Like jr. high, but with less acne

I'm beginning to wonder if I've been blackballed.

We had a meeting to go to this week and while waiting for my husband afterward, I found myself in the awkward position of being in conversations where people were making plans for double dates and getting together and making time to get to know each other better. It all sounds good except that I was neither the inviter nor the invitee. Please understand - I do not expect everyone's plans to include me!! It was just uncomfortable. At one point, one of the inviters did turn to me and say, "Oh...yeah...maybe the four of us could get together for a double date sometime. Yeah. That would be...er...fun?"

I don't want to be the last one picked for the team. Nor do I want to be considered an obligation.

There are several people I have tried to connect with this year - through email, in person, on the phone...all in the hope of getting to know them better and perhaps developing a true friendship. My calls and emails have gone unanswered.

Yesterday I very nearly gave a local church (not my own) a lecture on customer service because I had called and emailed multiple times, trying to find out when their AWANA program was starting for the year. My kids went there last year and are eager to go back. No one ever responded! I finally got someone on the phone yesterday who could answer and it's probably just as well that I held my tongue. What if I didn't go to church anywhere? What if I was considering trying that church? Why would I even want to if you can never connect with someone there??

I don't expect anyone to have answers - and believe me, I do realize that all of us are busy people. We all have to sacrifice to make time for relationships. I get that. I also acknowledge that it is much harder to connect and get together with people when you are married with children than it was as a single or newly-married-with-no-kids person.

But really. I've had enough with the blackball thing.

So How About That Weather?

I'm a little out of sorts today. I was awakened at 2 AM by a 4 year old boy who proceeded to throw up all over himself, me, the bathroom floor, the toilet and everything else that was nearby. Then I spent the morning straightening up the house because an old friend was supposed to come over for lunch at 11. She stood me up. I've also been trying to connect with someone this week and have gotten no response so far.

None of these things are major, earth-shattering or life altering...I realize that. I just feel a little let down, I guess.

Creative Repair & Holding Out Hope

I've been busy with the crafting lately. One project on the to-do list has been to find a way to repair a hole in one of Natalie's dresses. It's a comfy, cotton knit dress from Land's End, but there was no way to actually repair the hole. The best I could do was cover it somehow. I had considered sewing a band of wide ribbon around the waist, but kept putting off going to buy ribbon. Fortunately, I remembered that I had some nice cotton yarn in a color that would match, so I crocheted this little circle medallion thingie and stitched it over the hole. Not a bad solution and now Natalie can wear the dress again.
Another project that was both started and completed this week is the Tamarind Cowl. It's a quick, easy knit and using Malabrigo yarn makes it even better.
Now if only the weather would cool off.

Just Because

The Beginning of the End

This weekend I purchased my first anti-aging product.

Hm.

I've noticed lately that the pores across my cheeks seem to be getting bigger at an alarming rate, so I thought I would see what I could do to hold time at bay for a while. Of course, I did not want to spend a fortune on my very first anti-aging product - I only wanted to baby-step in.

I settled on Olay Total Effects Instant Smoothing Serum, mostly because there was only one other pore-refining product available besides that one and Olay Total Effects claims to provide SEVEN "anti-aging therapies in one vitamin and mineral formula to fight uneven tone and texture."

We'll see.

Poker: Another Option

I'm not much of a card player, though I'd love to learn the standard card games. Last night, Greg and I got sucked into some rather horrible late-night tv, where we learned about Cowboy Poker. The cowboys sit at tables in the rodeo ring, a bull is released into the ring, and whoever is the last man still seated is the winner.

I want to know who ever thought this was a good idea?

Our Own Aisle?

When Greg and I were in California last month, we stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and bottled water. We all know that any time you are in a store that is new to you, you tend to rely on the signs over the aisles to know where things are. When I saw this one, I had to whip out my phone and take a picture.

I don't consider myself a Southerner, really - I'm from Illinois...but the idea that "Southern" merits its own spot in an aisle is very entertaining to me! Unfortunately, we were in a hurry, so I wasn't able to go see what sort of products were in the Southern section, but I'm still curious about it.

Hmm...

