Where I don't really talk about knitting at all.

Today we are braving the cold to go out to eat with Hubby's family for his birthday. He turns the BIG 3-5 on Tuesday. I'm working on a project that will hopefully be finished sometime on Tuesday so he'll have a b-day present. :)

Also starting on Tuesday, I'll be doing some fill in temp work for a week at a place I worked a few summers back. I've been filling in here and there as of late. One of the girls is going on vacation for a week, so I get to work full time while she's gone. It'll be a change!

On the job front, I'm still looking. I think I'm going to try and get into a salon. That does extensions. Or, just get a booth rental and do extensions. Because that's the reason I went to beauty school in the first place, so I really should do something I enjoy, not just something that pays the bills. I'm really excited about this, and hope that I can get some clients and make money, but not work full time. I'm thinking ahead here... but thinking about offering some really sweet discounts to start, to build up the clients and to get some portfolio pictures. I don't have any pictures anymore. And no pictures of my extension or deadlock work. I don't know. I love crazy big hair, and I know Minneapolis/St Paul is a better venue for it. But I'm not driving, and if I just start out small and cheap with good quality, and share booth rental with someone, I think I just might be able to pull it off.

So yeah. That's what's going through my mind this weekend. I haven't been excited about work in forever, and this has got me excited.

I have 8 little baby hats ready to mail. Yea, I didn't make it to the post office on Tuesday. But, the point is, they're ready and will be mailed well before the 31st due date. Woot Woot!

I picked up yarn for a scarf for my hubby. It's not often that the hubby wants knitting, so when he asks, I knit. :) I also have to get some time to quick like start and finish his b-day present. I have no idea when I'll get that started, let alone done.

Johnathan is being fussybaby to the 10th tonight. Just when I get ready to sell him to the gypsies, he'll smile at me. The stinker. :) I'm thinking maybe teeth are bugging him? All I know is I hope I get to sleep tonight, I have to work for a few hours tomorrow, and don't want to fall asleep on the job.

MLK day is on Monday, and the Obamas called people to service. I've been thinking about that, and what I could do to help. There isn't a lot going on in St Cloud that I can be a part of. They have a blood drive and a book drop. But I wanted something more, and something that wouldn't require me to find a sitter. Plus, if it could involve knitting it would be all the better. Then it struck me. I've been wanting do some knitting for the Knit One Save One campaign. I've got one hat knitted, but I keep pushing the rest aside. How hard is it to knit a few baby hats? Considering I could actually save a baby's life? I should *only* be knitting baby hats. So, starting today, I've put my selfish projects aside, and until I go to bed on the 19th, I'm only knitting baby hats. Then when I get up on Tuesday, I'm heading straight to the post office and I will send them off. The mail date is Jan 31st, but I don't want to dink around and miss the date.

Dogs and Knitting.

Things have been quiet around here. My PT job ended, so I've been on the search for a new one. Had an interview on Tuesday, but I didn't get it. So the search continues. I've been working on my Jan SKA sock down socks. I'm to the leg now, but the picture was too cute not to share. Osiris thinks that any sunbeam is fair game. Even if it's on the table. Silly dog.

Johnathan is growing like a weed. If you ask him "how big is Johnathan" he'll lift his arms "So Big" It's too freaking cute. He'll sometimes 'give kisses' by popping his lips. His grandma has been on vacation for 2 weeks, and these are things he's developed while she's gone. It'll be fun to show off his new skills.

Other than that... quiet. Which is good. Just staying inside and trying to keep warm. Like the dog.

Random Thoughts regarding the old and the new.

So, 2009 huh? Wow.

2008 was a crazy arsed year. I think that about sums it up.
We went on a mini-vacation, got a new car, got fired, had a baby, had my dog almost eaten, got flooded, rebuilt, stressed way too much about politics, actually volunteered and donated money to our chosen side, learned how to make dogs throw up, got a new job...and..here we are. 2009. I'm surprised we made it through alive and intact. But I'm very glad we did. I've learned some valuable lessons this past year, which I thought I'd share with you.

-Dealing with insurance is going to take longer then you think. ALWAYS. Proof? I got in a car accident in Dec 2007. We finally got my new car in Feb 2008. Reason? Insurance snafu. Basement flooded in August. Still waiting for a final check for that. Dog bite in July. Waiting for a check. Now, granted, on the dog bite issue it did take me a while to scan in the bills. But you ever try to scan in 2,000 dollars of bills while a baby naps? yea, it takes a couple days. :)

-Having a baby is not as scary as everyone makes it out to be. Epidurals are AWESOME! And when you get a great doctor and nurse, you can actually be laughing to hard to push. And tell your family to visit later. Not in huge groups. It might seems fine when you're all doped up on pain meds. But dude, trust me, you need the sleep. It's the last you'll have for months. :) Also, when just starting with breastfeed, tell your family to not come at all. Everyone wants to hold the baby, and you can't feed the baby and it's a mess and you end up sobbing on the for to some one from the La Leache League. But, an upside? They make house calls!

