Purl.

Guess who came to our house? Last Thursday, I drove to Tyler to pick up Miss Purl. Friday, I drove back, all 371 miles, terrified I'd have to stop to go to the bathroom, convinced she would perish if I ran into a restroom for more than 2 minutes in the 97 degree heat. I only went twice, and the kids at Sonic were good about filling an ice cream cup with cool water for her. Yeah, I paid for ice cream but what the hell.

We were going thru pup names, leaning to Patsy, Ginger, and DH LOVED Sophia. Whatever. I tossed out Pearl, and he jumped on it. It dawned on me that Pearl could be PURL, and I hurried to Petsmart to make a tag. I felt less guilty when I remembered there was also a PERL (programming language) and then it became a matter of me getting my dibs in early!

Sonny LOVES her, and promptly peed on the floor in solidarity with her. At almost 80 lbs to her 13, we have to HEAVILY supervise their introductions. My boy is such a big doof. I bought Purl a pink little stuffie. Sunday, he 'stole' it from her, so she'd interact with him. Yesterday, he got it again, but she was totally OVER it and wanted to play with something else. Poor boy, he's trying SO hard!

Once again, I have a little one in the house. She's tiny, but has a BIG personality. She steals ALL the toys and takes them to her crate. Yesterday, Sonny sat (on a leash) in front of her crate. The door was open, and she slipped past Sonny, picking up all the toys she could to stash in HIS crate.

I am still waiting to get Sonny's results back. Purl's behavior is PURE boxer; she is so different than Sonny, but exactly what I expected in a boxer. It verifies my suspicions on my boy's seedy heritage.

Oh, yeah-the stats: A flashy brindle boxer, female, born 27 May 2010. Weight 12 lbs 9 oz.

Woof! Something rotten in East Cupcake....

We put Miss Sugar down almost a year ago, and miss her terribly. She was such a sweet girl. We got the Puddlemaster because La Sug was such a GOOD girl. We really enjoyed her. We love boxers. When an enticing ad popped up on Craigslist, BOOM! Sonny landed in our house. Peeing all over. Dying for treats-I've never seen a dog more food motivated! LOVES little kids. Bites me daily. Thieves like crazy. Wha?? OMG, this dog is SOOOO high maintenance!

Last week, I was going thru some old photos of Sugar's puppydom. DH was out of town. (We determined last week that if Dad is out of town, someone WILL pee in the house. The pattern has been established....) I really enjoyed looking at pictures and remembering how dang sweet she was. Something was nagging at me, tho-we always KNEW Sonny had different eyes. I reflected on her shape, her muzzle....and I couldn't quite name it. Later, I took the boy out to pee, and LOOKED at him....

And then it hit me. I drove to MY library, and then the San Antonio library. (My stupid computer was being beat into submission in Apple land). The answer was so obvious-specific, and I am not exactly SURE how I hit on the exact one as I stood pondering the guy at the end of the leash but I think I am right....(ignore the jowls and the tail)

Oh. Oh yeah, I get it now. The idiot we got him from thought he owned a boxer-but Sonny isn't really boxy, nor does he have that triangular neck, and he's kinda grumpy, and.....

Sonny's probably half Rhodesian Ridgeback (bottom illustration). I looked in several breed books-he's 75 lbs, about 27" at the shoulder NOW, countersurfs, thieves at every turn, will do ANYTHING for a snack, is DEDICATED to ONE person, and my breed book has PAGES on demodetic mange. (We spent hundreds on mange treatment in Feb.) They are reserved and observant. A canine Cliff Clavin, compared to the boxer's "NORM!"

DH thinks I am nuts. I've researched the canine DNA kits-they have as many detractors as they do proponents, so I may wait on that-at this point, a kit could be an "I told you so" (I thought his mama didn't look quite right), but that's about it.

He'll be a much BETTER Rhodesian-Boxer than he was a Boxer. I feel much better. And it's easy to see he's a Daddy's boy.

In the mail

Look what came in the mail yesterday! Complete with gummy bears! Orient and Ozident from Wollmeise.

I also got a Neibling book too! Gotta get to knitting!!!!

It's weird how things work out

Last year I went to my high school reunion. One of my old buddies and I had a little chat on the phone-mind you, I hadn't seen her for 20 years.

So guess what her creative outlet is???

I think it's funny how little the world is.

Quietly chugging along.

I'm still here. Although very handsome, someone is a lot of effort. I've threatened to send him to the pound more than once this week.

