World Series Angst

I like happy endings. I know we live in a real world, a fallen world even, and happy endings don't always happen. But, still, I prefer them.

Which is why I'm experiencing World Series Angst right now. You see, DaHubby is a Red Sox fan from way back when, so naturally he's pulling for Boston. And well, though I hail from the Lone Star state (aka God's country), I was actually born in Colorado and as such have always felt a certain fondness for my natal state. Also, rooting for the underdog has long been a tradition in our house (see: "DaHubby is a Red Sox fan from way back when").

Last night I apologized to DaHubby for rooting against his team in the Series, and he assured me that it was ok.

So why the angst? Because Boston leads 2-0 and if I'm going to root for someone, I want to see them WIN, that's why!!!! I mean, have you seen some of these guys? We're talking "old Boston" for sure! What are you whippersnappers on the Rockies doing?? Surely you can beat a bunch of old men like the Red Sox!!

Ok, tirade over.

Go Rockies!!

Edited Monday, 10-29: Well, my Rockies didn't last the weekend, so I guess that, as they say, is that! :(

Polar Bears, Elephants, Cats and Alpaca (Oh, My!)

Still trying to find the time to square away things on Ravelry...I figured out Flickr, but need to take more pictures of knitting (I never thought I'd feel the need to say THAT!) to upload, yada yada yada.

And thanks to these guys,
I now have to share the computer with the kids on a regular basis. Normally I do not get into the hype of the latest greatest new toy or gadget. For years I have shaken my head in disbelief at friends who have spent precious time and money tracking down the most recent toy fad for their children. No longer can I scorn such actions, for we have officially entered the Webkinz World. I have mixed emotions about WW, ranging from:
1) what on earth were we thinking agreeing to bring such things into our lives so the kids'll tie up the computer doing their thing when there seems to be precious little time to do my thing, and this just as I get into Ravelry and not to mention I have subjects of dubious interest about which to blog!?!! to
2) how do I come up with something that'll hook kids aged 4 and up and require their parents to spend precious time and money tracking down my most recent toy fad?????

The only thing I can fall back on is the fickle nature of children and the hope that in a few weeks they'll tire of all the online fun and I'll get my computer back. Otherwise it'll seem awfully lame to have to go use the computer at the library 'cause mine's been taken over by all that fuzzy cuteness.

In knitting news, the weather has sufficiently cooled to bring out the alpaca shawl and work on it some more. By sufficiently cooled I mean that the inside temps with air conditioning blasting are now low enough that I can stand to work with this really warm yarn and finish this everlasting slogfest that is the shawl to end all shawls.
Yes it really is as boring as it looks, but I like the charcoal color and the softness and the drape and I plan to wear it. If I ever finish it. Those size 6 needles really make it last. Forever. I got the idea for it from a pattern in Greetings from Knit Cafe, combined with the look of a shawl that a friend made. Of course, the smart friend used something like size 11 needles and some beautiful fuzzy mohair so it only took her a couple of months of knitting around an active toddler...

I'm also searching for the "perfect" sock pattern to cast on for pair #2. (Dale, I have taken the proactive step of procuring a second set of dpn's so I can make two socks at a time, instead of facing Second Sock Syndrome---again! I so hated the second sock until it was finished.) It's supposed to be a part of the Top Secret Christmas Knitting Program, but unless I find a pattern soon, it might be part of next year's program. Especially since I now have to leave the computer for WW time! Oh the humanity....

Busy

Can't talk now---I got my Ravelry invite yesterday, so you know where I am. And yes, it's cooler even than I thought it'd be! Now to figure out Flickr....

So many birthdays!

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that . . . just loafed, I suppose."
P.G. Wodehouse, born on this day in 1881.

"Can't I open a present a day early??"
JrBaseballFanatic, born on this day in 2000.

"I can't believe you made socks for me!!!"
DaHubby, born 10/07/??

Yes, I did make socks and I finished them in time for his birthday, and I had successfully kept them a total secret! Take that, Second Sock Syndrome!

In honor of two out of the 3 birthdays celebrated in this blog post, we have spent the last week hiking and observing trees, birds, animals and books. How, you ask, does one hike and observe books? At the
Carl Sandburg Home, naturally! It made my day when SuperCraftyDancerGirl told me she was jealous of all the books in that place---I think they said there are 20,000 or so of them. And to think, she's only 10. I suspect that we have another book addict on our hands.

So we hiked...in Flat Rock, at King's Mountain, and then later in the week at the zoo. Photos to come...but until then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my men! And to Plum, too! That'll be all, Jeeves.

Today's Quotes

Our quotes today come from Eleanor Roosevelt, born on this day in 1884--a woman who endured much, accomplished much and just happened to be our WWII First Lady. Oh, and she was also famous for hauling around a large bag of knitting. I read somewhere where she and Mrs. Herbert Hoover even traded knitting patterns.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
(Thanks to the movie, The Princess Diaries, every little girl in America has now heard this quote.)

"Never be bored, and you will never be boring."
(This one goes right next to my quote from Eloise--"Being bored is not allowed!")

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."
(Ok, I remembering hearing this one when I was in middle school, but I had no idea it was attributed to Eleanor!)

"A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

A Funny Day in History

It's the birthday of one-half of that comedic duo, Abbott and Costello. "Bud" Abbott was born on this day in 1897. As a child I fondly remember their movies (in re-runs on tv, people, I am NOT that old!), but have as an adult discovered that they were really good on radio. The smallfry and I have been listening to a cd collection of A & C on radio shows from the 1940's (of course!) and I laugh so hard I can barely see. Not a good thing, since I'm the one driving!!



It's also the birthday of Julius Henry Marx, known and loved as Groucho.

And it's the anniversary of Johnny Carson taking over the desk at the Tonight Show.

Is it just me, or is all that enough to declare today some sort of national holiday?