Bad Blogger! No Comment!

Yeah this is a total cop out on a blog. I know. I'm sorry. My brain has melted and nothing is coming to me. I have stared at this screen since 9:30 am this morning and NOTHING, people. Nothing.

Ok, see that couple of sentences up there? That was written Monday. MONDAY, people! That was as far as I got before my brain leaked out of my ears. It was written about 3 pm. All day and that's what I had. Granted, it's been a weird week. Seriously weird. This is where this post goes once again into the land of TMI (too much info) also known as Sweet Jeebus Did She Really Mean To Blog THAT?? If personal info makes you uncomfortable, stop now. Turn back. Come back later to see if I have regained my senses. I won't have, but you can always try and optimism is so cute.

Ok, those of you who are regulars to Casa de la Stalker, know I have something called PCOS and that nothing about my body (female wise) functions normally. Until lately. March, then April (on my cruise no less. MY. CRUISE!) and now May, have all been...normal. I haven't been this regular since Junior High y'all. I haven't had cramps since Junior High. I don't have a clue as to what is going on.

So yeah, blogging this week just didn't happen. I was crampy and bitchy and totally weirded out by the betrayal of my uterus. Also, I have lost enough weight eating decently and walking at work on breaks, that I stood up earlier this week to stretch and had to make a grab for my skirt. It was headed flat for the floor. I don't care at home, work is a little inappropriate for losing your clothing. All of my under garments are loose and droopy. Not cute. Also, some of my skorts can now be removed/put on without the benefits of opening buttons and zippers. Time to find my previous clothes and see if I can get into them yet. Although, in a way, it kinda makes me sad cuz y'all, skorts. Comfy as shorts, look like skirts, I can wear them to work and nobody is the wiser. Yeah, the fat chick is whining about losing weight. Piss off.

So to top off all the weirdness, T is excited (excited y'all) that my body is trying to be normal. (He cheers when I bleed. Something wrong here.) He's ticking off days and times for optimal baby making opportunities. Shouldn't that be discussed with me? I really don't wanna be standing there washing dishes and be attacked by the baby maker. Ok, that's a bit of a lie, but you get my drift. Don't go buy the baby patterns just yet folks. I'll let ya know when the baby booty/bonnet/blanket marathon can commence. Yes, I'm trying to get into the breeder ranks. I promise (if it should happen) not to be the stroller in the shin lady at the LYS.

So, yeah, I think that's enough personal info rambling for one day. Besides, I'm leaving early from work today to go make a gift basket for the T's mom for Mother's Day.

Hope everyone has a great day!

I Can Seeeee!!!

This post is brought to you by the word Vision. So my birthday was a couple of weeks ago and as usual I got some sort of expensive toy because I'm spoiled that way. For the past year I've had a laptop that I did everything on, including gaming. Laptops are so not meant for gaming. They lag out, they stutter, they can't process fast enough, blah blah blah. Don't get me wrong. I love my laptop. I love being able to take it anywhere. The graphics suck ass though.

So for my birthday, we went off and purchased me a new PC for my birthday. Hooray for income tax refunds in April! We also got a brand new graphics card for it that's awesome. It's a Radeon X1300 that gives beautiful game play. Umm..for non gamers, patterns are crystal clear and easy to read! Hee. To top it off, I splurged more than I normally would because I wanted this.

This is a 19" LCD monitor. It weighs like all of 5 lbs MAYBE and it's freakin huge! I love this monitor but at times it can be like sitting too close to the TV. I had to get used to playing on it because I would be getting attacked and not see what was attacking me cuz it was all the way in the top left hand corner and I had to move my head to see it. You can compare the size with the coffee cup full of pens on the bottom left of the screen.

Speaking of vision, yesterday was a very interesting day. most of you have seen my picture and will recognize these beauties.

Those are my glasses. Well, those are the frames of my glasses because when I went to take them off yesterday morning to clean them, they became this.

Those of you with glasses just went pale, swooned and said "Oh sweet jeebus no! Not that!" Luckily, I kept my old pair and was able to throw them on. Then I threw them right the fuck back off. See, I got the new glasses last year because the old glasses were already 7 years old and so damn scratched that looking through them gave everything a soft halo-like-headache-causing glow. So I called work, T called work and I started calling around town. No place in town had the same frame and it would be Monday or Tuesday before they got them in. Not happening Kemosabe. So I widened my search and just after noon we headed for Houston. They had the frames and could mount the lenses that day.

They didn't mention it would take 5 hours to mount them. I didn't tell them my lenses are hard to mount because I need prisms in my lenses. Hee. So, $125 later, we were headed home and I can see again! I could really use a little less adventure right now.

Random Acts of Kindness

This morning on the way to work I wanted a donut. I've done well with continuing to lose weight and walking but dammit I wanted a donut. So, I went to Shipley's (my fav!) and I tried to decide what kind of donut to get. I also decided on a sausage and cheese kolache cuz it's better than JUST a donut for breakfast. Or so I tell myself. Then I realized I'd be walking into our office with a warn kolache and a fresh donut. I bought donuts for our office. It just seemed like a nice thing to do this morning. I still only had one donut, but everybody got to have donuts this morning. It was an appreciated gesture and we all had the warm fuzzies today. I didn't do it to get the "praise" of being thoughtful. I did it because I know how good it feels to get random acts of kindness. When someone does something nice and out of the ordinary that just brightens you day. I wanted to give someone else that feeling this morning.

