can't sleep, flowers will eat me

I've got the mom corsages done. my bouquet is half done. i have tons of pearls & ribbons and floral tape, though! hmm, thank goodness i'll have 9 glorious free days before. i'm not getting anywhere, i swear.

and a gracious thank you to both miss lime & miss violet. miss lime had done some hand-painting, and brought the results 3 weeks ago. i must have overly oohed & aahed (not on purpose, no not sweetl lil' ole me!), because she decided to gift it to me as abridal shower gift. and mis violet traded me the berry mash i got from marie
for some halloween sock yarn i saw that she'd dyed months ago.

also, a great big thankyou to my secreat pal angel. she stepped up to the plate when my pal couldn't finish. go see patty and convince her that i love the sock yarn! it's trekking, for goodness, sake! i just happened to be in a get it out kind of mod that night, lol.

it doesn't help that i love my child very very very much. otherwise, why else would i be digging through the basement at 1030 looking for baby pictures? a buggy, spidery basement. with cobwebs. and sean has been digging (i.e. throwing shit everywhere) through stuff. i did hit the mother lode though. i found a box marked books & pics, and it had a TON. i think i deserve a reward after this, dont' you? i get to pic the picture. no matter how embarassing. don't worry, no naked baby pics, lol. i'm not that heartless.

liam is going out for football, and the first day of practice he yakked. mark & i told him & told him, but would he listen and get off his ass? too funny. he's fine, he just pushed himself too hard. a good night's sleep and he's back to his perpetual mouth motion, bubbly, perky, annoying self.

and i found my camera! it was on the. . . computer desk. in front of me. sigh. i promise i will post pics soon.

and now, darling readers, i must flee. i have to fetch the ritual brown paper bags for wrapping the precious textbooks. my precioussssssssssss.

damn

you know, blogger's habit of publishing your post when you hit enter in the title field is REALLY ANNOYING! i think i may have to file a complaint on this one. so if you've clicked and i have a blank post, i'm working on a real post, but blogger hiccuped on me again.

it's hot. it's DAMN HOT. it's STANKY HOT. just ask deawn. at least i'm not allergic to my deodorant. and a great big thank you for the gifts she gave me at the world's rockingest bridal shower tonight! she gave me 2 different sleep masks, excedrin migraine, and HEAD ON! god, that commercial is so FUCKING ANNOYING! and the stuff is strictly homeopathic. we'll see, lol. oh, and the certificate for stuff when i DON'T have a headache. just too magnificent.

oh, you wanna hear about the world's rockingest bridal shower? for all you fiber-o-philes out there, it was at SoP. a yarn store. and the theme? yarn swap. bride gets first pick. and the funny part? i gave away more yarn than i took home. if anyone recalls, i had a big box of sock yarn, and i'd never touched it. well, it ALL has a home now. however, since one spinner arrived with roving, i did take some home. i will show pics as soon as i can find my fucking camera. it's awol in my kitchen, and since i'm not living here right now, it could damned well be ANYWHERE. and liam's birthday is tomorrow. damn. and the way we did the swap? i would hold up a yarn, tell what it was, then either confiscate it, or offer it up. it got thrown at the first person who spoke up for it. there were a few that didn't take any. or maybe not. actually, i think the only one who didn't take any was carin, and she didn't bring anything except some gorgeous roving from blue moon fibers (home of socks that rock!) that she didn't care for, but that i had drooled over when it arrived, named persimmon. however, it was NOT orange. it was orange & purple & chartreuse, and oh my goodness, so yummy! and food. i think i had enough sugar to power an adhd child for weeks! no wonder i was so frantic at the end, lol. erin made the most amazing, gooey, chocolatey brownies i've ever had. jen went to whole foods (oh my god, i could LIVE there!) and brought mini tartlets and chocolate flourless torte (i.e. chocolate fudge with eggs, drool!). miriam brought cream cheese mints (about the only mint i'll eat, how she knew, i'll never guess). linda brought these little phyllo dough packets filled with raspberry jam & cream cheese. alicia, of limenviolet fame brought banana bread, which i'm told was very good. i stayed at the other end of the room (i'm allergic to bananas, which alicia did not know. it's ok, hon, everybody else enjoyed it, which is what counts!). while none of it was good for the body, it was most definitely food for the soul. i'll take a page from liz, also of limenviolet fame, and say i could have rolled around in it.