-Trying to take care of an eaten dog and a 6 week old sucks. It's like trying to take care of twins. I think I showered and slept less after my dog got eaten then when I had my baby. Family will help with babies. Not always with eaten dogs.

-Did you know the 6 full grown birds can live in the vent? 6! And they only have bird parties at 2 am, while you're trying to sleep. Awesome! But they make these little cages you can put on the vent to prevent them from getting in. But make sure they're all OUT before you put it on, otherwise they're trapped in.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Use the knowledge wisely. :) Here's hoping 2009 is calm and about eleven million times calmer then 2008.

Hello new year!

Goodbye hair!

My friend Tonia came for a visit today, and she chopped off all my hair. Hooray! I loves it.

Still Sick.

But I think we're on the upswing.

In other news, about a month ago we went to see Santa. There were no tears at all. Little smiles and he thought that the fuzz on Santa was awesome. At least that's what I think he thought. I just guessed from the look on his face.
At Crafts Direct they had a 'donate to the food shelf, get you pic taken with Santa' day. The lines were short, and it helped out a worthy cause, so we went. Glad we did and that we didn't have to brave the mall. :)

Winter in MN

So we had our first real storm of the year yesterday and my baby has his first cold. We were up last night a 3 am with a fever of 101.1. Called nurse line, and don't have to worry until it hits 102. So I took off his jammies, left him in his diaper and slept on the couch with him on my chest, propped upright so he could breath. Got a little sleep I think . Today he's still streaming boogers, but the fever is gone. And I'm staying home from work. Poor little dude cries every time we come close with a tissue. And the booger sucker? Torture.

PSA

So. I'm still here. Really I am. I can't believe it's already December. Holy carp when did that happen?

So. Since it's December, you know what that means. Cold. And gifts. Right. It's cold, and it's time to give those you love gifts. What about our four legged friends? They get cold too! Well, if you're an Italian greyhound in MN you do. Anyway, my point is this. If you know anyone that has a cold little dog, why not head over to the K9 Knitters website and pick a sweater up? Not only are they hand knit at a really good price, 100% of the money raised goes to a nice pet charity. They have sizes all the way up to moose sized.

A dog you know gets a sweater, and the money goes to a pet charity. It's like..win win win!

Just so you know, I've knit a couple sweaters for this group. And I plan to knit a whole bunch more. :)

I'm a working mama!

Which is... well.. weird. It's just weird and I'll leave it at that.

Work is good. Everyone is super nice and it's pretty fun and I got covered with glitter yesterday. So when I got home, my baby was covered in glitter too. Poor guy.

Friday Hubby had baby duty, and I guess Johnathan threw an unholy fit. Wouldn't eat, just fussed. Michael said that during the episode, he would swear that Johnathan cried "Mamaaaaaa!" My poor guys.

Erm... that's it really. Nothing much else going on. I knit my husband a hat. But it's not been photographed yet so you'll just have to picture a hat here in the open space.

Also, I am behind on the blog stalking. So, here it is....

I love puppies because they are warm and share the covers with me and I like to knit them sweaters. :)

Hopefully? Yes?

I think I have a job. Well, I'm pretty sure I was offered a job today. They did ask when I could start. :) Crafts Direct. It's only seasonal, but if I kick ass and they really really love me, it might be permanent. So, I must kick ass and they must like me. :) Just waiting to hear back from the girl in charge of hiring to set up a training schedule and what not.

Now. Just have to figure out the baby feeding thing......

Bah!

Well. Crap.

That's pretty much it. I have to find a job. Have to. Hubby just got his hours cut at work. So I have to either force my baby to take a bottle (he stopped taking them out of the blue back at the start of September) so I can work a full day, or try and find a job that will let me work a full day with an hour lunch so I can run feed the boy, or work in 4 hours shifts part time somewhere. Ugh.

Stress. Level. Rising.

OH HELL YEA!

Hooray! I can't believe it! I mean, I hoped it would happen, and it did. Thank jebusallahbuddah!

We were going to our friends house, and I made cupcakes. But the minute we pulled into their driveway, I realized the cupcakes where at home, on a chair, where I put them to tie my shoes. Hey, at least I remembered the baby! So Michael went back home, and found no cupcakes. I called Emergency Vets, and was told to make them throw up. He came back to friends house, picked me up, and went back home. We made the dogs throw up. Siris didn't vomit, but Cleo did. She ate them all. At least, I'm 99% sure she did. I blamed Siris, and it was Cleo that ate them all.


