I'm one of those people

Yes, I've turned into one of those people. In my defense though, I will say it was damn cold that night, and the jacket was warm and looked damn cool on him.

You can't see it but the skull and cross bones have a Santa hat, and it says "Naughty".

Cujo (did I mention that was his name?) got fixed yesterday. He's doing fine and came through the procedure really well. They gave us some pain medication for him and let me tell you, those pills are HUGE. They have to be cut in half and I'm supposed to give him half a pill a day. A whole day! That's some strong pain medication. I wonder how well it works on humans.... just kidding!

Work has been completely hectic. I've been training at the Service Desk since Thursday. On Sunday I opened by myself. I was pretty scared to do it but as it turns out, it wasn't as hard as I thought. In fact, it's much easier to open the Service Desk than it is to close it. Yesterday, I was scheduled to close with someone there to train me on the exact closing procedures but they called in sick. Lucky me! Still though, they allowed me to close the Service Desk and I had the help of the Photo Lab person (who is also trained in Guest Service) and another co-worker so I wasn't entirely alone. I thought that it was pretty cool that they trusted me to do it though instead of putting me on a lane to cashier and letting photo lab and the other guest service person to take over. All in all, I think that I did a damn good job. There was no mess at all when I left and very few things left to do. Damn! I just remember that I didn't do the vendor pickup stuff. Grr. Oh well, I'm learning right?

Things with the Hunk still aren't so good. We're at a point where I'm sure most people who don't know what's going on, well, wouldn't know anything was going on. Our masks are really well crafted. At least I'd like to think so... we get along on the surface and even have days where it almost feels normal again. Then something will remind me and...the rage inside consumes me and I'm upset all over again. We are co-existing as room mates I guess.

I wrote an email to a friend, and although I can't disclose all of what I said, there are parts that best describes how I feel about things right now:

"I wouldn’t get out of bed if I had the choice. I hate having to go to work but it is the only income we have and I have to do it. I hate having to leave my kids with the Hunk because I can’t trust him. I’m driving to work now so that he won’t have a car but really… what does that do? .... I feel like the world’s biggest fool. I don’t even know what my husband is doing while I’m out of the house.

It’s hard being at work too. I hear my co-workers talking about their amazing husbands and I’m angry because I used to feel like I had one too. Maybe that is why this is all happening. I had such pride in the easy marriage that I had. Sure, we had problems but the Hunk was like a golden boy compared to others. He worked hard so I could stay home, he put up with my shit (which you know is no easy thing!) and he’s always been kind to me and never treated me badly. I’m just so angry and bitter that I don’t have the husband I used to have. That I don’t have the marriage I used to have and that I can’t call my husband wonderful or amazing or the world’s greatest. I know I shouldn’t feel this way but… I do.. ugh.

It’s taken me a long time to write this email because it’s been hard to admit it all to myself, just how upsetting my life has gotten. I mean, life could be worse. I know it could and I’m thankful that I have a home, and that my boys are healthy and that I have a job. That’s not really what I’m talking about but the emotional health of my family… it’s just gone. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust the Hunk again. I don’t know if I’ll even have a 10 year anniversary and I tear up (like now) every time I think about that. I’ve been in love with this man for more than a decade… it’s not that I can’t start over it’s that I don’t want to. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough to give someone else and I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough to give to him again.

For the first time… I can’t see the future. I don’t know if we’re going to be married next year, or the year after that. I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. I used to have such a clear vision of my life. It’s scary and heartbreaking. I used to wonder about the married friends we had, and when they divorced, how did they get to that point? You don’t go into marriage thinking that you will eventually get divorced. You don’t go into a marriage already hating someone enough to divorce them. You are in love and you can see yourself living and being with that person forever. So when does it happen? When do you cross that line that says, “I can’t be with you.” Or “I hate you” or “I don’t want to be married to you anymore”..? I’m in that very position right now and I still can’t tell you how it happens. I don’t know if anyone knows the answer because I don’t think anyone realizes they’ve gotten to that place until they are boom! there. You are kind of left with a “What happened?” sort of feeling.

God, my heart is so broken.

Well I didn't think I would disclose all of that, but I believe in being as truthful as I can on my journal when I decide to actually post. Alright, it's time to get ready for work. Sorry to end on such a downer!

New Face

We have a new member to our family. We rescued a 1 year old Lhasa Apso from the shelter and brought him home to be our very own. His name is Cujo, because obviously he just looks so ferocious with his teddy bear good looks.

He's housebroken (score!) and he's great with the kids. He's really, really sweet and he only barks a little bit at night when he hears the people upstairs making racket. He's not a very yappy dog at all and he's so so soft. I adore him. He's mama's boy and follows me everywhere. He loves the family but I'm his person. He even wants to lay on the bathroom floor when I shower.

Things are going... well. Yeah. I'm still working and I'm going to be training to work at the Guest Service desk and to work in the photo lab. I'm pretty excited about that. Umm, it's November so... birthday looming ahead. The big three-one. I accept cash and yarn and any knitting/crochet accessories. I've been working a little bit on my knitting. I have a blistery type of eczema on my middle finger of my right hand that makes crochet and knitting almost impossible. I try to do a little bit between the painful stages. It's made all my xmas gifts late. Speaking of knitting though, I've started on my first pattern with knitting. It's more than just knit/purl entire rows so I'm excited about being able to read a knitting pattern. Here it is:

Well, I'm exhausted. I worked 9 hours today and I'm probably going to be working a 10 hour shift tomorrow too. Talk to you gang soon, I hope!

Losing sporadic internet

I'm losing my source of sporadic internet, so I'll be even more... sporadic. You can still email me at jenndome@gmail.com or leave me comments. When I'm able to go to my MIL's house, I can log on.

On the job front, the Hunk was offered a job as a reverse logistics specialist. It's a fancy way of saying he'll be a receiver. He'll be making a dollar more than me (which btw, I got a $00.50 raise!) and if he goes in before 6 a.m. he'll be making 2 dollars more than me. He's one step under a team leader (I'm only a team member) and after 90 days he can start applying for team leader positions that pay way more. There's just one snag in the whole deal so keep your fingers crossed that the snag, well, isn't one. He desperately needs this job.

For those of you who have left me comments, I love you! Janeen, Happy early Birthday to your little bunny. Portia, did you know that the author of P.S. I Love You was 19 when she wrote it?? That just boggles the mind that she could have such insight into grief that deep. It is a tear jerker for sure! I knew she was the daughter of an Irish Prime Minister. As for Gerry's accent, I can totally believe it is exaggerated. People in the States I think expect to hear a thick accent. And for those of you whom I will be writing snail mail to, (you know who you are) bear with me.

