I’m Beautiful Like Me.

Today was a really nice day. After waking up rather late (1pm-ish) and having breakfast with Husband and Buddha, we packed up, told a sleeping T we were leaving and went out for a bit.

We went by the aforementioned house again, this time stopped and peeked into windows. The neighborhood is still not great, and while the house has major potential, it would require way more work than I am willing to put into it right now. Husband is more in love with it now than he was before. Frankly, I just want a house I can move into, not one that needs that much work before it becomes livable! Turns out the house next to it is also for sale. It’s a bit smaller (still 2200 feet!) for the same price, but it’s clean, painted, has new carpet and is ready to move in. Meh. I’m interested in looking around more. A lot more.

We then drove into the Highlands and hit the Knit Nook. It was textile heaven. I want to break in, throw all the yarn on the floor and roll around in it! I purchased a small bit of yarn, my first skein of wool, a bamboo crochet hook (size F) and my first pair of knitting needles. The skein of wool is for the needles. Tonya (the girl at Knit Nook) suggested a large pair (I got the 10.5) and the wool because it is chunky and only 1 ply. I could spend a large fortune there, but I restrained myself.

Then we went to Heine Bros. for a mocha latte and chilled out front for a long bit. I was sorry for not bringing my camera. I bought Buddha a Kizito chocolate chip cookie, which he promptly fed to the sparrows. I reminisced while Husband browsed cameras for T on ebay (he brought his laptop).

On our way home, we stopped at the grocery to get stuffs to make wraps for dinner. When we got home, we found everything very, very clean. Thanks, T! She helped construct wraps and the four of us ate. I called Joy and chatted with her for a bit. They were headed out to Busch Gardens, so we kept our call short.

Later, I went and hid in the bedroom with a book from the library, my skein of wool and the new knitting needles. In the span of 45 minutes, I managed to cast on about 4 times and to do the knit stitch! I am *so* proud of myself!

Casting on

Knitting! I am knitting!!!

It’s the Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day to those of you celebrating the holiday today!

I’m ambivalent about the day. I love the food, but hate the fireworks.

Dinner was great. I bought a 5 quart Teflon skillet and made home fries for the first time in ages. We also had Sloppy Joes and greens. We sat together at the dinner table and stuffed ourselves. But the neighbors are stinking up the place with their incessant firecrackers and making me jumpy. I’m not a jumpy person, dammit. I hate twitching with every pop, boom, crack, bang, pow.

I want to go out. There’s so much going on in the city today! Weird Al is performing right down the street from me at the Iroquois Amphitheater. And it gets better - yes, better! George Clinton and the P-Funk All*Stars are playing the Louisville Waterfront, absolutely free! I really, really want to go. Alas, I have no way down there (insert sobbing smiley here, please). I tried to convince Husband to stay home tonight so we could attend, but he is being infuriatingly sensible. P is hanging out with her sister and their girls this evening. I even tried calling my mom to see if I might borrow her Jeep so I could go, but she doesn’t answer. Curses!

There’s beer in the fridge, though and it’s my new favorite - Blue Moon’s seasonal beer Honey Moon. I stayed up way too late again last night, sipping 3 of those delish brews and hanging out with Husband. I’m pretty exhausted from lack of sleep. Plus, I went shopping for a bit, cooked dinner and played a ton with the boy. I even chatted with Joy for a bit. She complained about boredom but then said she was going to Busch Gardens today. That kid, I tell ya, she expects to be entertained 24/7.

I bought some new clothes for myself while shopping today. I got a pretty good deal, too. I bought 5 summery shirts and a pair of shorts and spent a whopping $40. I still haven’t gotten around to trying them on yet, though, ’cause I’m so tired and started dinner as soon as we got back. It gets damn hot in that kitchen quick!

I’ve still got a ton of shows on the DVR and I wanna watch Vantage Point. And I’ve got tons of crocheting left to do. I’ve only made 6 of the 16 small squares and none of the other size squares! Mom’s birthday is only in a few days, so I suppose her gift will be late. It took me forever to decide on a color pattern and finally decided to use two color patterns. Here’s what I have so far:

Oy, whadda day.

This morning, I started a load of laundry and sat down to pay some bills. I got quite a lot accomplished.

After having breakfast, T and I took Buddha with us to do some shopping. I bought enough yarn from the Hobby Lobby to make 4 baby-sized blankets. I wanted very badly to spend more to get some Alpaca yarn and some wool yarn, but I refrained. Afterwards, we hit up Wal*Mart to get some groceries. T bought herself an ear-piercing kit (with her mom’s approval) and later had Husband pierce her ears.

When we got home, Buddha took a short nap. While he was sleeping, I got started on another Neopolitan baby blanket for an online friend. I didn’t get far (starting is always a total pain in the ass and time-consuming, what with all the counting and getting that first row done). When he got up, he would not stop trying to steal the hook or carry off the yarn. I finally gave up. From there, the frustrations started piling on. At least Husband and I got some chores done and all caught up on the bills. Husband left for work and my brother dropped off his daughter a bit later for the night. His daughter has been a total angel, but T and Joy have been bickering and carrying on all damn evening.

And some flowers I ordered for another online pal of mine were delivered on the wrong day so I spent more time that I care to even think about, let alone discuss trying to get things sorted out with the florist. Suffice it to say that I’ve been using teleflora.com for 5 months and spent well over $200 and I was treated like shit. I will never use them again and I will tell anyone that will listen that they shouldn’t use them, either.

Around 6:45pm, Buddha got SUPER grouchy and drove me crazy with his fussing until bedtime at 8pm. We lied down together and dozed while he nursed. I haven’t wished for a Xanax like this in a grip. I wanna be sedated.

Today was hectic. Woke up around 9am. Husband got in late last night and just stayed up to get Joy on the bus (thank you, darling!), so he slept until just before he had to go into work. The boy and I had breakfast, I got us both dressed and we headed out to Old Navy for their big sale. I bought so many clothes for him. They are the cutest outfits! Most of the clothes I got won’t fit him until fall, but it’s just as well since it will be warming up soon and the clothes are really more for cooler temps. I also got the girl some very nice shirts. I love the 40% off sale! I would’ve stayed longer (and prolly bought more), but the boy was pissed off about being in the stroller. I ended up pushing an empty stroller one-handed, while toting him on my hip. Erg.

We then headed for Wal*Mart just to pick up a few things. Happy to beat the weekend crowds. The boy is much happier riding in the car seat propped in a shopping cart. I think he likes being up higher. We played our usual game of blowing raspberries back and forth and blinking hard at each other. He’s so much fun when he’s like that. And of course, the ladies all already love him. I have to fight off germy strangers every time we go out.

Dinner was ready when we got home around 2pm. I prepped a pork loin, greens and potatoes this morning while the boy snacked on some cinnamon rolls (no icing). It smelled so good! I got Husband conscious long enough to show him the clothes which he agreed are totally adorable. He didn’t wince when I told him how much I spent either. I’m a lucky girl! Nursed the boy a bit and left him to nap with daddy.

Joy came home from school, so I woke the boys up and we ate dinner together. Husband left for work. Another long week away from home for him.

A friend stopped by for a while and we caught up. Sometimes I feel so out of touch with the outside world. It’s good to have an adult conversation with someone face-to-face once in a while!

The girl has her cousin over for the weekend. The two of them are being really loud! I’m afraid they will wake the baby (who is asleep in his crib again tonight!). I’ve already asked them twice to keep it down. I haven’t kept him in a very long time, so it’s good to have him here.