Last night I sat on the sofa watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (one of the best musicals of all time, in my opinion) and crocheting a bit. I was missing my grandmother because a.) crocheting and b.) watching one of her favorite musicals of all time. (She always danced during "Goin' Courtin'" and she always laughed like an idiot at the barn raising. Now I laugh remembering her laughing.) So I decided to have lunch at one of our old family haunts in town today to celebrate her memory again.

When I was growing up, we spent several years in this town and every Sunday, without fail, our family went to Luby's Cafeteria for lunch. Luby's is a southern restaurant, and it's one of the old grab-a-tray-tell-them-what-you-want-and-get-your-food-right-then types of cafeterias. Kinda like school, with better food. We visited this place enough that the line ladies knew us by name. They'd ask how our choir/band/orchestra concerts went. How that spelling test came out. Did we bring up our History grade? When our family moved away, my grandparents continued to go every Sunday and they always took pictures and lists of accomplishments to share. When my grandparents moved back to Oklahoma, the waitstaff and line ladies had a going away party for them.

So back to the story, I decide to go to Luby's for lunch. Great memories and I can get a salad and fresh veggies to balance out the donut I had for breakfast. When I get there, the guy in front of me was waiting for them to cut up a tomato for his salad (cuz salads come first, ya know) so he told me to go on ahead. I said "Oh no, you're fine. I'm not in any hurry." We smiled at one another and went on to get our foods. When we got to the ticket lady (you pay after you eat but you get your ticket at the end of the line.) he turned to me and we had us a weird conversation:

Him: She put your lunch on my ticket.

Me: Oh, well we need to fix that. *chuckle*

Him: Yeah *laugh* Merry Christmas (haha funny funny I'm gonna buy your lunch. NOT!)

Me: (thinking) Just hurry up and fix the tickets so I can eat. Damn.

She prints out his ticket, hands it to him, he looks it over, turns to me smiling and says "Perfect." and folds the ticket into his pocket and walks off to find a table.

I get to the ticket lady:

Ticket Lady: Thank you.

Me: I need my ticket.

TL: It's on his ticket. He bought your lunch.

Me: He was serious??

TL: Yeah. Enjoy your lunch.

Me: Guh.

I felt weird for most of lunch y'all. Some random dude just bought me lunch. He didn't say why, or flirt or anything. He just....bought my lunch. He was just nice. Another random act of kindness in the day. Wonder who I can buy coffee for in the morning.

Cruise Day 5, Grand Cayman

This was the most fun port we landed in. Key West was all about looking. Cozumel was all about buying jewelry and such. Grand Cayman, was aallllll about the fun stuffs. We got up at 5 am (arg!) to get showered, and eat breakfast. Room service is free on cruises y'all. You can get coffee, tea and danishes without getting out of your robe. Sweet! So we had room service bring our breakfast since it was so early and we were able to have a leisurely morning before having to rush off to our excursions.

Update: I suppose a link would be nice to all of the Grand Cayman photos. Here ya go. :)

7:30 am. We're dressed and ready to go because we're supposed to be in one of the lounges to meet up for our passes and stuff. We get there and it's empty. Well crap. So we head down to where they are letting people tender off. Everyone is already down there and just about everyone has made it to shore already. We're one of the last ones off. What the hell?? Seems we missed an announcement somehow. Anyway, we got off the boat and were met by pirates. Again. I am sensing a theme here. Here is a picture of the pirate and I. I don't know what he is doing to my belly. I do know it's creepy. I think they tried to hide it. *Shudder*



Moving past the creepy dude, from there we went to a herding area where they matched us up with our tours. Our driver's name was Karl Sanchez. Karl was a black man from Germany who mostly grew up in Grand Cayman. Karl spent most of our tour discussing island politics between pointing out things of interest. Karl was sweet, but Karl needs to lighten up, y'all. I don't have a clue as to where he got Sanchez. It's not German. It's not even Grand Caymanese.

Our first stop was in Hell, Grand Cayman for a quit restroom stop and the purchasing of postcards and stamps to fill out on the rest of the tour. We later went back for the sending of said cards and for picture taking opportunities. On the way from Hell to the dock where we would shove off to see the stingrays, we stopped at the Governor's house. It's not a mansion there. Seems their politicians don't get treated like royalty. We should take notice of this. Anyway, no politics allowed.

So we arrive at the dock and board our lovely boat for the nice little trip out to see the stingrays. We opted to see them from a glass bottom boat because neither mom and I are much for the whole swimming thing. Nothing would suck more than to get in the water, see a stingray, get a major leg cramp and have to get out of the water. The glass bottom boat stays tethered out in what they call Stingray City. They aren't sure why the stingrays gather there. I think it's because they know they're gonna get fed. I know I tend to stick around when I get fed.