Ok gang, I'm out of here. *hugs*

I miss my peeps

Ok so, I know it's been a while since I've updated but you know the spiel. I'm working 40 hours a week now and even have had to go home early a few days this last week because I was so over on hours that I would have gone into overtime. This is a good thing though that I'm working 40. It does, however, make me have absolutely no life outside of cashiering. I'm still reading but it is taking me SO much longer to get through as book. I'm reading the same Immortal Highlander for the last almost 2 months. I know, poor me right? No time to read, boohoo. It isn't just reading, it's crocheting and knitting too. However, even if I did have time for those, I have a very nasty case of Pompholyx (a blistery type of eczema) on my middle finger on my right hand and it has put an absolute grinding halt on any of that. I'm very upset about this because I had planned to make gifts for Christmas. I have 2 of them already in the works and they will never be finished by Christmas now. For once, I wanted to go to my SIL's on Xmas day and have gifts for everyone. I'm trying not to be bitter. Time being eaten up by working, I can deal with. It's money and we need money right now. Time taken away for this rare type of eczema (only accounts for about 5% of all eczema cases and can be brought on by stress) just isn't cool.

The Hunk has applied for a job at T@rget as well and the top guy in the store ended up interviewing him and told him he has plans or him in a better position than stocker (which he applied for). I just hope that past mistakes don't come to bite him (and us) in the ass and take away this really good opportunity. I haven't decided if I'm going to put the Wee One in daycare (it is so fucking expensive, Christ!) or if I'm going to quit working once we know that he'll be making more money than I am. I just don't know what to do. I want to be at home. I don't want to quit my job. I want to know that no matter what happens between the hunk and I, I can still provide at least something. At the same time, I don't want to be a paycheck for the daycare when I hardly get to see my kids as it is. So, to do I keep my somewhat (but not hardly enough) financial independence from the Hunk at the sacrifice of not seeing my kids or feeling that I'm raising them and being no better off financially despite two incomes? Or do I quit in order to be at home with them at the risk of losing the first thing in 9 years that has given me any sort of accomplishment that was mine and mine alone? I don't know.

On another topic, but not really… people with cell phones in the check line… Please.hang.up. I'm trying to ring up your purchases as quickly and efficiently as possible and sometimes I have to ask you questions. I was taught you don't interrupt people on the phone and I really hate when I have to do it. The customers behind you hate when you aren't paying attention and by default hate me for not making you get off your phone. I had one customer that I had to tell her total to 3 times before she said, "Oh! Ok." And then went on to apologize to the PERSON ON THE PHONE for being interrupted. As for the people who hang up as soon as it is their turn in line… I LOVE YOU.

Ok, a different topic for real this time. Many (or not any) of you know that I was the maid-of-honor in a wedding in Las Vegas at the end of last month. I was there for 3 days and got 3.5 hours of sleep (and that was all at once) while I was there. The wedding was really pretty and everything went perfect. I wish I could have had my hair and make-up done for my own wedding because it is amazing how pretty you feel. I'm throwing up some pictures, in no particular order… (and if you are reading this and there are no pictures, it is because I'm publishing my entry in MS Office and I haven't gotten to blogger yet to imbed the pics). Oh and I didn't crop any to make them perfect, but I'm sure ya'll don't care. Hee!

This is getting ready time! We were woken up at 7:00 a.m. because there were so many people to fix up before the wedding (6 of us in total) that it was rise and shine after 3.5 hours of sleep. I look pretty good!


This is the bride, Mona, helping me with my necklace. I had gotten my nails done the day before and I couldn't clasp a necklace to for anything. She was having the same problem!


Finally we're helping the bride get ready! The other girl in the picture is Mona's cousin and bridesmaid.


Here we are again helping with the bride's dress while she suspiciously looks like she's hamming it for the camera with her 'adorable bride' pose.


This picture was totally set up. She'd had her make up done already but her cousin wanted us to pose. Hehe, you can't tell but the eye liner lid is still on!


Just one of me, but that's probably pretty obvious.


Me. Again. My impression of the ghostly maid-of-honor. Nice how the flash just whitens ya up a bit. Or a lot.


All the girls dressed up and ready to go! Me, Mona and Kristen.


Full shot of us. Her dress was just too pretty for words and the pictures don't do it any justice at all. We were also very impressed that all three of us live in 3 different states and only through description did we try to match up the bridesmaid and my dress. No one had seen the other's dress! I think we did a pretty good job , don't you?


Just me and the bride. We've come a long way Whispers!


We're on our way to the wedding chapel and had to walk through the casino/lobby of the hotel (The Stratosphere) that we were staying at. I have to admit, I'm liking my cleavage in this pic.


We got to take a limo to the chapel. It was off the strip but very, very pretty. I forget what it was called now though.

Finally we made it down the aisle! The ceremony was broadcast on the internet but I never did find out the url in time to post it for ya'll.


The bridal party. I can' t remember everyone's name but the best man, who I met only 10 seconds (no I'm not exaggerating) before the ceremony was the groom's uncle. I think his usher was a family friend.

The bride and her girls.

I just love this picture of Mona. For those of you who don't know (all of you but Mona) she is only 4'10 (and a half, she adds). She looked like a little bride doll. :)

This was at the reception. It was an Italian restaurant called Sergio's. It didn't look like anything from the outside but inside it was beautiful and o.m.g. the food was absolutely scrumptious. I really, reaaaaaly enjoyed the reception. Hehe!

Brian, Mona, and myself posing for a picture (and waiting for food!)

I look very attentive to the conversation don't I?


I'm definitely not as bored as I look. This little ol' lady was the Bride's honorary Grandma. She was such a riot. She'd talk your ear off but she had very entertaining stories.


I don't think there was any danger of the groom planting a kiss on me so I don't know why I was leaning so far back....


It's inevitable. If you are eating and there is a camera within 50 yards, you're going to get a picture of me with my mouth full.


Brian and Ramona Jensen
August 26, 2007

Hello my lovelies…

Do you know what my favorite part of my days off are? No, it's not that actual day off, although nice… it's the night before my day off. When I get home from working 8 hours knowing that my entire day is behind me, that I got paid for it, that I made it through and that I don't have to go back to work the next day. The night before a day off is when I can really relax and not think about work looming in the not-so-distant- future. I can stay up late if I want to… it is filled with endless possibilities. Well, providing I get home at a decent hour and I'm not working a closing shift the night before my day off.

Speaking of days off, it sucks to have a cold and feel like crap when 2 days in a row roll around. I guess though, in the long run, I'm glad that if I'm going to be sick, I'd rather do it on my days off than to work when I feel crappy or even worse, to call in.

Nothing much has been going on here other than I'm working about 40 hours a week, which is good because we SO need the money. The Hunk has applied at my work as well and they might hire him on as seasonal help but it's still a good way to get his foot in the door, you know? We'll see how it goes. There are circumstances that could jeopardize his chances so… we'll see. If he could get hired on as overnight help though, it'd be perfect that our hours would work out so that we wouldn't need daycare (which we can't afford) because one of us would always be home.