I'm all for hygiene and promoting good health and all, but is this entirely necessary?
It seems a little silly to me. Maybe I'm wrong.

What do you think?

My Olympic Finish

With needles blazing, I finished my Olympic knitting project on Saturday and wore it to church today!

Pattern: Rusted Root
Yarn: Berroco Love It, color: Lawn
Needles: US sz 6
Started: 8/5/08
Completed: 8/16/08

Distracted

I've really been lax about blogging this week. Mostly because I've been engrossed in three things: starting school again with Natalie, watching the Olympics and knitting on my Olympics project. "Olympics project?" you might ask. Yes. I'm sure whatever cool factor I had with some of you may now have been obliterated - but I'm ok with that.

Just prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics, a rather spectacular knit blogger known as the Yarn Harlot organized the 2006 Knitting Olympics, where she challenged anyone who wanted to participate to select a project to knit during the Olympics. You could not begin until Opening Ceremonies started and the goal was to finish by the end of Closing Ceremonies. Thousands (yes, you read that correctly) of knitters participated, including myself.

For the 2008 Summer Olympics, the lovely folks at Ravelry decided to head up another knitty Olympic challenge. Same rules apply. I have chosen to knit a short-sleeved sweater - Rusted Root. So far, so good. I already had the yarn in my stash, so I am pleased to put it to good use. This sweater is knit from the top down and I am now finished with the sleeves and just barely into the body.
It should be smooth sailing from here on out. Besides, once Michael Phelps quits distracting me from my knitting, it should go much faster.

Sometimes I Feel...

Sometimes I feel as though I have less worth because I am not a "leader." I realize that not everyone can be a leader; someone has to follow at some point. I don't particularly want to be a leader...I know I'm not gifted in that area.

Perhaps being a leader is of little importance in the circles you run in. Honestly, I'm not even sure I have a circle (and knowing me, it would be more like a rhombus or a trapezoid) - I just happen to know a lot of people who are strong, natural, gifted leaders and they are always striving to be better at what they do. I admire that very much and appreciate their honesty when they see areas that they know need improvement. I guess it has been on my mind a lot because being a leader is a hot topic among many of the people I know and the blogs I read.

I'm not looking for any answers here - just saying how I feel. Good leaders can be hard to find and I am thankful for the ones I have in my life. They are people of integrity and I am glad to be under their leadership. But I know I'm not one of them.

Followers unite!

A Quote

Here's a quote for pondering, from Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle. I read it last night and thought it was lovely.

"God is over all things, under all things; outside all; within, but not enclosed; without, but not excluded; above, but not raised up; below, but not depressed; wholly above, presiding; wholly without, embracing; wholly within, filling." (attributed to Hildevert of Lavardin, written around 1125)

I Wonder

Will we see any moments like this one during this Olympics?



What are some of your favorite Olympics moments?

I Miss Shopping For These

I love homeschooling Natalie, but the biggest thing I feel I'm missing out on is shopping for school supplies. I love school supplies...all those notebooks and pencils and crayons and glue sticks...all new and unspoiled. It's not that we don't need them as homeschoolers - it's just that the curriculum we use (The Calvert School) happens to include all of your school supplies as part of the package. Trust me, it is a thrilling day when that giant box of stuff arrives!

Do you miss anything about the back-to-school time of year?

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 10

So I'm up. Not up as in perky or in high spirits...up as in up almost 2 lbs since my last check-in two weeks ago.

I'm not surprised. When you are careless about your eating and don't exercise, weight gain tends to happen. I have no good excuse - only that it has been hard to get back into the routine. Today, that changes. No more regular Coke - lots of water instead. Better food choices and daily exercise.

It will be a better week! Check out how the other Ragamuffintops did this week here.

Bee Fields

Good yarn + pointy needles + a great pattern = a big finished lace project. It is also my reason for not blogging much this week. Bee Fields is now finished. Thanks yet again to Anne Hanson for another glorious pattern! The yarn is Wooly Wonka Fibers merino laceweight in the colorway "The Silk Road."