and i think tonya gave me the most precious gift of all. she gave me the skein of yarn that she had handspun that took a first at the nebraska state fair last year. i am truly honored with such a precious gift, and will try to find something appropriately stunning to make with it. thank you so very very much.

on to other bits.

i'm still working on the socks i'm making for steph, except i had a needle go awol. i had it in my hair when i went to my doctor appointment, and i think it fell out when i took my hair down. who knows where it is now. so i had to improvise, and snag one of the susan bates i bought 2 weeks ago when i had forgotten my knitting for knit night. thank god they were in the car.

not much else knitting is happening right now. see paragraph one.

sean is not going out for football. i'm sorry, but when he gets in trouble on the SECOND day of school, when they tried to test him out in a regular classroom (and it was his rude behavior, not just some innocent mistake), i think he needs to work on the academic before we reward him with sports. we'll try for basketball this winter.

wedding plans continue apace. i got more bubbles done up this afternoon, and had to start cutting squares again. i also bought more flowers & stuff to make the ring-bearer pillow at hobby lobby this afternoon, since my job decided they didnt' need my services today, and gave me R(required) T(time) O(off) at 10 am! mark asked mom if she could shorten my dress, so tomorrow's assignment is to find shoes with the appropriate heel height (i called sherril and asked how high the heels were, so i could find some in my shoe stash) and get the dress over there this weekend. thank god it's supposed to be cooler! i dont' know if i can stand this icky humid crap anymore.

i promise, as soon as i find my camera, there will be pics.

mama said there'd be days like this. . .

holy craptastic! what a day.

let's preface it with the fact that, in the end everything turned out well. but man o man!

i took the day off, but didn't accomplish anything i really wanted to do. wedding stuff? well, one thing. i found a dress. yes, that fast. it fits like a dream (except it's long, so it will go over to mom's for shortening, but that's the ONLY thing it needs), and it was the first one we picked out. it actually makes me look skinny!

while i was at therapy, my cell phone rang, and it was sean's foster mom. has the school called? no. sean's missing. he's WHAT??!?!?!?!??! so i left early, and called hte school. they said they'd given the FM all the info,a nd to talk to her. oy. this is my child folks, i need info! so i got to the school, and they hadn't heard anything. they thought he'd gotten on the wrong bus. after waiting at the school for 45 minutes, and the bus people calling back & saying he wasn't on the special ed busses, i was ready to panic. then, the FM called back & said that sean had walked up to his former foster mom's house when he'd missed his bus, and waited for her to get home from work. oy! he didnt know that only the doors he was near were locked, so he assumed they were all locked, and started walking. while it was not the best choice to make (he's been told he should have stayed at the school, at least we would have known where he was), at least he thought to try to find an adult to help him. believe it or not, i do believe this is a step in the right direction.

and by the way, did no one appreciate my attempt at celebratory humor for the last day before school started? hmmm? gimme some love, folks!

ttfn

now for something completely different

i was honestly going to post pics, but i can't find my camera, and i think a certain blonde who is no longer blonde has it. she was here sunday night, and i think she absconded with it without asking. sigh. i think i will get her one for christmas, as she's asked, just so she leaves my freaking camera alone!

hmmm, waht's up?

i don't have a dress. Mom can't get it to let out enough, so i get to go dress shopping at the last minute. joy.

i don't have shoes either. apparently the us postal service has decided that 2-3 day priority actually means whenever they damned well feel like it! so sherril ordered another pair of shoes. however, the sneakers that she dressed up for the reception may be a loss. payless has moved on to fall shoes, and these were backless sneakers. oy.

and everything else is going ok, wedding wise, except that the rsvp's are coming in S L O W L Y. doesn't anyone know that RSVP means responez sil vous plait? in english, send the frigging card back so i can give the caterer an accurate count! oy. of the 60 some invitations i've actually mailed with rsvps, i've got maybe 15 back. hello, they're not free stamps, people! damn. this is turning into a major pet peeve.

