booties!

My first pair of baby booties! I made these for the new addition to a friend's family. My only complaint are the seams in the back. I can't figure out how to get a clean seam. Otherwise, these were easy and quick. All my friends who have babies from here on out - you will be getting booties from me.

Also, please note the wine colored ribbon. I disdain the limitations of gendered colors blue and pink. Bah! I was at the store today buying a card to go with the booties and I hate how the "it's a boy!" cards are filled with trucks and baseball bats and the "it's a girl!" cards filled with dolls. Blech. So, I also bought a nice gender neutral card. :)

My other recent project were these hats for Esther and Abby. They were Valentine's gifts and I was actually able to send them off, so they did arrive in time for Valentines Day. I still have a couple other heart hats to make, but have burned out on them a bit. So, they aren't at the top of my list right now. But, I will get to it!

it's another freaks and geeks day

After I got out of bed this morning, at 6:30am, I headed to the bathroom. When I was coming back out of the bathroom, Emily was standing at the door looking pretty out of it and complaining of a stomach ache. She then went into the bathroom and was sick. Poor thing. So, I told her to go back to bed. I felt bad leaving her alone for the whole day, so I decided to stay home from class. I had to run to the pharmacy, so I dropped Graham at work so I could use the car today. After I dropped him off I made quite a day of my day off.

First, I went and grabbed a decaf latte at Starbucks and then went to the bookstore. I just love having some time to meander around the store and sit in the big chairs and look at books. I ended up buying a overly sensational book about a woman's life in an FLDS (fundamentalist mormons) community and her escape from it. It looks like it likely isn't written particularly well, but it is a topic that fascinates me to no end. I have seen her on CNN and she made the rounds when Warren Jeffs was arrested. So, it should be some good train reading!!

I then came back home for awhile, holding down the fort while Emily slept. I, then, decided to run out and get my hair cut. Actually I needed my hair fixed from the BAD haircut I got at Great Clips the other day. So, I went to a local salon that Emily had been talking about. I had a really wonderful experience. The woman who cut my hair was so nice and she did a fantastic job. It's likely the best haircut I have ever had. I also got my eyebrows done. It wasn't too terribly expensive and I will certainly return. Happy Valentine's Day to me! I made an appointment for Emily to go next Wednesday. She is going to have her hair done and get it dyed however she wants. She is SO excited. This is part of my birthday present to her.

I am back home with Emily and she is feeling a little better. A new pair of jeans was waiting for me in the mailbox, along with a book I had to order from Latvia that my friend Gundy had recommended. It's the memoir of a Latvian woman who grew up in a Stalinist exile camp in Siberia. It is called Dance Shoes in Siberian Snows. I couldn't find it in any library that I have access to. I also had some yarn arrive and I should be able to finish that Emet Scarf I blogged about awhile ago. I finished a few more calorimetry backless hats in the last couple of weeks. They are all the rage! haha!

Em and I are hanging out watching more Freaks and Geeks. What a brilliant show......such a disgrace that it was canceled.

So, what a great way to spend the day playing hooky!! Graham and I will likely go to the pancake house for a Valentine's dinner. We also have a lot going on this weekend.....I need to make sure to find time to get some homework done! I am picking up an extra day of work at IVP on Monday.....so, time is pretty tight.

i read robin's blog and it told me i had to do a meme

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was in Manchester, England trying to repair a very broken relationship. It was all my fault. I was stupid and very heartbroken. However, we love, live and learn.....I can't believe it was 10 years ago. Crikey. On February 13/14, I may have actually been in Liverpool drinking on Matthew Street. *sigh*

What were you doing 1 year ago?
I was in the middle of the most intense depression I have ever known. Last winter was just unbearable. I was stuck in a job I hated, felt my life had no meaning and that I had no future. I thought all of my college education was a waste. I was lonely and lacking support beyond my husband. At least I sought therapy and got my life back on track. I didn't like laying on the floor of the shower crying every night.....my husband wasn't too keen on it either. Bless him.....what a trooper.

Five snacks you enjoy:

1. chocolate, duh.
   
2. decaf grande nonfat nowhip white mocha
   
3. Raisin Bran
   
4. movie popcorn
   
5. Taco Bell
   

Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:

1. pick any Smiths song
2. Guns of Brixton - The Clash
3. The Game - Echo and the Bunnymen
4. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
5. Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash
   

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. leave Chicago
   
2. buy a house - preferably a small farmhouse on enough land for some animals and a garden
   
3. give a lot of it away
4. open a holistic counseling and/or retreat center for women who have been abused and/or assaulted
   
5. travel (Peru, Italy, Cuba, Afghanistan, Latvia, Russia, Argentina)
   

Five bad habits:

1. procrastinating
2. snacking
3. social anxiety
   
4. starbucks
   
5. buying too many books
   

Five things you like doing:

1. hey! my mother in law reads this! *blush*
   
2. reading
3. knitting
4. playing violin
5. spending time with family and friends
   

Five things you would never wear again:

1. Esprit sleeveless sweatshirts
   
2. jelly shoes
   
3. neon green clothing
   
4. ill-fitting brassieres
5. polyester (I wish)
   

Five favorite toys:

1. MacBook
2. knitting needles
3. iPod
4. violin
   
5. Guitar Hero
   

If you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged.

pulling myself out of the muck

Ugh. Where did my energy go?? I think it ran away and I am looking for it.....desperately.