In other news, I've finished the Outlander series (the books that are currently out) and I must say that this series…. God. I don't know. It might surpass A Song Of Ice And Fire as my favorite book series. They are both written so differently though that I really can't say, all I know is that I have never mourned finishing a series as much as I'm mourning this one. Normally, when I read a series of books and I come to the end of the latest release, I'm of course eager to read the next and sad that the storyline, at least for a time is suspended. I have SO many other books and series to start reading though, that it's never really been an issue beyond that. I've always been eager to start reading new books, having them already outlined of what I'd start next even before I finished the last book of the current series I'm reading. This book series though… I couldn't bring myself to start reading for a few days. Seriously unlike me! The characters feel like very close friends, family even, and the beauty (and sometimes aggravating) style that Gabaldon writes in, you really DO feel that you've traveled a million miles and many years with these people. After each book, I'd always have to take a little break just because I felt so weary and aged by the time I got finished. It was great!

To say that this series is a time travel genre book is just too simple. It's everything. There has been no greater hero written, in my opinion, than Jamie Fraser. He's every woman's dream in a very, very real sort of way. I love that he's sensitive, strong, and honorable and undoubtedly flawed (much having to do with said honor). I don't think that there's any other book character that I love so much as to even excuse the fact that he gave his wife a good 'thrashing' with a belt and I still forgave him. Diana Gabaldon has written not only a romance novel but she's re-written the whole concept of book romance in my opinion. She's taken the formulaic way of "boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy and girl give into lust, boy and girl live happily ever after" and has actually written a story about the marriage. About how two people can meet and be thrown together, fall in love and overcome tremendous obstacles while actually growing, and moving beyond the 'infatuation' of each other into a deep and comforting love that still sizzles.

I'm sure that the experience of her own successful marriage gives truth and some commonality to Claire and Jamie's marriage that we all share. I remember reading a part where Claire, for whatever reason, was awake at night while Jamie was sleeping soundly. She knew the distinct way he breathed when sleeping and laid there listening until he rolled over and farted in his sleep. Real romantic huh? Hehe, no but it is very true for anyone who's slept next to a man long enough.

For the most part, once I read a book, I don't find as much enjoyment in re-reading it. In fact, I don't think I've ever been able to read a book all the way through twice. When I know what happens, I know what happens. Outlander though seriously has me wanting to read it again. I miss the characters. I think about them a lot. I hear their voices going on in my head (no, not in the crazy way… I don't think…) and I just plain miss them. I miss the way that Jamie shows his love to Claire, his words, his actions. I miss Roger and his struggles to feel adequate as a man, husband and father. I miss Brianna and her growth as a woman and feeling a bond with her through motherhood and all the emotions and feelings it brings with it. I miss the humor, like when Claire tried to explain 'sperm' to Jamie and showed him what they looked like in the microscope (to this he clutched his crotch protectively) and all the underlying story plots that are still going on.

I know there are some people who have stopped reading the series because they grow tired of Claire and Jamie never getting that 'happily ever after'. I don't see it that way. They had to overcome 2 centuries worth of being apart and I think that no matter what comes their way, they are together. They are living the Happily Ever After, it's just not all roses. I personally like seeing them overcome their trials because Gabaldon has a way of writing that doesn't make you feel like, *groan* "How much more can these people take? This is depressing." Well maybe it was depressing at times but that only made the sweet times all the sweeter.

Anyway, for those of you who like really in depth books about more than just 'time travel' (which honestly is a secondary plot device, secondary to the characters) and more than just a 'romance' novel, but like characters that you laugh and cry with, mystery, murder, war, family, and people that you fall in love with, I highly suggest this series. Highly. It's just that good.

Book 7 is in the works, but it takes her 3+ years to write a book between research, writing, and the travel that her publishers put her through. So far, she's got the first line so… it looks like I might be waiting a while to find out what Claire and Jamie are up to next. Trust me, I simply can't wait.

To bide my time though, I've picked up The Pride of Lions by Marsha Canham. It's a historical romance set in Jacobite Scotland during the Rising. This is also a time period that the first Outlander book took place so it's kind of cool to see another writers take on it. I'm also finishing the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning. They are excellent romance books for those looking for light, romantic with some sizzle. I won't go as far as to say they are 'fluff', but after reading Diana Gabaldon… they kinda are, but still very, very good. I still have the "Dark" series (Carpathian Vampires) by Christine Feehan to start and also another vampire series called The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward. Ever since starting Sherrilyn Kenyon books, I have a new thing for vampires. As long as they are well written and not 'cookie cutter' vamps, I'm happy. I also have the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton to start on but I don't have all the books in the series yet, and I hate, hate starting a series that I can't read through. It isn't vampires but a story of a Fairy princess who's a private investigator. Yeah… I'm not too sure about this series either, but I hear it is good and I love/hate the Anita Blake series by the same author, so we'll see. I have about 60 other books to read too so I'm sure that I won't be at a loss for anything to read before the next Outlander book. Still though, I know that when it comes out, I'm going to drop whatever I'm reading for that one. J

Ok, I'm hungry so heading out. Later taters!

Because I adore this man...

... and I can't flippin' wait until this movie comes out:




Read the book. It's amazing. Word of advice if you do, keep the tissues close and well stocked.

A breather

Well people, I have internet, intermittently. I thought I'd take advantage of the fact that I have it this moment and say a big THANK YOU for all of you who have left me messages though this hard time. You just have NO clue how much it meant to me to see that. Especially you lurkers! Hi!

Without going into too much detail, the issues I'm dealing with right now are the Hunk now has legal issues and our financial situation is just...well I can't really say financial because wouldn't that sort of mean you had finances?

Target is being good to me. I have to say that. Real good. Maybe not huge money but I'm definitely getting pretty good hours in the average of 'Full-time'. I believe I have to be there 6 months to qualify for full time status to receive benefits, but even still, if I'm not full time by then (hopefully the Hunk will have worked his issues out and be working), I'll still qualify for part-time benefits. I'm not sure how good they are but anything is better than nothing.

I've just had 2 days in a row off (again, Target is so good to me!) and I spent almost every minute of it at social services. We applied for whatever benefits we might qualify for. No shame in asking for help right? Well, I did feel shame. Not in the asking but in the needing. Sitting there I just felt like I was betrayed and robbed of the life I had thought I was building, thought I was living, all over again. We qualified for food stamps and the boys qualified for medical but because I have a job I didn't qualify for cash assistance to help make ends meet. I was told it was for people that have no income. Same with medical coverage. So basically because I do have a job and I am trying to make ends meet, I don't get the last bit of added help. Isn't that sending me the message that I'd be better to just quit? Then I can get money AND medical? Ugh. I know there are people that try and abuse the system. I also know that there are people that absolutely have no job and are in super need of the help. I just hated feeling like I was being punished for at least trying to provide for my family. Blah, I don't want to think about it because in some aspects I feel like I'm a snob, and in others... I really hated being there with some of the stereotypes that fit the 'welfare' bill that I saw. I don't know. Anyway...