I also got a line on an interpreter for my mother for the wedding. Mark thought it would be cool if my brother bob interpreted for her, but i told him it would never work. I don't kid when i say i'm the family interpreter. i'm the only one who truly signs. my brothers fingerspell, as do my kids. i'm it.

and in case you couldn't tell by the previous post, school starts tomorrow. yippee! there is some trepidation though. sean is going to be rotating classes. this may or may not be a good thing. at least he won't be bored, like last year. his teacher was so upset with him, that she took away his specials, and he NEVER LEFT THE CLASSROOM. he even didn't get PE or art. sigh. and i get the distinct impression that his art teacher didn't agree with it, because she has transferred to this middle school, and is doing 7th grade art. she said she was looking forward to seeing a lot more of sean this year, than last.

both boys are going out for football. this ought to be good. liam will do well, he'll just be worn out, because he's out of shape. sean will be a different story. he has issues with following rules, and doing as he's asked the first time. we'll see how well it works. he says he really wants to go out, so we'll try it. however, if he ends up off the team for behavior, i'm seriously thinking about making him pay for his cleats. what do you guys think? And this is an every body plays team. no matter how good or bad. i like that. i really think they should find a space for all kids at this age.

and they have a KNITING CLUB at the middle school! liam's language arts teacher is the sponsor, and when i told her i knit & spin, she just about spun herself. she was ecstatic, lol.

speaking of knitting, there has been a wee bit of progress. i started & frogged a socklet that i'm doing for steph for christmas. she keeps telling me she doesn't like fancy colored socks, so i'm making her white socks! brown sheep wildfoote comes in off white, and since it's machine washable, that's definitely doable for her. i also frogged the carnival yarn. the toe was coming out too elvish, and i definitely have hobbit feet (guess what i've been listening to on booktape!)


how's about a little redneck? i havne't done any since (gasp) june!

you might be a redneck if you have 16 cats living in your yard, but can't get close enough to pet any of them.
. . .you practice shooting your bow at work.
. . . you've ever been promoted to dishwasher.
. . . you have something on layaway at the 99-cent store (or walmart, lol)
. . . people driving directly behind you become faint & dizzy (like the car behind me on the interstate today, you couldn't see behind him!)
. . . you & your wife have the same measurements (does that include body hair?)
. . . your biggest business worry is law enforcement.
. . . the only time you traveled out of state was an alien abduction.
. . . you use speed bumps to try to get your truck airborne.
. . . your landscaping includes corn & squash (except that is the new "in" thing, according to abc news tonight. does that make them rednecks or hippies?)
. . . the drugstore calls the police after developing your pictures (ewwwwww)
. . . you buy groceries, bait, and lottery tickets at the same place (walmart!)
. . . your favorite sex position is "awake." (i'm not EVEN going there!)
. . . you carry a case of beer to your tax audit. (bribe?)
. . . you think AOL is how your uncle got out of the army.
. . . your cell phone plays "sweet home alabama." (and what's wrong with that? that just makes you a high tech red neck (i hear george jones!))
. . . your cb antenna slaps the stoplights when you go through town.
. . . every car you own has a "papa John's" sign on the roof.
. . .you use a screwdriver to start your pickup (or a pair of pliers, lol, been there done that)
. . . your front yard is on more than one prayer list. (hmmmm)
. . . the most romantic moment of your life was interrupted by a police officer.
. . . the only pool you've owned is a cesspool.
. . . you think algebra is something you buy at Victoria's Secret. (now that's funny!)

and i'll leave you with this thought: if you can't be good, be good at it (dont' ask where i got that, i don't know!)

twas the night before school

Twas the night before school
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse.

All the backpacks were lined up
By the back door with care,
With the hopes that the principal
Would really be fair.