The stingrays were amazing y'all. bigger then I imagined and so beautiful. They aren't dangerous to be around. They don't have teeth, so if they do bite looking for food, there's no cutting. Don't get me wrong. It'll still hurt. Our captain said it feels like getting your finger slammed in a door. Pass! They will however pass over you doing this little sucking action they do to scoop up food and leave a hickey on ya. Yeah, I'm gonna be able to 'splain THAT when I get home. "It meant nothing, sweetheart! He was just looking for food. I didn't even get his name!" They do have stingers on their tails, but they don't attack with then. It's a reflex action that happens if you step on their backs. No steppy, no problem.

From there we headed off to the turtle farm. The government there raises sea turtles, breeds them and every year they release 1/3 of their turtle population into the wild. They are so covetous of these creatures that they have a ceremony for the release. Grade school age girls are chosen every year to line up on 7 mile island. They have a ceremony handing the turtles out to the girls, then they all step forward as one to release them into the sea. I would love to see it one day.

At the farm they have turtles the size of dining room tables. They have hundreds of turtles there. Unfortunately, they lost a large portion of their population in the hurricanes last year, including their oldest one that was 45 years old. They have baby turtles you can see, but they keep the water so low in the tank you'd have to be 10 ft. tall to reach them. They allow you to look but their immune systems can't handle being touched yet. They really take care of these beautiful animals. I did get to hold one! It was about a year old and will be one of the ones released this year in the ceremony.

From the farm we headed back to Hell for pictures and such, then it was back to the boat. By this time it was 3:00 pm and we had all of 15 minutes to get back on the boat. No shopping this stop! We headed up to the top deck for fruit from the salad bar since we hadn't eaten since breakfast and dinner was still 3 hours away. Then we headed up to our room to get ready for dinner since it was a formal night. Dinner was at 6 but we were ready by 5 so off we headed to the Schooner Bar for Name That Tune (Broadway). We ruled, y'all. We got 2nd place cuz the ship singers were there playing too. I think that's cheating. Most of them have sung on Broadway. Cheaters! I'm not bitter. Much. Grrr. They bought us drinks though and told me I have a good voice. Liars. Hee!

Dinner that night was a spinach dip that ruled, ceasar salad, lobster tail and red potatoes, and desert was creme brulee. Yum! Here is us with the rest of our dinner table. Mom hates having her picture taken but she looks smashing in red!

After dinner we did some gambling then mom hit the sack. We were exhausted! But I had one more thing to do. They put together a Gal Buffet at midnight that was stunning. Pictures here. Go see. It's soooo worth it. The next day was Cuzumel and potential for damage to our bank accounts. Next time, how much advantage we took of that potential. Hehe.

Better Late Than Never?

OMG it's Wednesday and this is what should have been Friday's post and omg lol wtf bbq! As Christina has said so eloquently in the comments (I just adore her. I really do. She keeps me on my toes.) this post is sooo late and yes, I suck as a blogger. So to distract you from the lateness of it all, here is a picture I took on the way home last Thursday. Yes, I was driving. It's ok. My camera has a view screen and I kept my eyes on the road at all times. Click to enlarge. It's pretty cool.


Ok, so now we are STILL trying to recap cruise stuff and I am really not trying to drag this out any more than it already is. We're on Day 3.

Day 3 we wake up, head up to breakfast which is a buffet of fresh fruit, breads, oatmeal, 3 different types of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns, ham.....just...everything you'd want for breakfast. We pigged out people and I still lost weight while on this cruise. Dancing and walking rule. But only on a cruise. There is no walking in real life. Anyway, we get to our table and I glance out the window and see Key West! Seriously! Key West, Florida! I am offically the farthest I have ever been from home. So we had breakfast as we pulled into port and I hardly ate of the bounty because I was so excited. Think 3 year old on candy and red kool-aid.

I also got to see my first ever lighthouse in person. This is awesome to me because I have a thing for lighthouses. I don't know why, I am just enamored of them. So mom finally finishes breakfast after hearing me whine about "C'mon, Mom, you're taking too long!" and "I wanna go to Key West now!" and "You're killing me here and you are sucking the life out of me!" I'll never understand how she can sit through my tirades calmly. But then, she's had practice. We head up to the room for sunscreen and purses and off we go! (Key West pictures found here)

This is the only port at which we were actually able to dock. The others we had to stay in harbor and take tender boats in. We were greeted at the dock by Pirates! I have a picture of me and a pirate who did something weird to my belly when we took the picture (maybe he thought I was pregnant??) but come to find out, we don't have a scanner. How did I not know about that? I thought our printer did everything. But no. Not so much. So I guess I will need to see if Uber Camera can take a photo of a photo and have it turn out worth a damn. Pirates! Here's mom and I in front of our ship. Mom should eat more. Skinny wench. Hehe. Oh and this is one of the worst photos of me EVER but I'm on vacation. It's allowed, I think.



We didn't do a whole lot int he way of touristy stuffs like meuseums in Key West. We shopped. A lot. Ok, we looked a lot. But there was some awesome stuff there. One of the best thing about cruises? Jewelry in port is much less expensive. MUCH. Mom and I both got an Australian Opal pendant in Key West. Here's mine. (Again, click to enlarge.)

And a close up of the pendant.