He's still blocking my mojo. I've been working on this-it's portable and idiot proof. Noro Kureyon Sock, for DGD.

So yeah, about that Gwen Bortner class

About that class- I REALLY liked Gwen. No really. I went toodling to class on Monday all ready to fix my mojo. My class was all of 3 students. Gwen introduced herself and pulled out the project.

A felted entrelac koozie. Blech.

I was a good girl. I did not cry. I did not bitch. I did not sulk. But I quickly ditched my homework, because I sure as shit was not gonna make a koozie. I would rather eat dirt. I cast on for a hat.

And she was fine with it.

And I enjoyed my class-there was one rank beginner, one lapsed knitter, and me. (There are only 3 projects on that table.) And I think we all took something away from the class. I learned some adjustments and tweaks that will make me better at entrelac. And she made knitting backwards make sense.

I made Lady E in 2007, and had hardly messed with entrelac since. Except for this hat, and now I understand what was wrong with this pattern. I made it in February for Carol's chemo. Next time I do it, I will fix the errors in the pattern.

If you have a chance, take a class with Gwen. It's worth your time. She's normal, and would be great to drink with. She's coming out with a new book on entrelac, and I will probably pick it up!

Getting the mojo back.

My knitting has really suffered since the PuddleMaster came to town. You might wonder what the hell my problem is. He's stopped peeing everywhere, right? Well, pretty much. We work hard at PuppySchool, too. He's an enthusiastic student.

Now, we have these episodes. Often.

He generally starts up well before I grab a camera. It never really occurs to me until he's in full run...

And thieving? Nothing is immune-books, underwear, laundry, sandwiches? Kleenex. Yesterday, I knit a few rows, and set it down on the couch. The sound must have been like a starter's pistol, because he woke up in a flash, and off he went to unravel!

Yesterday, I set out to reclaim my knitting mojo. I took an entrelac class with Gwen Bortner. And I think it's going to help significantly.

More on this later.

Oh, just go look. You'll laugh.

Here's a link for epic cross-stitch.

Le Sigh...

It's a good thing I didn't like the last pair of glasses I bought, because they were waiting patiently in their case for me this morning, after I found this. My dog is driving me to distraction. We thought Sug was bad, but this guy is a real handful.

Yesterday, I was on the phone getting an RX refill for hubs. And he lept up and bit me. On the ass.

He doesn't do it to be spiteful-that's what young dogs do to other young dogs. But I am not a young dog, and am getting frustrated. There have to be two long walks every day, and two absolutely crazy wrestlemania sessions when he's super tired and crabby. This morning, I am looking frantically for obedience classes.

Das show mit PRIZEN!

You may recall I entered in Melusine de Tricot's contest over Christmas. My prize showed up this week!

I got scared-at first I thought I got the French catalog again-as it turns out, I got English instructions. Whew!

A box of black yarn and a booklet.....to make this-

Getting back on track-

I'm really excited that my last day is tomorrow. You don't even know. I felt a little bad about quitting, because somewhere in the back of my head is my father's voice saying "Quitters never win, and winners never quit." On the other hand, I also remember him crabbing about people who complain about their jobs "Shit to bits...." At the end of the day, I felt like Sonny, making puddles in the wrong spots and not understanding why people were shouting. It's not good to cower when you go into work. I waited exactly long enough for my postmaster to get his eye surgery, and just a few days longer. And that is enough of that.

My knitting has REALLY suffered lately, between the soul-sucking post office and the Puddlemaster. I was totally gob-smacked to open up Vogue Knitting (S/S 2010) and see THIS:

Oddly, seeing THAT makes me feel better about quitting. Like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes, or sleeping in your own bed after a long trip.

I feel honored as well. I remember pouring over VK in Germany before I understood German, or even knitting, very well. I never EVER expected to see MY knitting in there.

I've got knitting that must not be named on the needles now. And since I have knitting that must not be named, let me leave you with a little something to make you smile:

Quit work.

I gave my notice today. The post office is going thru a rough patch-they don't make money any more, and are cutting and trimming in every way they can. What's the old saw about "Doing more with less for so long we can do everything with absolutely nothing?"

Here it is-

“We have done so much with so little for so long that now we can do anything with nothing.”

Anyhow-after working for the post office, I think it's a miracle that we actually can move a letter across the country for .44 cents. And the people you see at your post office are working a good deal harder than you think.