I in my t-shirt and Pa in our bed,
had just settle down for the rules to be read.
No flip flops, no tank tops, no gangbanger jeans.
No hats, no hoodies, and clothes must be clean.

When out from the alley there arose such a clatter,
I ran to the back door to see what was the matter.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a loud jalopy with ear-busting gear.

With a teeth-rattling bass, and ear-drum piercing treble,
I knew this annoying kid was really into metal.
I knew in a moment that it was that annoying little prick.
The one down the street who knew all the tricks.

He drove slowly down my alley shouting with great wherewithall,
"School's starting! School's starting! Woe to us all!"
I grabbed my shotgun, and gave it a blast,
And blew that little sucker's ghetto box right into the past.

As the smoke cleared away
and the prick rolled out of sight,
I whispered "Happy school to all parents, and to all a good night!"

because we're goin' to the chapel . . .

well, we most definitely have a minister! we met with him last night, paid him, and discovered he has a lovely sense of humor. thank goodness. i was really hoping for a non-plodding, unstodgy one.

we bought the rings yesterday. we had to order mark's, because he got a "fancy" band with an edge (he's only going to wear it once in a while, you can't wear those things when you work with machinery all day), and it may be tight to get it in. the lady did say that if it got close, we'd get one sized, then do an exchange for the correct, unaltered size. my band actually has stones in it. i hadn't originally wanted anything beyond a plain band, but it went so well with my engagement ring, that i couldn't resist. chaching & bling bling, doncha know!

i got the invitations out, for the most part. i'm passing them out at work (hush, don't tell anyone, i'm not supposed to, lol (ala dooce, apparently!)), and all the ones that need mailed have been so. it's looking like the west coast contingient is probably not going to make it. from either side, lol, because my second cousin is getting married the same day, lol. apparently that's a popular date!

I started my bouquet last night, and it's gonna be a whopper! i'll post a pic when i finish it (i'm at the library, killing a little time before sean's school physical). that leaves 3 more bouquets, and 4 corsages, and all the boutineeres.

Sean is doing so-so. he's been having difficulties likes he's always had, although he's not actively defiant with the fosterfamily. he just does things on his timetable, and no one elses. therapy tuesday stunk, because he absolutely did not want to participate. i'm sure a ton of this is the fact that liam got to spend a week with his grandma, while sean had to stay behind, and that school is starting next week, and he's dreading it. so far, not so hot. he's been informed that if he doesn't start behaving properly, he will not be allowed to participate in the wedding. while i would dearly love to have him there, he has to realize that this is MY day, and that what I say goes.

Alyse is actually going to come to the wedding! i sent her an email asking about the bridal shower, and she said she couldn't make that, but that her mom didn't get married every day (just every few years (the smart ass, gee, wonder where she gets it from?)) and that she'd be there

knitting? yeah, a little. mostly bag knitting, as i'm working on getting an inventory up. however, not much. my ac is out of commision because my sump pump broke, and it drains into that, so we've been at mark's. oy.

gotta dash i'm out of time!

TTFN

uncle

it's 87F outside, and 88F in here. and the humidity is high. i can smell the dew getting ready to fall. i give in. i turned on the AC and now i'm going to bed. see ya later

random saturday

ok, i've dubbed this one random saturday.

first there's this. for those of you who watch good eats, and havent seen feasting on asphalt, you are missing a HUGE treat. apparently watching people eat on the road is a big deal this summer. there's paula dean's boys, and right now unwrapped is doing a "road trip" show. then there's food finds, and that one show that i can't recall, that ate around cities or themes. while paula's boys do a fine job, y'all need to step back. alton has it in the bag. i LOVE alton brown. granted, i wouldn't want to do like the misses lime & violet with their yarn (listen to their latest podcast. oh dear!), but his wit is fantastic, as well as his insight. it's been on once tonight, so it should be on again at midnight central time. go check it out!

