New Sewing Room for my Birthday!!

Note that Bob's Bed is strategically placed under the ironing board. The box leaning up against the closet door is a shelf with a light under it that will go above the sewing machines

Yes, the pillow is too big for the chair, but I can't figure out where to put it. My fabulous leopard stole is over the back of the chair in case I need it. One never knows when one will be called upon to be a diva. And we all know that a leopard stole is a MUST for divas!!

My magic Peacock Feather Open (thanks Dawn)

is hanging from my lamp.

I have a cool new thing that holds my drink and bits of thread that I got from Barbara (friend from the Quilt Shop) on the end of the table. I don't know where she got it, but it is a pretty neat thing for crafters or airplane builders. The basket to the left of the uncovered sewing machine is for current projects. NO NEW PROJECTS UNTIL THE PRIOR ONES ARE COMPLETED.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING MY DREAM

SEWING ROOM BECOME A REALITY!

AND THANK YOU, STEVE, FOR PUTTING IT

ALL TOGETHER FOR ME!!

My 7 Things

7 things that happened in 2005 that changed your life for the better:

1. of course, everyone's number 1...THEO...no explaination required. (This was stolen directly from Andrea's Blog!)
2. I joined a gym and have half way been diligent about going. Better than the zero way I was going before!
3. Daughters of the King - What a great group of women to share with
4. This has not changed but remained constant for 10 years: Steve.
5. Bob!
6. Living in this area has forced me to go out exploring on my own and I am better at it than ever!
7. Blogs!
7 1/2. Terrell Owens (HATE that guy) got fired.

7 things that happened in 2005 that could have turned out better:

1. Procrastinated less
2. Katrina
3. Rita.
4. The famous Christmas wreck of 2005.
5. Frank...so sorry that he is gone.
6. Staying on task and not starting new projects before old ones are completed. (BIG problem)
7. Letting go fo old grudges and hurts.

Things that you want to see happen in 2006 all for the better:

1. Lots of Theo in our lives!
2. Lose 25 pounds in a healthy way
3. Complete all projects started.
4. More vegetables and less junk.
5. Steve and I take a vacation to a really exotic location! Or maybe even a cruise!!!
6. More friends
7. More spirituality
7 1/2. Terrell Owens not playing for an NFL team
8. Getting over my Terrell Owens thing.

Even manly men such as John and Adam succumb to the

Power of Theo!

HOW cute is this Santa?!

Here I am teaching Theo ancient wisdom: "I know my soul, I know my mind, I know that I stick out behind." Well learned little Grasshopper...

Packed and ready to go!

And get this: I only packed 3 pairs of shoes. I know, I am as surprised as anybody else! But 3 pairs of shoes for a 4 day trip is about right. And I can always run out and get more if I need to ;)

I took Bob up to Steve's office to give him to Chris. She and her daughter Madison, her husband Joel, her basset Lucy, and her lhasa apso Frodo will be dog-sitting Bob while we are gone. I just hope that he doesn't have such a good time that he doesn't want to come home! On Saturday, the entire family (dogs included) are going to Manassas VA for Christmas Eve. That little dog soiree will be hosted by Jujube, a 4 pound Manchester terrier. And we thought WE were going to have a good time....

7 Days

Christmas is in 7 days. Am I ready? Why no, but thank you for asking. What is it that causes us to put off the inevitable and then become crazed idiots? It's not like they move Christmas every year and we don't know when it will be. I have been sending out Advent meditations to fellow Daughters of the King members (and others), and you would think that would have caused me to really pause and reflect about the "reason for the season." Unfortunately, it has not. I am still as obsessed as the next poor soul with the seasonal panic.

I would have loved to participte more in the cultural offerings in DC at this time of year, but claim that I have no time. What I am doing in lieu of this? Running around trying to figure out what project to work on next and, consequently, getting none of it done. There has got to be a better way. When I figure it out, I will let you know.

Erin is right

Upon further reflection and inspection of Bob's moustache, Erin is right. He is much too much white bread to look like Dali. He looks like vanDykes equestrian portraint of Charles I. Right down to the goatee. Sorry for misleading everyone to thinking that my dog is hipper than he really is.

I am getting a cold - Not OK

I knew this would happen: I am getting a cold before I leave for Oklahoma City. This, my friends, sucks. No pretty way to put it, it just sucks. Erin ordered me to stay in the house and drink tea. Given her current mood about her finals, I think I will placate her and do just that.

Steve, fabulous husband that he is, gave me my Christmas present early!! It is an iPod Nano, and I am very excited! I think I have actually figured out how to make it update only the playlists that I want, not the entire library. Baby steps here people.

On a funny note, Bob needs a hair cut, but with the hair on his face so long he has a moustache like Salvador Dali's. I find it quite amusing. Then again, could be the cold medicine....

Previous post

The previous post has been edited, and the inflammatory remarks removed. The author apologizes for any perceived crassness on her part.

Please don't key Erin's car.

What is it about Christmas?

I guess the question should be, "What is it about Holidays?" since all this starts to happen from Thanksgiving on.

I am pretty happy with my life.