So, as of Jan 1st I went vegetarian. This wasn't a problem as I was one for years and it was easy for me to re-adjust. It also helps that I am married to one. I haven't felt much change since then, except a reduction in overall appetite, which is fine with me. So, then, last week for a number of reasons I decide to cut caffeine out of my diet, entirely. So, as of Friday, this was done. I also figured while I was at it to cut out artificial sweeteners. If I am not drinking caffeine, why on earth would I even bother with soda anymore? So, I am now on juice and the occasional Sprite at a restaurant. My mom always says a little sugary soda now and then is way better than a boatload of chemical sweeteners. So, I will go with that.....

Well, I crawled through a 24 hour caffeine withdrawl migraine headache on Sunday. Monday I was still pretty bleh and tired. My body always takes an additional day to recover after a migraine. They are so brutal. So, then yesterday I was tired all day and then painfully tired by the time I got home in the evening. Today, I could barely manage to push myself out of bed. I drove Graham to work this morning, and could barely keep my eyes open in the car. I came back home and slept and slept. I just feel horrible.

So, has caffeine been keeping my motor running artificially? Am I really this much of a mess? I am guessing I need more protein in my diet. I also need more exercise. Right now, I don't even walk much downtown because of the snow. In the nicer weather I was walking the 2 mile jaunt to the Metra station from class. I felt so much better, all around. Now, it's a pain to get to the corner to meet the bus.

Graham and I are talking about joining the fitness club up the street. They have an indoor pool, a track with a little give so it's easier on the knees, basketball courts, fitness center, whirlpool, sauna, etc.....I am hoping we can join. I spoke to the membership guy today and he gave us a pretty good deal. There is a 30 day money back trial, so I am hoping Graham is game.

Just so I could get out of bed, I forced myself into sweats and sneakers and took Kerry out for a walk around the neighborhood. The sun is out today and it was a blessing to get some exercise and soak in a little sun. I definitely feel better for it.

I think I am also down because I got a really bad haircut. The woman actually layer my bangs.....you hear me?? layered!! I have little short pieces mixed in with my regular bangs. What is this?? 1986?? UGH! I am now tempted to get REALLY short bangs, just to even them out. Layered?? sheesh. I just said to trim them.....not destroy them! haha

If we do join the health club, I will need to buy a swimsuit. Now, that should be fun. *rolls eyes*

too funny

Okay, so this parodies the Obama video, which is kind of stupid and embarrassing (as much as I love Obama)......but, this is totally hilarious.

bono at five stories!

This evening Graham, my friend Sarah and I had a delicious meal at Gramma Sally's Pancake House and then headed a few towns over to hit up the 3D U2 movie at the IMAX. I wasn't sure how watching a five story tall and 7 story wide screen would sit with my stomach, especially with the 3D effects. I am happy to report that I made it through with no problems. It's hard to describe the film, though it is nothing less than breathtaking. We got to see most of the big hits, with only a few from the Atomic Bomb album. I was pretty disappointed that Bono didn't do the spoken word part of Bullet the Blue Sky, which is probably one of my favorite parts of any song. There was no I Will Follow or MLK - but I won't complain. I got to hear Pride and With or Without You for the gazillionth time. Both are great songs, but I could go the rest of my life without hearing them again and be alright with that. It's amazing that The Joshua Tree still sees such play at their concerts, 20 years later.....Bullet the Blue Sky, Where the Streets Have No Name and With or Without You......

In other news, I found one of the greatest crafty inventions. I am making some hats for my friends' kids and they require pompoms on top......I hate making pompoms. Now, when I say hate, I mean DESPISE!! I can't stand cutting the cardboard circles and then threading long strings of yarn around and around. It usually gets knotted up and quite messy. So, when I went to the fabric store today, for something else, I asked if there were such a thing as pompom pre-made circles......no, but there's such a thing as a pompom maker!! The store I was at was out of them, so I hit up the black hole known as Hobby Lobby. I don't go there very often, but had some time restrictions this afternoon and had to get home. So, I was able to pick up the pompom makers there. Yes! I even called my mom to tell her, I was so excited. I finished up the hats tonight for Esther and Abby and have them ready to ship off.

I have been investigating practicum opportunities over the last week. I have found a few I will be applying to. One is a domestic violence organization, one is rape crisis and one is a community counseling center. I want to apply to 8-10 sites to make sure I land something. I feel good about the opportunities. Graham and I are discussing babies - so if THAT happens, I will push my practicum back a year, finish up coursework next year and then do practicum. We'll see....we'll see.....

Still no word on when I will do my oral defense for the History MA, but I hope to hear something soon.

I have a number of projects on the needles.....not too much to show though.

I guess that's about it......