Edit: Alton is acutally on right now, at 11 pm. no schmuck boy tonight.

then there's my crazy kid. Liam. have i ever told you how cool he can be? he was raised a head-banging baby, and to this day, hasn't gotten into that hiphop bitch ho slap around the bitch crap that alot of kids like. he flipped when he found out i'd bought him an ac/dc notebook for school. what he doesn't know about is the ac/dc sleep pants i found him for his birthday. yes, he's getting other stuff (god, i couldn't inflict just clothes on him, let's get real). he'll flip.

and he listens to mandatory metallica on Z92 (local station that plays classic metal & new stuff too. my only issue is their disgusting morning show. no music, just these two assholes who feel the need to denigrate any and every one they think will be funny. sigh) there's another station here in town 89.7 the River. they play a lot of alternative rock (ska, death metal, punk, indie, and on sunday mornings, Pacific Street Blues). they also play local bands (although they've only played mark's band, centerfuze, a few times, just not up their alley). and they also play older metal that doesn't get regular air play. they played "When It Comes To Me" by Metallica, which is an older song, in the good old days before they decided that they needed a bigger slice of the pie and lars decided to be a wimpy baby. (sorry, some bitter issues there). He'd never heard it before. He was in AWE. and the best part is this is one song where i can just belt it out, and sound absolutely amazing(i know, lorna, i should sing some wehre else other than my car or SoP). my normal range is second soprano (i can't break glass, i spose i'm a lot like sheena easton (shout out if you don't know who she is, and i'll see if i can find some links)). it helps to know the song, lol. now, i know, there were a few people at SoP a couple of weeks ago that feeled slightly betrayed with the "regularization" of groups like ac/dc and metallica, but i say more power to them. if it causes them to tour again, i'll pay the money, and take my son! hey, i took steph to Red, White & Rock (spondered by 93.3 the Dam, before they became a shit kicker station (at least they play classic country!)) three years ago, and Linkin Park not long after that. Liam wanted to go see Rob Zombie when he was here, but the opener (i can't place it right now ) was notorious for graphic lyrics, so that was a no go. Hell, Staind is back out, and playing next weekend. God, i wish i could go! anyway, this is a knitting blog, right?

Jennifer had her baby yesterday morning. the one day she came to work (on friday after the shower) i had left the damned thing at home. so i' going to wait a few days to let baby & momma settle, then i'll call her & find out wehre she lives, and deliver the sweater.

for charity, i've just stuck to making sqares at work. it's easier that way, i don't have to think.

I've started making my felted purses again, and i'm disgusted with the first one. it ended up short & wide, which is fine. the big problem is that the edge rippled on me. i'm using a really big book wrapped in press & seal wrap (it's a hard cover, those survive that stuff well), and have it blocking in my dish drainer. we eat at mark's mostly, so there are few dishes here. the flap turned out relatively well, although it did cup a bit. i wanted a pointed flap that wasn't too deep, so did an extra decrease in the middle. it's doable. just that damned ripple maybe i can fold that bit in & stitch the lining to it. i'm almost done with an all red one, and will wash it probably monday or tuesday.

however, tonight, i don't even WANT to look at needles & wool. it was 99 again today, and since it stormed over night, and we got a brief shower around 11, the humidity is through the roof.

today was tax day in iowa (no sales tax on clothing & shoes, up to $100 per item) so i took sean & my mom to walmart in Council Bluffs. we had to wait til afternoon, because i had a last minute doctor appointment (i'll explain) in the morning, and Sean's music lesson was at noon. first off, we had to park in the north 40. if i had been thinking, i would have dropped sean & my mom @ the door, and just made myself walk, but iw as being blonde, sigh. i was already starting to overheat. we were there for 2 frigging hours. fifteen minutes of that was spent looking for sean. it wans't really his fault. he's got a cold, and has been eternally thirsty, so asked if he could go hunt for a drinking fountain. i told him i'd stay in the men's department (liam's into everything men's except t-shirts). after waiting 10 minutes, i got concerned. i went to the restroom, looking for him the entire way, and no sean. sigh. so i had him paged twice, while waiting by the restrooms. no luck. so i described him to the cashier (she was manning the self checkouts, so she woulnd't be too distracted, and told her to nab him & page me. he'd know my name, lol. i thought i heard my name, and rest room, so i checked again. no luck. went to the video games & the toys. no luck. finally, i hit up one of the ladies at the stands they have with red vests, and asked her to page him again. apparently, he heard it, he paged me again, to the fitting rooms. he did what i'd taught him! we had had issues with him wandering off while we were shopping, so i taught him to go to customer service (fitting rooms worked, too) and have me paged. YIPPEE! while i was upset about not finding him, and was about to call a code adam, the fact that he used his head, and thought about what to do, thrills me to death. maybe we're working closer to him coming home.