Anyway. How do I get chocolate frosting out of my nice, freshly steamed cleaned carpet??

Fast Update!

Baby asleep! Time to update!

Okay, all the prizes have been mailed out. Sorry for the delay. It got crazy around here.

Happy belated Halloween! I sewed Johnathan the cutest costume in the world.

Also, I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but tomorrow is election day. PLEASE for the love of all yarny goodness, go out and vote. If you're still unsure, may I suggest my guy? Obama. He rocks.

Contest Winners!

Dudes. I scared myself. I counted my yarn and I have a helluva lot more than I thought I did. I think I've gotten it all. I opened every little hiding spot and I found all the yarn.
I counted the skeins. I added them all up. I have *88* skeins for sock yarn. I could make 88 freaking pairs of socks! And that doesn't count the yarn that I traded for and is in the mail. :)

Carrie was closest, with 85 skeins.
Ikkinlala was second with 101
and Trillian42 was third with 40.

Okay you guys. Email me at kelly at 50footrobot dot com and I'll send out your prizes. :) I'm still gathering little bits and pieces for the fun pack. :)

Is now the time I let you know that I'm not buying any more yarn until the 1st of the year? I'm not going on a yarn diet, I'm going on a yarn starvation.

A Bloganniversary Prize Extravaganza!

Come the 26th, I will have been knit blogging for 3 years. So, I think that deserves a little prize giveaway.. yes?

Here's the deal. I shall give away 3 prizes. Here are the rules, all you have to do is guess how many skeins of sock yarn I have! Okay, and for those of you over on Ravelry, I did just get some birthday booty in the mail, and I haven't added it yet. So there is no way to cheat. Unless of course, you come over to my house and count it all. :)
To make things easy, we'll count only yarn specifically for socks. I know I can knit a thick pair of socks out of say... worsted or whatever. And I do have some knit picks palette laying around, but that's not specifically sock yarn.

Okay. The 3 people that are the closest will win. So, as soon as I find some neat things for prizes, I'll let you know. You have until midnight on the 26th to post in the comments your guess.

Have fun! And thank you to my loyal reader for sticking around. ;)

Carpet! Tile!

So the guys are here and installing carpet and tile as we speak. (type?) The only problem, is that they're loud, and Johnathan did not want to take his nap. Even being so very tired. I finally got hi to sleep, we'll see how long it lasts.
I finished his pumpkin hat yesterday. That's the best picture I could get. He was in his jumper and would not be still. Imagine that! Anyway. It's super cute and fits him just right. I cast on 5 less stitches then the patter called for. He's not going to be able to wear it for too long, but really... pumpkin hat in December? That's just silly. He'll need an elf hat by then. :)

I'm working on getting rid of some of my WIPs. I finished his hat, I'm almost done sewing the dog sweater together, so that's helping things a bit. I really need to get my butt in gear and sew his Halloween costume. Maybe this weekend...

Speaking of knitting...

Ode to my knitting if you will. (for the Blog stalking 3 via knittyboard)
Dudes. I have got to get a handle on this knitting thing. What to take a walk through my WIP?
I have a dog sweater that just needs to be sewn up. I have two sweaters that need just an arm and collar. I have a sock that needs to be done by the end of the month. What do I do? I cast on for a hat for Johnathan. And now, I want to join the Sexy Knitters in a knit along and knit Snow White.
All the while, still having a bunch of things I've pushed off finishing. Like that second sock for my husband. And a pair of socks for my Mom. And, I bought yarn for like... 3 sweaters for Johnathan. Which If I don't get my butt in gear, he will out grow before I even begin to knit them!!
Plus I want to finish my Hats for Alex project AND knit a few for Knit one Save One.

I think I need some focus.

Wow!

My baby has a tooth!
Last night there was nothing there, and today, a tooth popped out! Bottom left. Crazy!

Today,

Is looking to be a good day. I am NOT doing anything that is 'work' today. I am going to knit, and color my hair, and eat chocolate. All day! My hubby already gave me my present Hedwig and the Angry Inch DVD! (I loaned mine out and it's gone.) and the book "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" awesome! I also got lots of chocolate from a friend. Yay! Hence, the eating chocolate all day.

I'm way behind on posting knitting things. If I can find the camera I shall post some pictures of yarn that has come in the mail. Oh! And my new knitting bag. So Sweet!

Off to enjoy my day. Happy Birthday to ME!