Back with nothing to report

Got back from vacation last Tuesday night completely wiped out. Family vacations, while great fun to catch up, and in my case, meet some new relatives that I definitely wish lived closer, are exhausting. My idea of a vacation usually entails some downtime with no family politics. This wasn't it. And I'm out of vacation time for quite awhile, especially saving the hours for the honeymoon (where I will be taking 3 weeks off work...WEEEE).

The trip itself was...interesting. I ate as much Malley's sodas as I could (if you're ever in the Cleveland area...go to one. There are 4 that are candy shops AND soda shops...the old fashioned kind. I've had 2 birthdays there, 6 and 19. I loves it). The boy didn't quite know how to adjust to doing nothing. My paternal grandparents like to sit and chat and take naps and not really do much of anything, which can be REALLY nice, but hard to adjust to. So the boy was getting antsy. We went and played mini-golf, and went to the Sugar Shack where they make their own syrups and butter (like strawberry-rhubarb). They provide tastings of everything...and they have close to 20 different flavors of syrup. The tastings are AWESOME though...they give you a little cup of vanilla ice cream, you take a little spoonful and they pour syrup on your spoon. Yum. And we went to a local winery...the oldest in NY. It was pretty laid back.

Then we drove to Wheeling, WV for my cousin's wedding, the reason behind the trip. Catholic ceremony...not quite high mass, but still over an hour. And then the reception, which I hate to say gave me lots of what not to do ideas. And the DJ sucked. Funky Cold Medina isn't really an appropriate wedding reception song...and any DJ that things 'Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll' is a country song (keep in mind this is West Virginia), ought to be taken out and shot. But we danced and watched my great aunts drink and after the wedding ended (at 10pm) we sat on the deck with my newly met cousins and BSed...which was great fun. Then we all went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel (closest is in CO). The boy had eaten something that did not agree with him at the hotel breakfast and like the good sport he is, sat in the car with the AC on trying to sleep while we all ate breakfast...he left for home that night.

Drove back up to Cleveland to spend another 2 days with my maternal grandparents. And my mom and grandma and I went wedding dress shopping...David's Bridal and a little store called Dora's something or rather. And I found THE dress...and there's a shop nearby my house that was on the list to look that carries that designer. So now I just need to go order it. And find a ceremony site, something my mom was harping on about last night.

In non-wedding/vacation news, the bear (riley the wonder dog) went swimming in my parents lake. And by swimming I mean my dad picked him up and carefully put him in the water and he bashed about to shore. We did, by the end of the attempt, lure him onto the rock steps, so his feet were wet, but couldn't get him any farther. Sissy dog.

Vacation

Just wanted to drop a quick note that I will be out of town and likely computer free for the next week and a half. My cousin is getting married and so I will be hitting 3 states in the next 9 days, Ohio, New York (upstate) and West Virginia. Weather is promising to be in the 70's, which will be a lovely change from the Junuary we've been having here...although today doesn't seem too bad.

Got am email from my assassin. Sock wars is officially over, but she is in the process of finishing my socks...and she lives in Tacoma, so they'll be hand delivered when I get home, which rocks a little. I'm just glad I'm going to be getting a pair. I don't think I'll be participating in this again...seemed really disorganized and a lot of people didn't play by the rules and blah blah blah. Neat idea though.

I'm currently working on a pair of socks that are nearing the ankle. Trying to decide
what to take on the trip with me. Got a Lucky Lurker shipment in the mail...woolen underpants anyone? Cute pattern...but wool underpants? Really? So they will probably be turned into something else...now to go drink coffee, read the paper, and make the packing list...all on the back deck in the sunshine.

See you in a 10 days!

Knitting Mojo

Losing my mojo wasn't something I thought I'd lose...especially knitting mojo. But I did. And it slowly feels that it's coming back. I think I was knitting too much to a deadline, birthday presents, mother's day presents (although I got off the hook with that one). So I stopped, frogged the gift I was working on, and took a break. Watched tv without having knitting in my hands was kind of a relief. And then I slowly starting up again, something for me, something that had no due date. And so the yoga mat bag. I'm taking a yoga class, and I'm planning on walking there, so I needed some way to easily carry the mat. I finished last night.
I think it turned out pretty well. Should make it easier to walk to yoga. And I'm about to start a new hat. I'm trying not to run overboard and start a million things or go gung ho on the cardigan that's currently sitting and collecting dust. Baby steps..right?

Sweet Monkey Love

but I'm a slacker. I'm currently sitting in a class for work that will allow me to make more kickass websites (more kickass...not more websites, just to clarify). So I thought I'd steal a few minutes for an update.

I'm still mostly on a knitting hiatus. I'm working slowly on the yoga mat bag, and am close to half done, i think. It'd probably be helpful to actually measure the width of said yoga mat and see how tall I need to make the bag...you'd think I would've already done that but no, I live on the bloody edge. It's almost father's day, and in my spare time I should start the project I was planning for that...althought given my current knitterly sloth, it's doubtful that'll get done.

Took a pencil knitting class at So Much Yarn yesterday, with my dear friend Jen. We had a quick cuppa joe beforehand (yay coffee) and caught up a little before intently staring at our hands for 2 hours. I did like it...it's definitely difficult to get the hands re-coordinated to knit a different way, but I do think it's quicker...and definitely seems nicer from an ergonomic standpoint. And my gauge matches for knit and purl...which is always a plus.

I successfully finished my 10 day fast. Almost broke down on day 7, but remained strong. I don't know that it gave me any more energy than I had before, but I did lose 7lbs, and I am very encouraged to eat healthier (more greens, less white squishy breadstuff). Even the fiancee said he might be able to get used to healthy meals...apparently healthy = bad tasting to him. Silly boy.

On the wedding front, we had it narrowed down to 2 venues, but we've decided that one, the Lake Union Cafe, is probably too small for our guest list, which is a bummer because it's a wicked cool facility, and the Edgewater hotel cost made my mother choke on her tea. So we're back to square one and I'll be calling more places this week. Keep your fingers crossed for me. The goal is to have the venue squared away before we leave for my cousin's wedding on the 16th. It might be dicey.