Liam wasn't with us, because he had chosen to pick a fight with sean over a lego's magazine, and then wanted to argue with me about it. they both had lost the priviledge of playing video games at walmart (an easy way to keep track of them, lol) because of the fight. liam kept trying to tell me that sean started it, and i told him that it takes two to fight, so they'd both get a consequence. he started to argue about that, and since i was already hot & cranky, i told him, fine you don't get to pick out your clothes, you can stay home. i can still get away with that, one, he's a boy, and two, he's almost 14. he doesn't totally doubt my taste in clothes, yet.

anyway, having learned my lesson about finding my mother in walmart (for those who don't know, she's deaf so i can't have her paged if she goes somewhere else other than where i'm expecting. the last time this happened, i had to call a code adam, and have them hunt her down. it took an hour to find her!), i had established a meeting point with her. sean had been very good, so i told him he could go pick out a toy, then meet me & grandma in the produce section (much easier to find than "the men's department, lol). i found her, told her to wait there for sean, and i'd go pay for my stuff. that took 20 minutes. then i found her & sean, debated about the price of the toy (he'd been told $5 or less, but since he'd been so good about getting himself found, i cut him a little slack), then took everyone to find another check out & checked my mother out. of course, i'd forgotten socks for liam & mark, so i grabbed some of those, quickly (thank god there was a rep in the sock aisle, i couldn't find mark's socks (he wears the super huge mega socks, he wears a size 14 shoe)), and we checked out my stuff & hers. then came the fun of finding the van. i think the battery is dying in my key fob, because i have to be really close to make it work, so i couldn't even hit the panic button to find it. fortunately, it was only 2 rows over, and just as far out as we had gone.

then there was the mad dash to the hall the reception is going to be. we left walmart at 4:40, and i was supposed to meet the lady there at 5. i made it, but just by the skin of my teeth!