After about 6 hours of "Oooh look here!" and "Wow, check this out." we headed back to the ship. They showed us a movie that evening and mom and I just kinda wandered around the ship until we were exhausted. Mom went to bed. I went dancing. Sometimes I have no sense.

Day 4 was at sea again heading for Grand Caymen. We spent the day just lounging around and grabbing fruit from the buffet anytime we got hungry. There was reading and crocheting going on, but mostly it was people watching. Oh and I read the Harlot's latest book outloud to mom. Mom is not a knitter or a crocheter. Mom laughed until she cried. There's hope there.

Now I am going to go load in the pictures for Grand Caymen. It get's it's very own post because so much went on. No peeking!

T.G.I.F

Ok gang, yeah there's gonna be a Friday post but it's gonna be a late Friday post(cuz this is not the REAL Friday post) with pictures of loot and stories and good times. But work today is all "aaaggghhhhh!!!!" and people are literally trying to crawl up my ass about mistakes other people made so I am so trying to stay at least one step ahead of them cuz if I stop......I may never recover. It won't be pretty.

Bear with me, my dear Stalkees. Post will be up this evening with extra special bonus picture I took yesterday and I hope comes out and it will be up for weekend perusal and give you something to ogle as I work on Monday's post *gaaassssp* to keep updated. *whew*

Send yarn and a hook. Or needles. Or just yarn. I have pencils.

A Post Where I Am Not On Drugs.

W00t! Ye Olde Stalker is feeling better and I am very, very grateful for the birthday wishes from everyone. I must say, I was most surprised to see a comment from the one and only Purling Pirate of The Purling P's, also known as She Of The Beautifullest Squid Ever! I didn't know she knew I existed. Yeah cuz that made sense. It's so cool and yet weird when someone comments on your blog when you've been lurking at their blog for years now. I know. I lurk. I'm sorry. If I made a list of all the blogs I lurk at it would take days to list. But now I won't be so shy to comment there and she and Good Girl Purl can be official stalkees in the sidebar yay! I'm ignoring the fact I probably just showed up on their stat counter. Shut up.

Ms. Ryan, that whole sentence about reaching level 40 for my Gnome mage and stuff? Yeah, that doesn't make sense to most people who PLAY the game. It was the fever and drugs speaking. (But y'all, I totally made level 40 and got my bird despite the Horde ganking us every 5 minutes. Woohoo! Just sayin')

Also, I have the photos for Key West (day 3 of the cruise) posted and tomorrow will be the story of Key West and day 4 of the cruise. Also for blog fodder a picture of the loot (yummy jewelry stuff) I pirated from Key West. Yay! If you want pictures before story time, here's the link. But it may ruin story time. Or it may help you envision the story. You decide.

Hippo Birdy 2 Ewe

Ok, well actually it's hippo birdy 2 me, but that sounds silly. Yes! I'm ummm...20 today! Again. 20 with 14 years experience. Yeah. Totally, dudes. Anywho, birthday blah blah blah, been sick blah blah blah, Flikr hates me blah blah blah. Makes for some seriously sucky posts y'all. Or in my case, some very non existent posts. I'm still trying to get the photos from the cruise uploaded on Flikr. I haven't been doing squat else except try and catch up with work and play World of Warcraft. Cuz I wanna get my Gnome mage to level 40 so I can get my mechanical bird to run around on for my birthday. Plus I have to fit it all in before Guild Wars: Factions come out. I also need to find time to crochet or someone will call the Yarn Abuse Hotline and find foster homes for my stash. Not acceptible. Acceptable. Accepteble? Dude, it ain't happenin.

So, to kinda tide you over, cuz, you know you want the pictures of SOMETHING, I will give you lovely people a picture of the stingrays in Grand Caymen. Woot!

Good times. Still glad to be home though. :)

Hope everyone has a great day!

P.S Sachi, thank you for the birthday card. It was awesome. Hee! ^^

Aaaaaannndd We're Back!

I thought when I got back that this posting thing would be easy because there would be soooo much to post about. LIES! This is hard because there is soooooo much to post about. Where do you start? Plus, I don't have all of the pictures uploaded onto Flikr yet because I have to buy a pro account.....because I took over 300 pictures.....most of them of water. Seriously. Water.

Anyway, the cruise was a-maze-ing. There was much flirting and booty shakin' and singing and being generally rowdy minus alcohol. If you get a chance to take a cruise, take it. It's so worth it y'all. If you can MAKE a chance to take a cruise, make it. There's really no age limit. Nothing like jamming down with a cruisin hottie (cuz I totally did y'all. Leave the hubbies at home. Just sayin.) to Ludacris and doin a slow sexy booty swingin circle to face the 90 year-old dude behind me slammin around that new hip he got last year for Christmas. That's a good way to burst that we're-all-young-sexy-and-single fantasy bubble you may have had going during the dancing.

Then there was shopping. Y'all, if you take a cruise, plan to take plenty of shopping money or a really good credit card. I now own more jewelry than I ever have. It's all so sparkly and shiny. I'm surprised T let me back into the house when he saw the stuff I was wearing, much less when I pulled out the bags. Yes, there will be sparkly pictures to wow and amaze. As soon as I am brave enough to take them off for fear they will all disappear. Oh and I have to quit petting it long enough to work the clasp.

