brother, Bill decided to marry Fleur Delacour. Who were the uninvited guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding?
b.Death Eaters
3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?
b. No... not the Malfoy vault, the Lestrange vault
4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
c. The father went to Azkaban
5. Harry and Hermione read a part of "Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," written by Rita Skeeter. Then they met Dumbledore's brother Abeforth and he told them the same story, just with a few details changed. Which of the following did Aberforth and Rita Skeeter agree on about Dumbdore's past?
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while
6. When Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, they visit the graveyard to see Harry's parent's graves. Harry walks by a tombstone that we later learn belong to tone of "The Three Brothers." The brother buried there once owned what?
b. The cloak
7. The Trio finds out that Luna had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters , and that they won't give her back until they got Harry Potter. Why did they kidnap Luna?
a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore
8. After Voldemort killed Snape, he left the room and Harry came out from under the cloak. Snape gave Harry some of his memories all the way from when he was a child to just months before. Harry dived into the Pensieve and which of the following did he not see?
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class
9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to talk to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?
c. Helena Ravenclaw (Rowena's daughter)
10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
d. Victoria

SP13 Angel Package

I already put a pic of Eric and I in the frame that my angel sent! Very cute!
She made this sconce which I immediately put up. How freakin' cute!

The kit came with a felted pin, a lovely note and lots of scrapbookin stickers.

The entire kit... How cool! I have enough yarn for 5 pairs of socks!

Thank you, Swappy! I truly loved it.

I lost 5 pounds this week! Woot!!!

Angie made me get on the scale today. I worked out with her 4 times this week, and I lost 5 pounds. I'm just so proud of myself. We'll see what next week brings.

I'm tired.

I'm tired... worn out... exhausted... beat up... sleepy... TIRED!!!! I don't want to be social. I don't want to knit. I don't want to do my homework, go to work, walk my dog, clean my house, finish unpacking! I don't want to do anything except curl up in bed, take an Ambien and sleep until I wake up all by myself. That isn't a possibility. Let me know the joyful weekend I have ahead...

8am to 4:30pm - I'm at work.
4:45pm - fake and bake
5pm - drive home
5:45pm - walk dogs
6pm - take shower
6:30pm - drive to Mariola's (She is a good friend that I have practically disappeared on while deep in my own mess. I have to go see her.
9pm - drive home
10pm - walk dogs

I want to pretend that at this point I will make some attempt to start cleaning the house, but I'm sure I won't.

On Sunday...
I want to get up by 9am. We'll see.
9am - walk dogs
9:30am - clean house (walk dogs as needed)
12:30pm - leave for gym
1pm - let Angie kick my ass at the gym
2:30pm - drive home
3pm - walk dogs
3:30pm - take shower
4pm - hopefully, finish cleaning house

Plus, I need to eat sensibly in the middle of all that.

I'm failing my math class. It's not a great start to 2009. I hope Spring brings a saner me.

a little of this and that...

I think Dega has a yarn problem... Seriously?!?! Anyone want to untangle 2 full skeins of sock yarn, 1 partial skein of sock yarn and some DK weight alpaca? Please???

I put a lot of the new stash up in the pantry last night. For those of you who don't know about my fiber stash, there are now officially 134,499 yards of yarn in my house excluding leftover skeins from previous projects.

134,499 yards?!?!

That is 122.985886 kilometers!

or

That is 76.4198864 miles!

So, I think it is time to admit that I need to knit something. lol That's really not a problem. I have about 15 projects on the needles right now. I am knitting daily. I use yarn all the time. I do enjoy buying more though. The cool thing about the latest yarn enhancement is that it allowed me to finish running a yarn marathon, and since I finished first, I think that there is a first place prize of yarn. I can't wait to see what that is.

School is exhausting, and work is back to an 8 to 5 schedule. Nothing really new on those fronts.

The dogs were shaved the other day. They had gotten very tangly at their last visit with the dog sitter, and it needed to happen. They are happy and getting into everything.

I have a newly acquired stalker, and she is evil and determined to ruin my day, week, month, year and in general, life. For that reason, you won't be reading about Eric anymore.

about half of the stash...

a marathon of yarn...

I don't think words can do this justice...