now, to the doctor's appointment. no, I'M NOT PREGNANT! let's keep that straight. this baby factory is closed for business. however, i got my old summer favorite back. the city decided i needed to clean up my yard, which is mowed, at lest, unlike the neighbors down the street who have weeds all over their yard that stand as tall as 4 feet. i think they've mowed twice this summer. needless to say, i finally got the phone # i needed to call their asses in. sauce for the goose, don't ya know. so guess what happened. i got poison ivy AGAIN! that's it, i'm getting my doctor to recommend a dermatologist early next spring, and i'm getting desensitization shots. the big problem with poison ivy & me is this: i'm hyperallergic to it. while most people get a rashy spot from contact with the oils, unles they get more contact, it stays where the oil has gone. (by the way, the oils can stay active for DAYS after clothing has been changed. if someone has poison ivy, be very careful about doing their laundry.) not me. i get one spot, and my antibodies freak out, and i start to break out EVERYWHERE. i worked on my yard thursday, and was very careful not to touch anything if i could help it. (i used my clippers, and liam used gloves to transport the crap to the compost heap. does he have poison ivy? HELL NO. it started with a faintly itch y patch on my waist (yes, i was dressed, fucked if i know how it got there) yesterday afternoon. by last night, it was a very itchy patch, and i had to change my shorts to keep from rubbing it. this morning, it had spread to my left arm, my left jaw(yes, i have two, don't you? how else do you think i'm so chatty!), and my scalp. in my hair. and i have chronic itchy scalp on top of that. yes, i'm just thrilled! so i went to the doctor. the funny part is this: while i use a different doctor for most of my regular "maintenance" appointments, the last minute ones get to be who ever has an open slot. in the 2 years i've owned this house, i've had to go to the doctor THREE times for poison ivy. and this fill in doctor has had me every time. and he remembered, lol. so he asked me what i wanted to do. now, that is a comfortable physician. the usual steroid pill packs that they give most people don't work on me. i've tried before. this PI thing has been going on for 5 years. i got it 3 times in one year, and the pill pack worekd the first two times. the third time, they gave me two (the rash came back as soon as i stopped after the first one), and after the second one ws done, i immediately broke out again. that's when they brought in the big guns. prednisone. god, i hate that crap! it upsets my stomach (even with food) forever. that time, they started me with 60 mg for 3days, and then dropped it like the pill packs, every 3 days. i was so sick. so, when i got it the first time 2 years ago, here, they suggested a shot of steroids first, and then a smaller dose to start (50 mg for 3 days, which means being on them for 3 days less!), and it worked well. so it old the doctor this, and he said, ok, we'll do that. i LOVE that doctor's office. they are all no-nonsense, (i've seen 3 others besides my own doctor, plus the PA), and will listen to you. and my doctor actually had the "safe sex" discussion with liam last year, while i was in the room. i thought he was going to fall through the floor. too funny. and they all have senses of humor, too! i've had a few popous asses (the doctor i transferred to when i was pregnant with stephanie, & moved), and this office is refreshing. and the office staff is friendly, and sociable, whle still being professional. and they even ask after my mother! (since she started going to the hematologist for her monthly blood thinner checks (she had a heart valve replacement in '86)) she doens't get in there as often as she did).

anybody interested in wedding news? if not, too bad, i'm going on! WE MAY HAVE A MINISTER! sean's foster parents are heavily involved in their church (hes' a lay minister), so we asked them if they could recommend anyone. he couldn't find anyone. however, her mom lives up by us, and she asked her if she could think of anybody. her neighbor is a retired minister at a church that is just upt he street from mark's house! we talked to him, and he wants to meet in the next few days, but it's looking good!

i got the last few addresses i needed (the west coast cousins were tough, i had to hunt them down via an older cousin that was a long distance call (and you know, they all want to chitchat because i havne't talked to them in a while (how's your mother, how's life, how old are the kids, i cna't believe they're so grown) and then i get to hear their news). i called my cousin shirley, who i always liked (she was different, if only because she was a thorazine baby, and has one arm that ends in two fingers at the elbow (i could relate to the differentness, even in my young days (most of my first cousins are 20 years or more older than i), just because mine wasn't a physical difference)), and she told me her older brother now lives in indonesia most of the year (comes back for holidays & tax time) (he won't be coming, lol), that her sister had divorced & sold her house, so she needed to call her aobut the addy, and that her daughter (2 years my junior) is getting married on the same day! too fucking funny! (in case y'all havne't noticed, i've not stated my wedding date here, because i know a certain personage reads my blog, and i really don't think he needs to know this information. if you wanna know, and i know who you are, email me. i'll tell ya). so the west coast cousins won't be coming. oh well. however, shirley is a traveler (rv& bikes) and may be through this way some time next spring. i've told her that now i have all these addresses, i might just organize a get together, so we can all see each other again. some of them i havent' seen since the last time she was here with her husband, daugher, and grandson, and that was well before daddy died.

tuxes have been measured for.
caterer has been met, & seen the hall (the outside, at least, she's suitably impressed.)
more floral tape was bought today, and i'll be starting flowers, soon.
and erin is contemplating throwing a shower for me @ SoP. a yarn shower! I LOVE IT! no bachlorette for me, i'm not interested. mark's not having a bachelor party either.


ok, i can't think of anything else, and i feel that my computer may take a dump on me, so i better hit publish post, and skeedaddle.

ONE MORE EDIT: I just saw a commerical for a new body wash by Softsoap. It has protien extracts from CASHMERE. is that possible? they'd definitely have a market with fiberistas!

TTFN!