The first day was not so exciting. I will say the R*oyal Car*ibbean staff was outstanding in getting folks where they needed to go and doing everything in an orderly fashion. We were boarded by 2 pm and had plenty of time to explore the massive ship before we set sail at 6. There were no pictures day 1. I was honestly too busy looking to even think about the camera. Dinner that night was all about meeting the nice folks at our table and feeling the first rockings of the ship as we left dock. Then there was a welcome show and bed. Sleep was needed becasue we knew the next day was gonna be full.

Day 2 we were up at 8 am and headed for breakfast. Then I saw outside and breakfast waited for another 20 minutes as I saw my first real blue ocean water ever. It's amazing. I know that some of you may think I'm crazy and that's ok. Really. But if you have never been to Galveston or anywhere else along the Texas coast then let me explain that we don't have blue water. The water here due to the churning waters and amount of sand or something, is brown. Once you get into water up to your ankles, your feet are no longer visible. The sand here, is brown. The ummm....sky tends to be a little brown due to Texas City, Pasadena, and so on and so forth. So blue water? So cool.

So day 2 we had breakfast by the pool listening to a steel drum band play and watching people play in the pool. Then they had the cruise staff come out and get people dancing. I, of course, jumped right in there and boogied. Then there were audience participation game shows (where I won a big bottle of Kahlua mmmmm) and the casino and sitting on deck listening to the waves crash under the ship. It was so relaxing. Dinner that night was Herb Crusted Talapia for me and mom had Prime Rib. It was our first formal night so it was a lot of fun dressed up in our nicest. Then there was a Broadway style production called The Music Man that included music from Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ray Charles and Barry Manalow. It was pretty awesome.

After the show we went back to the room and I changed and headed off for the dance lounge. See, the Staff dancers and singers were doing ABBA and the Village People. Ya just don't pass up ABBA. Then they started the dance music, I got dragged onto the dance floor and boy o boy was it a good time. Until I get the rest of the pictures on Flickr, here at least are the majority of the pictures of day 1. Next post will be Day 3, Key West, Florida and Day 4. Yippee!!!!

It's good to be home.

Bonus Post or Why It's Dangerous To Let Me Blog Before Coffee.

It's a Stalker Sing-A-Long!

<Sung to the tune Leaving On A Jet Plane>

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside my door
I hate to wake up early for anything

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The boat is waitin', it's blowin' her horn
Already it's too early I could die

So hug me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll blog for me
Comment like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a big boat
I sure hope that bitch can stay afloat
Oh, Stalkees, I'm glad to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've blogged around
I'll tell you now, those blogs don't mean a thing

Every site I go, I think of you
Every post I write , I write for you
When I come back I'll join your blogging ring

So hug me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll blog for me
Comment like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a big boat
I sure hope that bitch can stay afloat
Oh, Stalkees, I'm glad to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, oh, let me read you
And close this site and I'll be on my way

Dream about the posts to come
When I won't have to blog alone
About the times that I won't have to say ...

So hug me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll blog for me
Comment like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a big boat
I sure hope that bitch can stay afloat
Oh, Stalkees, I'm glad to go

Bon Voyage!

Hello my Dear Stalkees! Happy Friday and here's to a full week of blogging from yours truly. It should give you something to have fun with while I am gone for next week. Which means no posts until I get back but by golly, there'll be some posting then! I finished the headband in plenty of time to go with and that makes me a very happy camper. Here' a pic of the finished product.

This is kind of a cool pic in that it shows more about me than I usually tell. You can see my daisy chain tattoo on my right wrist in this photo and the fact that I have a wedding band and a wedding set. The wedding set on my right hand was my mom's original set. It's a small diamond in white gold that cost my folks a whopping $50 in 1965. Mom got a new set on their 25th anniversary. My wedding ring was T's grandmothers ring so I'm pretty set for family jewelry. Here's a close-up of the headband.


Yes, it's a silver streak in my hair. Yes, it's natural. No, I am not old. I got that streak when I was 18 and in the hospital. So :P

Gaile over at Fidgety Budgie had a Stash Sale. We now love Gaile for selling gold at quartz prices. I picked up a couple of things and I will pause while you muster up a surprise face.

I got 3 balls of this wonderful sage wooly goodness (Schachenmeyr Nomotto Softwool) that will most likely become Dulaan hats because y'all, seriously, this is some nice thick stuff.



She also had a large lot (10 skeins!) of what she called raspberry colored (coloured for our Canadian Stalkees) Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK and on her blog it did, indeed look raspberry. Then I got the package. Dudes. She must have some really rich raspberries in her area because I'm leaning more towards cranberry. It's gorgeous. It was going to go to my little sis in some form because she loves all thinks pink. Well, I think not, missy. Look at this color. I want to just roll around in it. I might actually have to crochet myself a cocoon out of this yarn and live in it forever and ever, amen.

Hooray For Packages!

I love it when the postman brings me goodies in the mail. I get to take the Yarn Harlot on the cruise with me!



Alex says "Mommy can sneak me on as a bookend and the cruise people will never know! Who else will be such an adorable book stand?"

Because It's Wednesday, Dammit.