Speaking of work, it's going well. I don't like the going to work. It's hard to get up and go, knowing you have a full day ahead of you. That you aren't going to be able to come home for another 7-8 hours or more if you're on a closing shift. Once I'm there though, about the time I get my lunch, I'm glad I came. I feel like I can count that day productive, and know that I'm going to get paid for that day. Pay is good. For the most part the customers are nice. Not everyone I get through my lane take forever. I actually have conversations with some, of kids, school, stuff from the past ect.

This week I even prevented the store from loosing $508 (and change) in merchandise. The customer was trying to pawn off a fake check. Ha! Not in my lane bitch. I'm on to you. When your check has perforations on all four sides, as if it was ripped out of a sheet of cheeks... you so are caught. When your check number in the right hand corner is in a big font that matches none of the other fonts/sizes on the check... that's a clue. When you have just 1 check and do not rip it out of a check book, you look suspicious (even though some men, especially older gentleman usually just have a folded check their wives give them).

When you are trying to buy 2 cell phones that use pre-paid minutes, and 2 phone cards with HUGE amounts of minutes on them, and a ton of baby clothes, clothes, and 5 pairs of shoes, not to mention that you grabbed a pair of pants that say "skinny" and you so aren't (even though she decided to put those back before I was done ringing her up), you look really suspicous.

Needless to say, I called my supervisor over for "authorization due to such a high amount" and told him of my suspicions (quietly with my back turned, cause... I'm intimidated by 2 black women and a black man trying to use fake checks, no offense law abiding black people... but angry black women scare me..)

Anyway, my supervisor, who shall be called "ACS" (awesome, cool supervisor who I like to work with) told her that he'd need further identification and authorization and called "Chuck Logan" (our super sneaky way of calling security). She just got angry, told us to put the money back on her account and she'd pay with a credit card. We fixed the transaction and then she stalked off saying she didn't want the merchandise anymore. Uh huh. Yeah. She didn't have the money and she knew it. Security nabbed her picture from the security video and sent it out to all the Targets. :)

Either way, I got a card up on the Team member recognition board! Wee for me! That's the second fake check I've caught. The first was for 40 dollars on my second day and I just didn't trust myself enough and that woman left with the merchandise. Grr. I know better now though.

I even got to use a walky-talky today. Score! Oh, and I was covering one last break before I left today, and I had some old fart who was tweaking out of his mind (he could not stay still at all..) try to quick change scam me. I was on to him too. He got mad and stormed off after telling me I didn't know how to do my job. Heh. Yessss I dooo!

Wow, work sounds so much more interesting than what it really is.

We have some high school students working for us, and it's weird because they (the 2 I talk to) are pretty and popular (one is on Drill Team) and they so would not have given me a first look in HS, let alone a second and now they are all like happy to see me and they come and talk to me on my lane before/after their shift and call me sweetie and stuff and say how awesome I am. Weird. It only took, what 12... 13 years to become cool? Heh. Better late than never.

Ok, I'm heading off because my feet are tired. No, I don't type with my feet... I know there's no connection but it's the sad truth. My toes are begging for a lotion massage. Who am I to argue?

Update

Well, here's an update but it isn't going to be much of one. I'm working. That's pretty much it. That's all I do. I get up, go to work, come home and cry with feet pain, go to sleep and do it all over again.

I like my job. If it wasn't for the whole my feet want to run off without my body because of the abuse that I put them through with standing so long, it'd be great! Talking to people is great and for the most part I've not gotten anyone really nasty coming through my check-out.

I do have several bits of advice, but probably not enough time to go into them all, but I'll try.

1. Please, for the love of God, hang up your cell phones and pay attention. I'm sure that whoever is on the other line won't mind if you call back. I'm sure that you are not so important that you absolutely need to be on the phone for the 5 minutes it takes to purchase your selections. You can find your debit card, money, checkbook, change and anything else you need much faster if you aren't on the phone. The people behind you will appreciate this as well.

2. Please have your money ready. I know you don't know the total but you can at least have your wallet out of your purse. You honestly don't need to put alllll your bags in the basket before you take out your money. They will be there when you are done, really.

3. If you know you are going to pay cash, please don't hand me the crumpled, damp bills from your pocket and leave them to me to uncrumple them. I don't really like touching damp, crumpled money. It's just polite to flatten out your money and it helps me save time in getting you your change and/or receipt.

4. Is the ONE penny you are looking for to keep from getting pennies in your return change REALLY that important that you have to dig and dig and dig around in your pocket or purse? Put your pennies in a container at home if you don't want to carry them around in your purse/pocket. It will save you money (in the money jar at home) and both of us time.

5. Keep in mind that while your cashier may have a smile on her face, her world might be falling apart around her and it is everything in her power to keep that sucker plastered on where all can see. Don't tell her, "You really aught to smile more in your profession."

This public service announcement has been brought to you by the letters B and Z and the number 27.

(PS- I miss you guys.)

My life fell apart

I'm writing to let you know I have no internet, no phone, no cable tv (or any other kind of tv that doesn't include the dvd's I already own) and I have no money.

I possibly might be adding a husband on to that "I don't have" list.

The proverbial rug has been ripped out from under me and my entire family. It's bad. Very bad. Financially ruining, emotionally bankrupting and just... ugh, I can't think of any more things bad enough to say.

You think that you know someone and then you realize that the life you've had for the last year has been nothing but a series of lies, that become painfully aware in a single moment. I should have seen the signs, and I guess I didn't but I didn't want to keep seeing them. Acknowleding the unthinkable would have required me to change my life. I didn't want to change. I wanted to be the way everything was....blissfully ignorant, despite the fact that I was very unhappy. It's easier to be unhappy and unaware than devastated and in full disclosure.

I wish I could go into detail. Believe me, I have no problem dragging my husband through the mud right now but I don't know if his family reads my journal and I know that my own family does. They know what's going on but they still have hope for things. I don't know if I do. I think I do. I said I do but deep down...there's a knife that wants to embed itself very deep into his heart. Then we can be twins.

Pray for me and the boys if you believe in that sort of thing. I don't think I have the strength to do it for myself right now.

(P.S. - After 9 years, I'm now a working Mom. You're looking at the newest team member to the Target family. Can I help you find something?)

Impromptu Bookclub

My friend Amy and I have created our own little book club. Since we both have a love of books that are extremely similar (if not the same in most cases), we've traded reading suggestions for the last few years. Needless to say, she's opened me up to a lot more worlds such as the A Song Of Ice And Fire saga by George R. R. Martin, The Black Jewels Trilogy as well as the prequel and an anthology and the Tir Alainn Trilogy and the Ephemera duology, Sebastian and Belladonna by Anne Bishop. I've also read The Dragon Prince trilogy by Melanie Rawn and the Sovereign Stone trilogy by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman.