Excuses and Overcoming

One of the activities that Greg enjoyed at Gull Lake was the zip line. We had a young member of our party (not one of our children) who was eager to try it this year and Greg was happy to oblige her. After years of experience climbing lighting rigs, heights are not an issue for him. He did check everything out for safety first; had there been any question, he would have walked away.

By the last day of camp, I agreed to go on the zip line myself. You have to understand something, though. For a long time, things like this have been in the category of "If I wasn't so overweight or uncomfortable with how I look, I might try _______." Yes, I've lost a little weight, but not enough to drastically change the things that fell into that category. Something prodded me to take a risk this time, though. I told my sister, "I could die in my sleep tonight or get hit by a car - any number of tragic things could happen. If I continue to put things off because I'm overweight or uncomfortable with how I look, who knows what I could miss out on?"

*I should make note here that the pictures I have included are of one of Greg's trips down the zip line - not mine. I put my sister in charge of my camera, but in her defense, it is very hard to take pictures of someone hurtling through the air.*

Greg went with me. Actually the whole family went with me, as though it was some sort of historic event. Once we were in harnesses and helmets, we climbed the steps of the 40-foot tower and did the safety checks. With great trepidation, I inched forward toward the edge and sat down (which, for the record, I think is the scariest part of the whole zip line experience). Three...two...one...
The part that was not quite clear to me until the critical moment was that you have to scoot yourself off the platform to go down the zip line. Since you are seated, it is hard to consider it jumping off. I don't know what I was expecting, but I learned that it wasn't enough to climb the tower and sit down. In order to overcome my fears and excuses, I had to willingly take that last, very scary step. Or scoot, as it were. I had to take the risk to go from the nice, solid tower to the unknown of the zip line.
I did it. Twice, actually. I'm not sure "fun" is the word I would use to describe it, but I am proud of myself. I think my husband was shocked - and pleased. The whole experience meant a little bit more to me the next day when I learned that a friend of a friend had just lost her husband. He was a few years younger than I am - no obvious life-threatening issues...he simply had trouble breathing one night and died soon after arriving at the hospital.

Life is so short, friends, and none of us have any guarantees.

Have you taken a risk lately? Or are you putting something off until _____? I would love to hear about it.

Summers Are For Snowcones

We had snowcones our last night at Gull Lake. I'm not fond of the blue ones, but Natalie is.
I go for cherry if it's your basic carnival snowcone. If it's something more high-end, like from a proper snowcone stand...well, that changes things.

What's your snowcone preference?

Foreign to Me

A few days of my recent travels were spent in Palm Springs, CA. I have spent very limited time in California and even that was years ago. All I knew about Palm Springs was that it was popular with golfers. A quick search about weather told me to be prepared to be exceedingly hot while I was there.
The extra-nice part of the trip was that since it was off season in Palm Springs, we were able to stay at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. While I wouldn't say the rooms were luxurious, they were very nice and the bathroom was huge. The biggest perk for a family would be the pools. There are seven! None of them are massive, but having several allows you to have plenty of room. I'm sure that isn't the case during peak season, but it was true while we were there.
Our children were not with us on this short trip; they stayed with Greg's parents in Missouri. So do you know what my favorite part of my resort experience was? The pool that was for adults only. In reality, I spent very little time there, but boy it was nice.
I wish I could go back. At the same time, the scenery and lifestyle were so foreign to me. It seemed to be an entirely different world than the one I'm used to.

When was the last time you got a new perspective?

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 8

Hey Ragamuffintops - I'm back! I really expected the past three weeks to set me back a few pounds. I mean, it was vacation for pete's sake. While we were in Palm Springs I got to eat at PF Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen and The Cheesecake Factory (complete with White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake). There were also several fast-food stops since we had so much driving to do after the California trip. Then at Gull Lake I had ice cream pretty much every night.

However, I am pleased to report that I am down another 2.4 pounds since my last weigh-in! My total is now 13.1, which if you recall, is short of my July 12 goal (15 lbs). But you know what? I'm not disappointed. Not one bit. I knew 15 lbs would be a stretch - that's why I chose it...and I'm almost there! I still have a long way to go beyond 15 lbs and I fully intend to go for it.

Go here to check in on the other Ragamuffintops.