That's why I am posting for the 3rd time already this week. Wednesday. Cuz you know, I stick to that whole Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule so religiously and never miss a post. So, what to do today? Ooh ooh I know! How about a picture of the headband progress? Yay! Here ya go.



The length is completed and all that's left is to join the ends and run an edge of single crochet stitches around to give it some body. The patter actually makes little X's along it. Not sure what I should call the pattern. Hugs & Kisses Headband? Caribbean Cruise Headband? What do y'all think? Here's a close up of the stitches. (Click to enlarge as always)




I'm really enjoying working on this (thanks for the idea Christina!) and it's going fast enough to hold my interest and since I am kinda making it up as I go along (not to worry, I took notes) it's not like I have to keep checking the damn instructions cuz they are all in my head. This will worry those that know me because, dudes, seriously? I have forgotten recipes of foods I have cooked before. I don't mean I have forgotten how many teaspoons of paprika it needed, I mean, I forgot I had ever made them and eaten them. Yeah. My memory doesn't exist. It's a sad life. Anyway, off to crochet more and play Guild Wars and clean and pack and possibly squeeze in a little World of Warcraft. Hell, I'm feeling spunky. I might even go kiss my husband.

P.S There's been some updating in the sidebar at Casa de la Stalker. There's the lovely buttons Christina made for me (finally) and I updated the buttons for my stalked blogs. I have a bunch to add to the list and I will get to it. Soon. Well, soon for me. :)

Beware The Hair!

Oh my goodness! Can it possibly be? Did Stalker Angie FINALLY post hair pictures? It's all so dizzying....do you need to sit for a moment? Perhaps a warm compress.....yeah, I'm being a pain in the ass on purpose. You caught me. I'm just so afraid you guys have worked yourself into such a frenzy that my hair is gonna be so....boring to you now. Should I stripe it pink first? Maybe get some spikes going? I don't know guys....I don't want you to see it and say "Damn. That was it? This is what we waited for 3 fucking weeks for?"

And yes, it's Tuesday and yes, I posted yesterday, but there will be no posting next week, my Dear Stalkees, for reason of which you all know and don't need to be dragged back up (5 more days! Hot damn!) like a smelly wart that was way cool when it fell off of your butt when you were 7. Cuz, when you're 7? Smelly butt warts are the best thing ever! Or so I'm told. I don't know personally or anything. Yeah. MOVING ON!

Look. It's me. With lots of hair even after a haircut. Enjoy.



My bathroom? Not yellow. The lighting? Not yellow. That picture up there? What the hell? No idea guys. None. Anywho! A back view! With camera on top of my head cuz I'm good like that. We won't discuss the 20 pictures I have of the towel rack next to me.



Told you my bathroom wasn't yellow. :P

Gaming Does Not Make For Good Posts.

So, I spent most of this weekend gaming because I suck and I will slack at every opportunity. Plus, Guild Wars (there's a link over there -->) had a beta weekend for a new expansion that's coming out and anything new is a good thing. I also spent the weekend doing massive amounts of laundry so that all my warmer weather stuff would be clean and fresh for the upcoming (6 more days!) cruise and for some reason I seem to think it's all going with me. If it gets above 60 degrees Fahrenheit this week I am so screwed people. I am gonna sweat my ass off just to keep my laundry clean. Is this normal behavior? Which begs the question, "Normal for who?" Because, ya never know, that kinda crazy crap might just be normal for me.

I also had a conversation with Christina (link for the new folks) last Friday about making something for the trip. She came up with a lovely idea of a bolero jacket for the formal dress I am taking with me to wear. Great idea! Love the idea! I work a full time job and there is only 6 days left. Not gonna happen. She had also sent me some other ideas I liked and latched onto the headscarf like a door from the Titanic. Perhaps I shouldn't make Titanic referrences so close to sail date. Moving on! I was going to use a nice cobalt blue (this blue cotton yumminess) the do the headscarf and realized what a dumbass idea that was when everything I own for spring and is going with me is baby duck yellow, pink, sandy beige, peach......Spring colors. Cobalt blue? Not so much. Gorgeous for the black dress but not for anything else I own.

So off I ran to the stash and lo and behold I do have pink and yellow variegated sock yarn that shall be perfect for a headband on a G hook! Hooray! I started the headband and made considerable headway on it. I'll be finished for the trip. Christina suggested taking the bolero plan with me as my on board project. It is under some very serious consideration. Headscarf progress pics huh? No, I told you I suck. How soon we forget. It is, however, my own design so I may just post it if anyone is interested. My my, a Stalker original! Be afraid. :D

A Real Live Post! About Nothing!

Lots of randomness today, Dear Stalkees. Sorry about the lack of posting, work has just been a real booger bear. We've been implementing all new processes and change is always painful. And slow. So it's still busy here, but I wanted to send you some entertainment. No, this is not it. This is so not entertaining. This first paragraph is about as enjoyable as a root canal. Let's move on, shall we?

So, it's 10 days until the cruise. I still don't have things together. I did get new batteries for the camera. I still need to get another memory card for it. Every time I think about it my brain fuzzes out and quits working. I am soooo excited! I can't wait to get back and share pictures and stuff. Hope you guys don't mind a slide show. I'll try not to drag it out into too many posts and I should probably set up a Flickr account for the majority of pictures for your perusal.