I've introduced her into the world of Jamie and Claire Fraser in the time-travel, historical romance series Outlander. It was sort of a mutual agreement to start reading the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon (I suggested it months before she realized what the books might be after another friend suggested) and subsequent series books by Sherri's pseudonym, Kinley MacGregor. I've pretty much opened her up to the 'romance' genre period. Paranormal, time-travel or historical.

With all the books that I want to read and that she wants to read, and with lack of funds between both houses, lately it has gotten to the point where it has gotten harder for us to talk about books. We each like the same stuff but outside of the series that we've already mutually read together, we don't have a lot of books in common anymore. I want to tell her about my books and she wants to tell me about hers but without really reading them and knowing the characters, scenes or sayings that may seem humorous for one tend to be a little lost to the other of us. Examples of this would be my love for Anita Blake books (and subsequent current love of all things vampire) and her love for a historical romance duology by Marsha Canham.

So, after much... deliberation... we decided that we were going to start reading the series we both seemed interested in, together. We've picked The Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning as our guinea pig series. We break down the book, set up days in which to have our 'reading assignment' done, and then discuss what we have read so far. What you might not know about me is that I absolutely abhor spoilers. Now, you might consider spoilers as telling the 'whodunit' of the book but for me, *anything* mentioned about the book is a spoiler. I don't even read the backs of books too much anymore to prevent myself from knowing anything. I like to be completely surprised. This irritating quality of mine is pretty much the catalyst for our book club. I don't allow Amy to tell me anything about a book that I might want to read. I know it is frustrating for her not to be able to talk and share stuff about books we're both reading, (or that she's finished before me)because I just plain don't want to know. I like to be surprised. Our book club allows us to read at our own speeds but to ensure that neither gets ahead of the other and both can talk about what we think about what's going on with story, characters, plot ect.

So, with the Highlander series we have broken it down to reading chapters 1-11, 12-23, 24-end. We've gotten through 2 books already and starting a third in less than 2 weeks and it's working out GREAT. We both can discuss the books and there's no gnashing of frustrated Amy teeth at worrying about what to say and what not to say to spoil anything. It's a literary marriage made in heaven. Not to mention the books are pretty damn good. Who can't love sexy, sensuous, warrior Scots? A stronger woman than I, perhaps.

In our 'downtime' (when we've reached our stopping point with the book) we're free to read other books that we enjoy that aren't necessarily ones we mean to share or to catch up on books that the other has read. For example, when I reach my stopping point, I turn to "A Breath Of Snow And Ashes" by Diana Gabaldon which Amy has read, and she turns to the books in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole which I've already read. It works. I hope that after the Highlander Series, we'll be able to continue the bookclub with other series we've both showed an interest in reading, such as The Hallows series by Kim Harrison and the Wyndham Werewolves series by MaryJanice Davidson.

Ok, speaking of sexy Scots, I'm very disappointed to know that Lionsgate doesn't plan on distributing Gerry's movie "Shattered" nationwide. It opens in Miami tomorrow but plans for it to be showing elsewhere are yet to be announced, if at all. If you are interested, the trailer to the movie is really good. Click the link, show support for Gerry, and maybe with enough hits to the site, Lionsgate will realize that this is a good movie to promote and distribute. (Go see the trailer! Go now! Go!)

Ok this entry is longer than I anticipated so I will close for now. Up next... When good yarn goes bad...

Off The Hook

The round baby blanket is finally, after several months, off the hook and finished! Ok so I didn't work on it continuously all those months but still, I'm glad to be finally done with it. I think it came out really well. Not perfect but you can't really tell. It ripples a bit but I'm hoping that washing it will help take some of that out. By the last round, I was crocheting 650+ stitches. Yikes! Needless to say, I was getting really bored with it as there was barely any variation once the center was finished. (You'll also have to forgive my naked mattress, I had just stripped it to wash sheets and it was the only place big enough to lay the blanket out!)

12 Point Star Baby Blanket
Yarn: Baby Soft
Color: Kid Print
Hook Size: H
Size: 38 1/4" from point to point
Pattern: I will post as soon as I can find it again...



This is a gift for my nephew-in-law and his girlfriend (they might be married by now though..) as they are expecting their first.

I guess I better get some new baby yarn because my youngest sister is now expecting baby #3. I just found out. Hopefully her streak of having a girl will continue and I can put some of those baby dresses I made to some good use.

Someone just shoot me…

I've caught the bug that the boys had. I have spent the last 24 hour with my head either in the toilet or hanging off the side of my bed into a small trashcan. What sucks worse? I'm on my period.

Aren't you just sooo glad that you came to check my blog today? Ugh. I'm going back to bed. This is the first time I've gotten up and gone somewhere else other than the bathroom. Oh, and you know what is even more spiffy? The Hunk is sick now too. Poor guy. I hate when sickness makes the rounds.

Don’t read if you’re squeamish… or eating.

Earlier this week (Wednesday) the boys went over to Aunti Fun's house. (She's not a blood relation but their Aunti all the same) They played in the sprinker, kiddie water pool and ran around the backyard endlessly having tons and tons of fun. The Wee One received his first (and I hope last) bee sting on his finger. You will all be happy to know that he is not allergic and once the pain went away he proudly showed off his newest war wound. Apparently the bee landed on his leg and he went to grab it off when he got stung.

Last night, the Kidlet came to me in my bedroom where I was reading and the Hunk was laying next to me staring at the ceiling (sometimes he just likes to be close), and said that he didn't feel well. That his stomach hurt and he felt like he was going to throw up. We told him to go lay down and that if he had to throw up to run to the bathroom. He fell asleep for a little while, woke up and promptly threw up within the first 10 minutes.

I was up with him all night until 6 a.m. He cried because he was so tired and couldn't fall asleep. He kept tossing his cookies until all cookies were gone. He wasn't even holding down water. He started getting feverish around 5 a.m. I ended up putting him on the couch and turned on the dolphin novelty light (looks like electricity inside) on and let him stare at it to hopefully relax him enough for sleep. At 6, he had an accident with the runs and after cleaning that up I just couldn't stay awake anymore and woke up the Hunk for the morning shift. Around 10:30 a.m. the Hunk wakes me up and asks me if we have a thermometer because the Wee One was now feverish and throwing up. He had asked Daddy to put a Scooby-Doo band aid on his mouth because he didn't feel well.

I found the thermometer and took the Kidlet's temp. @ 100.0 and the Wee One refused to allow me to take his temperature. I gave the Kidlet some fever reducer and he's fallen asleep, thank goodness, for the last near 2 hours. I'm sure he's just exhausted from being up all night throwing up and dry-heaving. The Wee One is acting ok. He did start to fuss and whimper and ask me for a band aid for his mouth so I thought he was going to throw up and took him to the bathroom but he just had the runs.

I just hope that the rest of us don't get sick. I hate being sick. I hate throwing up. I hope that this bug doesn't last that long either… sick kids are heartbreaking.

The Bastard Bird

... was mighty tasty!