My Sunday adventure

Today I went with my friends, Carol and Debra, to Frederickburg where we toured historic homes that had been "done" for the holidays. It was very strange. I expected the houses to have been restored and historically accurate. Turns out they were renovated, and decorated from soup to nuts.

One house, owned by people who are obviously proud of their potties, had a toilet lid that was completely covered in real red roses. The symbolism there is beyond my comprehension or ability to fully comment on. This is a picture of a porch, beautifully decorated, that wasn't on the tour, but I felt was the prettiest one there!

I've been mauled!!!

OK - if you are a guy STOP READING NOW. None of it will make sense. Of course, it might help you to understand why women are as we are.

Ladies: I vote we all write Oprah and tell her "BOO." After watching her show, I determined that I needed to be "fit" for a bra. After all, OPRAH said it so it has to be. She has GOT to stop putting these ideas into our heads.

Well, I went to the local department store, innocently enough, and to the lingerie department. When the lady asked me what I was there for, I calmly (and like the adult I am) explained that I would like to be fit for a bra. In fact, I think my EXACT words were, "I believe that I need to be fit for a bra so I am sure that I am purchasing, and wearing, the correct size." The woman then GRABBED my BOOBS with BOTH her hands and said, "Oh honey, these need to be a LOT higher up!" OK - in my original question was there any invitation to actually touch my boobs???? I think not.

So after I sucked all the air from Hecht's, I told her I really did not want them coming out of my collar bones, as she had suggested. (I should have just asked her to do my pelvic exam while I was there since she had given me a thorough lump check for free. I am not sure my insurance would have covered her though.)

Suffice it to say that this was one of the most disturbing experiences I have had since I moved to Maryland. Hell, this was one of the most disturbing experiences I have had in my LIFE. After recounting my trauma to Steve, I realized that it was a God's blessing that he was not there when this happened, as he nearly choked to death laughing just hearing about it. (Life Lesson # bajillion: Don't take men shopping for "utility" undergarments. Only the fun stuff.)

Heed my warning: stand VERY far away from the sales clerk when (and if) you go for a fitting. Behind a fixture would be good.

Yes, my bra fits better. No, I will never be able to go into that Hecht's again.

Graduation Pic!

Here Bob and I are at Puppy Class Graduation! We had fun and learned many things, two of which were: 1) the big dogs don't care if you are cute and little, they will bite you anyway, 2) people will feed you great treats if you just walk up to them, sit, and look at them expectantly. This also works well at PetsMart.

Hopefully, we will start Good Manners class in January, then move on to Better Manners. I would like to check into the whole Therapy dog thing. I am not sure if Bob would make a good one or not, he is so young yet. Time shall tell...

What great kids we have!

I just finished checking everyone's blog (because that is what I do first thing in the morning), and I am struck by how smart, funny and self-realized all our kids are. I can't check John's blog of course, but I am certainly including him in the group. if we could just get him pointed where he would really excel.... Anyway, dork that I am, it brought a little tear to my eye.

I am spending the day finishing up sewing projects. It is supposed to sleet and snow tonight, so, to comply with federal law, I will have to go to the grocery at some point. We are dropping Steve's car off this evening at Best Buy so they can install the remote starter I got him for Christmas. This way, he can start the car from the house and let it thaw before he heads out, and not have to stand there and scrape it in the nasty weather. I thought it was a brilliant idea myself.

I am also going to find a kennel to leave Bob at for our trip. Friends, we are in the wrong business. Do you have any idea how expensive it is? And then you have to pay an extra $5 so they will play with your dog for 15 minutes a day outside of his cage. PLUS an additional $2 a day if you want him fed more than once! Crazy.

Snow down on the farm

Here it is: this is what 6 - 8 inches of snow looks like down on the farm! Today will be spent drinking all that hot chocolate I bought yesterday, sewing, and napping. It's good to have a plan.

First snow of the season!

It is snowing to beat the band here; beautiful big fluffy flakes!! Not those pitiful flakes we get back in civilization. I went to the grocery store (apparently there is a federal law that dictats that even the mere MENTION of snow requires all citizens to go to the grocery store to buy as much stuff as you can cram into your carts), and on the way home I counted 10 trucks armed with snowplows ready to go! At least they know how to clean up after it here.

So my friends, I am making potato soup and watching it snow. Not a bad afternoon!

Am I blue.....

Why yes I am. I think part of it is because there are no holiday decorations at my house, and part of it is I am homesick/lonely/bored...whatever you want to call it. Having a little pity party today - tomorrow will be another day!

Last night was UFO (Un-Finished Object) night at the quilt store. The goal is to finish a project you have been working on. Apparently, my "project" was to stuff as much food into myself as possible. There was some tiramisu there that was AWESOME! A lady who is a personal chef brought it and it was to die for. Amy bought Robin a chocolate fountain for Christmas and it was in fine form last night as well. Mike fried a turkey, I took French dip sandwiches, it was gluttony all around!

Tonight we are going to Fr David and Betty MacDonald's open house, which should be fun. They are super people and we are enjoying the parish a lot.

Off to sew and play with Bob!