Once the cruise is over, I have plans for around the house. I need to Spring clean the front porch for it is funky dirty, my rocking chair needs a serious hosing down, the house siding needs a good scrub down,I bought a new bistro set at the end of last summer that needs to go on the front porch, but I also want to paint an "area rug" where the bistro table is going. Also, a container garden on and around the porch. And it's almost April. But damn y'all, it's cold! Well, ok, cold for us. It's supposed to get down to the 30's tonight and the high today was near 50. This is winter for us. Usually we're well into the 70's and low 80's by this time of year. Texans are walking around with the stunned looks on their faces and frowning at their sweaters like their clothing has offended the Spring gods in some way. At least the bluebonnets are out.


This is so my favorite time of year. Well, ok, I like Autumn too, but Spring holds the winning spot. Texas roads right now are blue, pink, yellow, purple and red from the wildflowers. It's a beautiful site.

This.....this is why we put up with the heat and the humidity of Summer. Ummm.....more randomness. Oh go check out this video. It needs sound but is so worth it. It rules.

Other than that, there's nothing going on folks. It feels like my life is on hold until I get back from the cruise. It's weird. There's Spring cleaning, pictures to scan in, projects to get back to, yarn dying experiments to happen and planting to be done. I'm hoping to be motivated when I get back. Ah well. Enough randomness for today. Oh, and 10 days ago was my first blogiversary. Here's hoping our next year together isn't quite as sporadic. I'm off to an amazing start!

Late Again...Or Still Late....Or Something

It's totally my fault. See, I was playing Guild Wars with plenty of time for posting and then there was this Underworld run to do and Christina went with us and well....I still had to load pictures. Christina was a good Stalkee and pestered me about my post in game. Check the comments for my last post. She poked me, people. There was POKING. Also, pestering. It's one of the things I adore about her. She keeps me on my toes. Grr.

Anywho, I know I am gonna let some folks down here because there are no hair pics here. None. None of them turned out because T sucks ass at taking pictures. It's like he doesn't even care, y'all. I told him it was for you guys and he was all "Meh. Stupid blog." So I was all "Oh no you didn't" and he was all "Shut up and make me some food, wench." Ok, I totally made that last part up but he went too far. Yeah, he is so sleeping on the couch. Meh. Stupid husband. So I do have pics, just not the awaited photos of the Great Hair Whack Job of 2006. I will get them taken. In the mirror if I have to. I have that much love for you.

Also, the last couple of days have been much better to me. Ok, that was a lie. Today was better for me. I don't know why or what happened or anything. Just..better. We'll take it though. Ooh ooh one thing that made me smile? I was coming out of the grocery store and the moon was full so I wanted a pic of it. Like a good blogger (cuz yeah, this happen ALL the time) I had my camera with me so I whipped it out in the parking lot and took a pic of the moon. See?


I liked how it turned out. So then I turned around to see if anyone was staring at the crazy lady in the parking lot taking pictures of the sky wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm blogging this." (The shirt is the clue people. Watch out when I have it on and a camera in hand.) and the sky behind me was so pretty it made me smile. So I took a picture thinking "Ooh a sky picture for Sandy who doesn't visit my blog but that's ok too." Yeah, my brain is whacked out. Anywho, a picture for Sandy!



I love this picture. A good Texas sunset. So since I don't have any hair pictures (Stop yelling at me! I'll get it!) I thought I'd show you the Stalker Stash and this way you guys can fuss at me when I get more yarn cuz y'all, I so don't need anymore yarn until I use the current stash up. It's...it's so sad. First off we have the shelves of finished objects, wooden beads, knitting and crocheting supplies and so forth.



That's the small section. The next 2 pictures are of just stash. Sitting there. Sad. There are 2 sweaters on the top in the second one that are to be turned into yarn and used for dying. The top tub in the first one is all thread for crocheting. There's just. So. Much.





This last photo is the really scary one. Bags...BAGS of yarn waiting for me. These are all WIPs people. Screaming my name out daily because they so want to be finished and worked on and loved again. And no, before anyone panics, the puppies do not have access to this room. These bags hold 3 afghans, Dulaan hats, a hat and scarf set for my niece in California and...hell I don't even remember what all.



Now feel free to talk amongst yourselves about my disorganization and how badly I am neglecting my WIPs. I can take it. Oh, and Christina, try not to cringe too much over any typos and grammer because you didn't get to correct me before anyone else saw it. Hugs!

Running Late

Today's REAL post will be running late today. Although for me, normally, late means 2 weeks behind, but there will be a real post with real pictures later today. But it will be today. Honest Injun. Before midnight CST a real live post. Yessiree Bob. I umm...forgot to load the pictures this morning and so umm...Running late. So...See ya later, dudes! Yeah. Go away now. Come back later. There's nothing else to read until later.

*wave*

I Have Nothing.