So yeah, I know that most people only eat turkey at Thanksgiving, but we're unconventional people here. We had turkey and stuffing with creamy mashed potatoes and all the trimmings since we didn't have the opportunity to do it on Thanksgiving. I'm sure that we'll be bbq'ing in Dec. to celebrate July 4th.

We're mean free-thinkers you know.

I never was a clever one

Well no one can accuse me of being a genius. You need proof? Well current outdoor conditions are 93 degrees. Indoor conditions are around 77-78 degrees with the a/c set at around 73-74. Our a/c is in need of a little Freon that we are waiting on from the maintenance staff. So, how is this relevant?

I decided today would be a perfect day to roast a 20 lb. turkey in my oven. Go on, say it. I know you're thinking it.

WTF?!

Yeah, that'd be my thought too. However, about 4-5 days ago Himself came home with a 20 lb. turkey that he said he got on sale for 10 dollars. I'm assuming this is a really good price as I'm not familiar with the going rate of traditional Thanksgiving poultry, but 20 pounds of meat for 10 bucks seems like a real deal to me. I don't know if you know but, I've never actually *cooked* a turkey in my life. I've baked pre-cooked turkeys (turkies? turkey's?) and felt the swell of pride and accomplishment when they pop out of the oven all nice and golden brown. I never actually needed cold, puckered turkey skin complete with giblet sac and neck yanking to make me feel like I'd 'cooked' the bird. I was a-ok without all that.

So when the manthing brought home this turkey, I was a little intimidated. For about a second. How hard can it be to cook a turkey? I let it defrost in the fridge and took it out and looked over the packaging. It had directions! And it even has a 'ready button' that pops up when the turkey is done. I could totally do this! I followed the preparation steps to the letter until we got to the second to the last step.

"Remove neck from the turkey cavity."

I pulled, tugged, pushed, twisted, grunted, growled and cursed and still the neck would not come out. I finally sent for reinforcements and called Himself in to help me. He repeated my approach. Still the neck would not come out of the bird. I wanted to remind the Turkey who I affectionately named, "Bastard Bird" that he was dead and was no longer in need of his neck. In fact, half his neck was already gone and he should just move into the light and let me handle the rest. He wouldn't listen. I guess it is kind of difficult to listen without a head.

So, I finally tried to be creative and I reached up through the other side of the bird and pulled the neck out easy as butter. Himself and I laughed considering that move took a Nano second to complete when we had just spent a good 10 minutes at the other end. Who knew you had to pull a Turkey's neck out through his ass?

Needless to say, the Turkey did make it into the oven, and we are *all* nicely roasting in here. So much for the brains my mama gave me.

Scattergories

I got this from Sarah…

The game is SCATTERGORIES…it's harder than it looks! Here are the rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They MUST be real places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Jennah

1. Famous Singer/Band: Jewel
2. 4 letter word: Java
3. Street: Jenhurst Way
4. Color: no color with J, I even Googled
6. Vehicle: Jaguar
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Junk
8. Boy Name: Jamie
9. Girl Name: Julie
10. Movie Title: Jarhead
11. Drink: Jagermeister
12. Occupation: Janitor
13. Celebrity: Jennifer Lopez
14. Magazine: Jet
15. U.S. City: Juneau, Alaska
16. Pro Sports Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars
17. Reason for Being Late for Work: getting Jiggy?
18. Something You Throw Juice box (empty)
19. Things You Shout: Joy Rapture!
20. Cartoon Character: Jabber Jaws

Just testing MS Word

I'm tying up my entry right now in Microsoft Word 2007. Apparently, I can blog to Blogger directly from this window so I thought I'd give it a whirl. So um, yeah. I love the new MS Office 2007. A friend of the Hunk's …err uh…acquired a copy and made us a copy. It is soooo pretty!

Ok, so… just testing. Let's see if it worked!

**It worked!!

Finally up and running...

I had to do a complete reformat, reinstall of my OS and every single program I had. Needless to say, I hate hate hate having to remember usernames and passwords for websites in which I haven't had to type them in, in a really long time. Ugh.

Bug Bites

Every once in a great while I have problems decided between two things. Crochet or read?

Unfortunately I can't do both and since my iPod is out of comission (*sob*), I can't listen to audio books while I crochet. It seems to me that the need to crochet or read comes in phases. I'll get bit by the crochet bug and start a project and work on it diligently for several days, or until it is completed, providing it only takes those several days. Usually though the fervor of which I started the project wears off, or the monotony of the pattern sets in and after a week, more or less, or the weather is just too hot to want a crochet project all over my lap, I'm looking to move on to other things. Sometimes this is a new crochet project, sometimes it's a book.

When I get hit by a book book, it tends to last longer than the crochet bug. The book isn't repetative (if you're lucky) and keeps you interested far more than counting out stitches to a pattern. It also isn't heavy or hot in your lap (the way afghans or shawls are). Usually books don't cause wrist fatigue unless I'm reading a particularly large and heavy hardback cover like George R. R. Martin's A Song Of Ice And Fire series. Those suckers are BIG.

A reading phase can last anywhere from reading large chunks of a book to reading it cover to cover. It just depends on how willing my boys are to let me have some quiet time to read. I've gotten better at reading in 'non-quiet' times but it is when I'm constantly getting up for something every 30 seconds that tends to really put a damper on book enjoyment. When you have read the same 3 sentences for the last 10 minutes and you still have to read them to grasp what they are saying.... well, that's pretty much my clue that now is not the time to read. Sometimes on occasion the reading bug will hit me long enough to read an entire book and begin another. Usually though, I'm itching to get back to crochet after an entire book if I make it that long.

The dilema, you see, are the times in which both bugs have bitten me. When the night comes and all the house is nice and quiet with the wee people and the Hunk all sound asleep in their beds. (Is it just me or has the urge to start reciting Twas The Night Before Christmas hit you too?) This is the time that is mine. I can watch teevee, I can read, I can crochet, I can play on the computer and do such things like update my blog (see? I'm here.. updating.. for you!). It's like there's so many things I want to do in the solitude of my night when I can enjoy the interruption free zone.

Sometimes one desire is stronger than the other and reading or crochet will win out over the other. Other nights I end up on the computer pattern hunting (free crochet patterns on the net suck so if you have any suggestions that aren't from the Lionbrand site or the freecrochetpatterns.com site, let me know!) and print out future projects I'll eventually some day get to.

Tonight however, I took the opportunity to organize my yarn, finally, into one localized place. Well mostly localized. I still have my crochet thread in a plastic drawer, and my fun fur, 3-1lb. skeins as well as my Caron Simply Soft Quick yarn in the china hutch cupboards and drawers. For the most part though I've gotten everything into the linen closet. I wish I had more shelves so that I wouldn't have to stack yarn. That way I could see all the yarn stacked behind what you see on the middle shelf. Yes, there is yarn behind all that... to the top.


So, as I promised, I'd show you the yarn stash that my SIL got for me. (MIL paid for it but SIL picked it out.)(Sorry some of the pictures came out blurry.)