It's the Year of the Tiger-

There will be times you think 2010 is a good year and others when you will wonder if the opposite is true. On a positive note, the Metal year produces good fortune for you. The Tiger, on the other hand, is a big cat, and not exactly a friend to the Rat. Two important keys to your success are to be nimble and not to pick fights you have a chance of losing. The Tiger has claws, and defeat is not likely to be pretty. There will be plenty of action this year, which should suit you just fine. Scale back your endeavors in the first six months of the year and make your most concerted efforts during the next six good ones. This formula should leave your life's balance sheet in the black at year's end.

Hmmm. Not a Rat?

What I've been up to-

An easy entrelac tam-Universal Yarns Moods, pattern from Verbena Knits. 175 yds, for Carol, who is going thru chemo.

Chasing after this guy takes up a lot of time too.

Chemo Caps for guys?

Patricia's been looking for patterns. I think maybe this plain one. Or this one, done in one color.

Any other suggestions??

Holiday!

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. I expect someone in my family to organize a parade.

A chemo cap on the needles:

Here's the pattern. The yarn is Universal Moods.

Who takes all my knitting time?

What are you talking about, Mom?

Two months, 20 lbs. Whadda ham. We had to buy special shampoo because he has demodetic mange (240.00). It's 50.00 for a dip. And special food, because he has a dainty (read stinky) stomach.

My money pit.

When was the last time you laughed til you cried?

I suggest you have a look at the Sleep Talkin Man. Cause THAT's some funny stuff.

Another inspiration

As it turns out, Fassett's feathers are Japanese trees....

Inspirations.

A few weeks ago, I was surfing on ebay and found this haori. The design is formed by shibori, teeny teeny little circles sewn in, then dyed. The threads are snipped away, leaving a pattern made from itty bitty tie-dyed circles.

I bid like a crazy woman.

It came in a few days ago, and it is inspirational. It reminds me of something I'd seen before. I remember reading that Fassett spent a good deal of time at the V & A sketching. He must have seen something like this.

The haori is much more moving than the designs it inspired. You know what slays me? Look at the first photo. The pattern matches at the seams. Swoon.

No, I don't wear these-but I might begin playing crazy art lady and start. DH has a company function this week.... It cracks him up-the older I get, the more Dragon Lady I become.

A portrait of the artist and his work...

Some days, I just ask "What the hell?" Because who runs and pees at the same time??

I won!!

I entered a contest on Melusine's blog a few weeks back, and got word yesterday that I won third! (I had to mouse over the podium for the results, and do a lot of copy and paste to Google Translator!)

Yay! I get to pick out a project from Bergere de France! Double yay. I DO love their designs!

Thanks for helping me win. I didn't realize that we could vote every day, but no matter-I am happy!

Mail!

It's been quite a week. I worked at my post office this week. All this week. It was a LOT of work. I did everything but the mail carrier's job. I question whether the pay outweighs the PITA. The jury is still out on that. I'm daunted. My supervisor (an accountant) asks me why I am taking so long. Because I am unsure I am doing the right thing does not seem to be anywhere on that checklist.

This morning, I helped out at another post office. Very very different! I did one thing. It was fine.

This week, I got an email from DD entitled "I miss you!" I opened it up and found:

I melted.

Friday Funny

For Carol and her lost biopsy results

Eyeroll

This week, I discovered the perfect time to go Christmas shopping. That's right. New Years Day. It was great-the roads were clear, the mall wasn't packed, and there were good buys. I bought THIS:

I was all excited, and put my new comforter and shams on the bed, but skipped the bedskirt for now. I noticed that it was all dry clean only....

Last night, DH put Puddlemaster on the bed. This morning I woke up under the covers, damp...DAMP? It wasn't me!! I CHECKED!!! I asked DH if he'd taken Puddlemaster out. He hasn't had an accident in days ..... DH will get the privilege of getting the new comforter back OUT of the cleaners.

And my knitting mojo is back. Hope I can keep my knitting out of the jaws of (young) life!

It's 2010 already-

Wow. The last 90 days flew by. I was in a hydrocodone haze for most of October and November, and as soon as I was cleared to drive, I slammed those drugs into the drawer, we got Sonny the Wonder boy, and I started working for the Post Office. Both have been more effort than I originally thought.

Funny, this business of the New Year, and new beginnings. I had my big epiphanies on my roadtrip last summer. This year, I have to make good on the things I figured out.