Nothing today. There was supposed to be wonderful things today and they just aren't here. I told Christina in Guild Wars last night, I don't know what is wrong with me. It's not the whole thing with Shu Shu. I can handle that. But at the same time I'll be sitting there fine and all of a sudden I am just weepy. Tears streaming down my face for no damn reason. T asks me what's wrong and I can honestly answer that I don't know. Am I just that damn hormonal? Cuz y'all, this can't be normal. I spent all this weekend laughing, having a good time, watching movies and was fine. Last night sitting in front of the computer and all of a sudden I am weeping. Again. I wasn't thinking of anything that I know of. I think I'm going nuts.

Anywho, grand weekend of fun. Spent the weekend at Mom's house being very lazy. There was supposed to be picture taking this weekend. Didn't happen. There was supposed to be crocheting this weekend. Didn't happen. There was supposed to be other craft projects this weekend. Didn't happen. We watched movies, played games, sang songs, and talked and laughed until it hurt. The whole family has the inside jokes where all we have to say is a couple of words and we are all rolling on the floor. Yeah, it was that kinda fun.

I got the newest Harry Potter movie this weekend and with it was a sample of the Harry Potter Scene-It game. We must own this game y'all. There was yelling, and laughing and screaming answers at the top of our lungs goodness. Most of the time we were laughing too hard to yell out an answer. Rachel, my "little sister" is now convinced that she is psychic because she was guessing everything first. Personally, I think she watches the movies too much for her own good. I am not bitter. Shut up.

Also, lots of coffee. Y'all, seriously, if you like coffee, there's a brand of coffee that starts with F and ends in olger's and they make this new coffee called Cinnamon Swirl that is like sex in a ceramic mug, people. It's.....wow. Also, if you add a bit of hazelnut to it (I like creamer) then oh wow your head will explode in cinnamony goodness and you won't share the coffee and there will be growling if anyone tries to get some.

Yesterday, the guys walked off to a local graveyard that had a section that's really old and overgrown. I should have grabbed the camera and gone cuz that would have been an awesome thing to do for pictures. But there was walking involved, y'all. And I really do love you guys but there was walking. That's so close to exercise it makes my butt hurt. That's a lot of hurt on me.

There was also much flirting this weekend cuz...uumm....hell, it's what I do. I love to flirt when I know it's safe and nobody is going to get all serious and get feelings hurt. So the family? Totally safe flirting. I've already dated one of the sons so everyone else is safe ground. Woohoo! Yes, I flirt with the daughters too, but that ground is so safe it's almost sacred. The only person there's no flirting with? Mom's hubby, Dan. Dan Dan the pizza man. Dan Dan used to own a pizza restaurant when he and Mom met. If I try to flirt with Dan, I get my hair yanked out of my head. So there's no line crossing there. If Dan tries to flirt, me and the rest of the kids all yell "Moooommmmm!!!" as loud as we can and then laugh at him. If I try to flirt with Dan he and the kids to the same thing to me. It rocks. They are such an awesome family.

So a wonderful weekend was had but it doesn't make the best blog fodder in the world and there's no pictures! Where are the damn pictures!! There are supposed to be hair pictures and yarn pictures and puppies and stuff. Also a secret photo project I ain't tellin about so there. Not that it matter because at this rate it will be YEARS, people, YEARS before I ever get it done to blog. So see? I have nothing to talk about. Hopefully Wednesday will be less of a boring post of nothing. Maybe at some point I will update my reading list over there and work on some actual crochet. Oh and maybe get my blog buttons that Christina made for me posted in the sidebar for stealing. I need to quit slacking and start staking stalking. Jeez.

If you want excitement, you are so very lost today.

Blah. For the past 2 weeks, blah. Without going into major TMI (sorry Christina!) my body decided after a year that I am actually female and golly something doesn't belong and let's get rid of it all right fucking now yay! All I know is it had better be done by April 2nd. Or there will be face biting. So yeah, there hasn't been any posting because I knew it would turn into a rant about how much I hate when my body does this and how weepy I get because it's gross and it's proof that I am still not pregnant and blah. Blah. Blah. I also get angry. Weepy + angry does not make for good posting. It makes for this sort of shit I am typing now. Nothing. Argh!

Anywho, to try and get over my late in life teen angst, I went and got a haircut. It's what we do. When we get pissy, we get nails done or a pedicure or buy nice soft yarn that makes us purr. Yesterday, my hair was almost to my butt. Today it is just past my shoulders. I got 7 inches cut off. (Oh hell what kind of hits am I going to get now for typing 7 inches on my blog) I love my hair now. It's actually a little sexy and it makes me look thinner. T LOVES the hair, even though he prefers longer hair on women. I'm not sure what it says about me that a haircut changed my attitude as much as it did. It's such a girly reaction. I'm so not girly. Don't get me wrong, I'm still bitchy. I'm just bitchy while swinging my new haircut around.

I'm working on something special for Monday, my one year Blogiversary is coming up, my cruise is coming up (eek! so much to do!) and my birthday is coming up. Y'all, I'm gonna be 34 here in a bit. That sucks ass. In the meantime....

Hormonal Bitch You are 63% PMS-ing!

Well done, you have PMS and you're not afraid to show it! You know, if you bottle it up, you'll explode one of these days anyway. So live a little! Give your boss a good bitchslap, gorge yourself on Kit Kats. The world will forgive you. Because you're a woman, and you're PMS-ing, dammit!

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 50% on PMS

Link: The PMS Test written by LikityKity on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test