This is the yarn that I'm using to make the granny square lapghan with. The colors are as rich and vibrant as they look, and they do have that 'shine' to them. As you can see, it is a thick rope-like yarn.


This is Red Heart SuperSaver yarn in some nice autumn, earth tones. No clue what to use it for yet.

Misc. colors and assortments of verigated Red Heart SuperSaver.

SuperSaver solids. I really like the gray and was thinking of making a granny square motif style afghan with the blue, but I still haven't decided yet.

Misc. Red Heart SuperSaver sport weight yarn and Caron's Simply Soft in purple (not blue as the picture shows)and a pastel-based verigated yarn.

Bernat Softee Chunky in various colors and Caron's Simply Soft Tweed in purple.

Lionbrand Microspun. This is the really splitty but really soft yarn. I love it. I'm going to be making a lapghan out of the turquoise (picture makes it more blue), lime, and yellow. I hope that there's enough to make it a decent size. That's the thing about going with a pattern for another type of yarn, you just don't know what you'll end up with in the end.

Here's crochet thread in various sizes (10 and 20) and colors. I love every single color/style she got me.


Misc. stuff! She bought me knitting needles (no, those aren't joke needles!) size 50. They are known around the knitting community as 'speed stix'. She also got me 3 pairs (in 3 sizes) of Red Heart Crystalites knitting needles. I like them because there is more grip than aluminum which are super slippery. She also got me several small books with knitting and crochet stitches and various projects.


Did I not make out like a bandit? Seriously. I think I have enough yarn stashed for another.... few months? Weeks?

*whispers* We can hope....teehee.

The Harlequin

I just finished reading The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton. I believe it is something like book 15 in the series.

So, what is there to say?

Jiminy FUCKING Cricket, RICHARD, can you just not get your shit TOGETHER??!

*cough*

A short synopsis of the book is that Vampires, while in America are seen as legal citizens and have to abide by the laws, there is also Vampiric laws in which they must abide as well. They have a governing council (albeit, it is corrupt and self-serving) and they have The Harlequin. The Harlequin are basically vampire vampire executioners. They are the police of the bloodsuckers if you will.

The Harlequin too have rules and standards they have to abide by. They are to remain completely neutral. In the event that they are "called in" by The Council they communicate only with harlequin masks. Different colored masks mean different messages. White means that you are under observation and if you're lucky... that's the only mask you'll get. Red means punishment (I think, don't quote me) and black *gasp* means death.

So our heroine and her many heros are served up a white mask by the Harlequin. They spend the length of the book trying to find out just exactly what they are being observed for. There are a few sub-plots dealing with Anita and her need for metaphysical food, one of her boyfriend's being more assertive and asking to be dominated in the bedroom (isn't that a contradiction?) and Richard. Always with the Richard and his anger, jealousy, self-doubt and most of all self-loathing.

Ok so now... I'm reading this book and the beginning is off to a really good start. Nathaniel seems so much more grown up and confident and surer of himself. Enough that he asks Anita to satisfy his needs in the bedroom. Too bad for Anita that he likes to be dominated because that is just so not her thing. I was proud of him that he was of the mind that he really wouldn't allow himself to live with a relationship that wasn't meeting his needs when he was doing everything for her. Personally, I don't know what I'd do if my squeeze told me to abuse him or he'd want to find someone that does but, hey... gold star for Nathaniel that he no longer is the doormat he's been in previous books. A doormat that I'm sad to say Anita has used readily.

Richard had such promise... such... hope... such light.... I, like a lot of Anita fans, had a hard time deciding who we would like to see Anita with more. Jean-Claude, the sexy Machivellian vampire or the warm, optimistic, gorgeous jr. high science teacher Richard who just happens to be an alpha male werewolf. The love triangle tension was amazing. All indicators pointed to Richard. He was honorable, sweet, understanding and most of all he didn't manipulate Anita into dating him like JC did.

Those, I'm afraid to say, were the good ol' days. Things started going down hill when Anita realized that he was too idealistic for his own good. In the pack society, it is all well and fine if you don't want to kill but this isn't the boyscouts. Their ways are often bathed in blood. Richard was second in command of the pack and the only way he could become Ulfric (wolf king) was to kill the current Ulfric, Marcus. He basically was too boyscout to do it. Anita pushed and pushed, fearing that his boyscout was were going to get him killed (and they would have) so when he finally did kill Marcus, Anita was there to witness. She saw him basically change into a half wolf, half man deal and eat Marcus after he killed him (which was their custome for all pack members to eat the fallen and take him back into the 'flesh' of the pack sort of thing).

Scared and discomforted and, well, creeped the hell out by Richard eating Marcus and then changing shape on top of her, Anita ran into the arms (and huge bubble bath) of JC where they finally had sex. That's when it all went downhill. Of course Richard was hurt, furious and knew that Anita could never accept his beast because he couldn't. He saw himself as a moster and her actions only proved that he was.

He never recovered. His anger only grew more, his jealousy only grew more and sadly his self-loathing of his beast only grew more. He's mean and cruel to Anita and in the next moment is heartbreakingly vulnerable. He nearly killed himself by way of passive-aggressive actions in that he just didn't fight back when things were trying to kill him. He also shaved all his beautiful hair off. The boy had it bad... and was in a really bad way.

He finally got a backbone and decided he wanted to live but his anger, his rage at Anita and her seemingly new occupation of needing sex to feed her mystically just put him over the edge. He became even more harsh and ruthless and not at all the warm, outdoor loving Richard that had endeared himself to me.

Each book I think... ok this is the one that they will just somehow manage to find *some* common ground and for like 10 minutes it seems they do but then Richard is reminded that Anita has a growing list of boyfriends now and he gets upset all over again. I guess I can't blame the guy but he knows she's not going to discard Jean-Claude or her other boyfriends (they are all mystically bonded and would take way to long to tell you the logistics of it now).

What seemed to be Anita as the unbending, uncomproming one in the beginning and Richard being the sensative, understanding and flexible one, they have completely swapped places. Richard is just too unbending to fit into her life and she doesn't know how to fix him. She knows she can't and has given up on even trying. He interprets this as her not wanting him anymore.

And through it all, Poor JC seems like the father of 2 dysfunctional children that just can't get along. They are all three bound in a triumvirate and JC is just trying to survive the both of them. If they could just get along, their power could be immesurable with Anita as JC's human servant and Richard his animal to call.

No go. Richard can't deal with reality. I don't know why Laurell K. Hamilton chose to take this route with Richard. I could understand it for a few books but it's been going on since the end of book 6 and we're on book 15. I know that Richard represented the more human aspect of life for Anita... the picket fence dream, watching musicals and eating popcorn on the weekends and now that she seems less and less human their ties hold less and less. But geeze, come on! Give this guy some relief! Either make him accept Anita's world and her life as it is or.... I don't know! I want her to have both Richard and JC. I want their triumvirate to WORK. I want JC to be able to embrace them for what they are, and not to referee the fights. I want JC and Anita to stop feeling like they are the 'evil doers' of their little group and I want Richard to stop being upset.

I really thought this was the book that would do it, that would bring him back into the fold. He tried... he tried really hard at first but once he got mad, that was it. His trying was over and the only thing he could do was be hurtful and caustic.

I do have to say that while Anita had no official police cases to solve or zombie raisings (which I kind of miss from back in the days of the early books before her love life complicated everything) there was much, much less sex in this book and it centered more around plot than feeding the arduer (a metaphysical hunger she has that needs to be fed through sex or bad stuff happens). There was sex (with a wereswan king! and the wererat king!) but other than those two moments, I can't think of any other situation. Unlike Cerulean Sins where it seemed she was having to have sex every few pages. Not that I minded... you know.. for plot purposes... and such.

So in conclusion... well there is no conclusion. They were spared from The Harlequin, people died, and Anita realized that touching Richard no longer has an affect on her. They are no longer dating. Again. But she thinks that this time it might stick because she actually doesn't feel anything. All the other breakups had been very painful.

I don't know what is going to happen the next book exactly, but I'm thinking there still will be no resolution with Richard and his demons. I believe the next book will focus more around Jason. He's a great character so maybe I won't be so dissapointed that things just still aren't working out for Richard.

New Layout... again.

Ok, I still love me some Firefox and I will continue to use it but for some reason, the new layout looks like shite in Firefox. You know what? I don't care. I'm tired of messing with it.

Hush Sarah.

New layout, new sidebar that I could edit. Also, under "Reads" I have lots and lots of links missing because damned if I can remember what all the links I had listed were. I just added them to my blogroll in WordPress. So, if you were in my list of links... and now you aren't... don't take it personally, I just can't remember your url off the top of my head. If you want to be added please leave a comment!

PaperbackSwap

I'm still amazed at this website. I've gotten *so* many books from them. Some have been in brand new condition. Every time I see the "You've saved $$$" I'm still amazed. I know I've spent more on credits than I've had actual requests but I figure everything evens out in the end because I've received hardcover books in pristine condition that I know are worth more than the standard $4.50 average used book price they use to figure such things out. To date, I've saved $643.50 using PBS.

I got a rush of requests in the last 10-14 days. And I do mean a rush! Mainly because I've reposted all my paperback books of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I only have 4 of the 13 books I had posted that remain unrequested. I expect when I remove the hold from my account I was forced to put on (no money to send anymore books), those will be requested too.

I have been a busy girl. Unfortunately, not in the organizing/unpacking area. Basically everything is unpacked to a degree, I'm just sort of out of steam when it comes to organizing it all where it should go. I've run out of places to put my crafty stuff (aka crochet stuff) and just misc. things. I have more room here but for some reaon it seems that room has now been taken up and I've run out of run. I guess maybe I have too much crap. I've thrown a lot of stuff out (before and after the move) but I can't seem to part with much more. I'm definitely going to go part with my crochet or my books (to be fair all the books are put away).

Speaking of Crochet, here are a few things I have "on the hook" or WIPs (works-in-progress). I'm sure I've posted pictures of some older WIPs but since I can't check any of my archives from Jennitude, I have no clue what I've shown you and what I haven't. (It sucks because I can't get the code for my sidebar either and I'm going to have to recode it all, ugh.)

Anyway, here's what I currently have on the hook:
This is a round ripple blanket I'm making for my nephew-in-law and his girlfriend. I'm not sure when she's due or what she's having but the white yarn has a bit of all colors subtly in it so I thought it'd be a good choice.


This is kind of hard to see, but it is a really beautiful shimmery crimson. It is made from size 10 thread, but a very soft thread. I love it! It was going to be a stole/wrap but I'm afraid I'm just not going to have enough thread to make it long enough. I'm still debating on whether or not to frog it (tear it out) and start over or not with something else. The color is too fantastic not to use this thread.

This is a simply granny square lapghan I'm making. The yarn is Caron's Simply Quick and it is a really soft but very thick rope-like yarn. I am using my largest hook size (K) but I really need something bigger as it is crocheting up a little tight. Still though, the blanket is heavy, warm and very soft. I have a few more rows added than what is shown in this picture but as the blanket *is* so heavy and warm, I haven't had much desire to work on it right now in this summer weather.

This is another wrap/stole made with Lionbrand's Microspun. It's a very, very soft yarn albeit a little splitty though. Nothing too hard to work with if you are crocheting (at least so far for me) but with knitting I can see where it might be a pain with it being so splitty. The actual black is dark as pitch but the camera lightened it up and it gives a view to a bit more of the detail even though it's not the greatest picture. I've just started skein 3 out of 6.


This is a round ripple afghan that started out with the best of intentions. I don't know what I did but it steadily lost it's round shape and has become more clam shell/sea shell shaped, which works for me but I'm afraid that the more I continue on it, the less shell shape it will retain. We'll see how it turns out. It was originally going to my mother but I think the boys are going to be getting themselves another couch blanket to watch cartoons under.

This is my first doily. It is made with size 10 thread and size 7 steel crochet hook. in Christmas verigated colors. It has a pinwheel pattern in there but it gets lost in the colors of the thread. It is 50% finished. The Hunk gave me his magnifying glass/lamp and it's been a godsend to work with such a tiny hook when you're first starting out an object. I've started another doily with the same pattern but different color thread that hopefully won't be too busy to see the pattern.


Here's stuff officially off the hook/FOs (finished objects):
Here is some yarn stash that my sister in law got for me. The magenta 'fur' at first intimidated me. It's not necessarily something I would have picked out for myself, and after the fun fur being so hard to crochet with, I was a little bit leery of it. Well, it isn't exactly a walk in the part to crochet with but it feels like rabbits fur. It's sooooo nice and the hook just slid right through the stitches. I made a shawl that I was going to give to my SIL, but she said she wasn't much of a shawl person so I'm keeping it for myself! I don't care that it isn't something I'd pick up for myself, it's surprisingly heavy and with the silky rabbit fur-like feel... I love it.

Here's another shawl I made as a wedding gift. I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn (my favorite yarn that I can afford) in pink. The picture doesn't do it justice as the lighting isn't great. I still have to weave in the ends but that takes 5 minutes.

This is another newborn baby girl dress set. You might remember the blue and yellow one I did. This is the same pattern but a bit different. I'm still debating on putting the flowers on or if I really like it simple, the way it is.


Well I think that's all I have for you guys now. I have several pictures of all the yarn and thread that my SIL bought for me a few days before we moved. Let me just say that my jaw hit the floor. My MIL and SIL have been so generous and supportive of my crocheting.... I'm humbled by it. So, more stash pictures tomorrow (probably...) since I am loving how easy it is to post pictures with blogger. I really did hate having to resize everything, upload it, html it for preview and larger version. Then again, I'm just lazy.

(Oh and I don't like that you can't seem to change the Post title once it's been saved as a draft..)