Is this thing on?

Here we go...

2004-07-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

Tickets, check! We swung by the airport last night and bought our plane tickets to Bermuda! I'm kind of freaking out. DBF and I have gone to College Station and Louisiana together and on one camping trip but that's it as far as trips. Our longest stay so far has been a 3 day weekend. I'm not really worried about us getting along (or not getting along), so much as just seeing this as a step in the relationship. It's going to be so much fun! This is my first international flight (I've only driven into Mexico a little) and the first time I've been off the continent (aside from being in a glass bottom boat in the keys but I never got on land that wasn't US soil. Very exciting!

I'm a bit nervous because I dress so casually and that's unacceptable there. So we can't go from the beach to the stores or restaurants like we do around here; we'll have to go back to our room to change clothes. But I'm sure it will be worth it.

Knitty Gritty DIY Network is airing a new episode of Knitty Gritty today if anyone is interested. It comes on at 9a (I think) and 2p here in central standard time.

As far as my knitting, I took a break from it yesterday but hope to get somewhere on DBF's blanket today. I'm only 6 rows into it (so I'm still on the border) but I'm about 1/3 of the way through Dug's hat!

Exercise? Do I have to? Just kidding, I've been digging our rainy crazy wonderful unsummerlike weather lately and couldn't stand being in the house anymore. I went for a walk on Wed that turned into nearly an hour just strolling around the neighborhood. I'll probably do the same again today or tomorrow. And will probably hash this weekend, maybe get a bike ride in also. Who knows?? DBF and I haven't planned anything this weekend except that we can't go out of town (or SCUBA diving) because he's oncall. Bleh!

Well...

2004-06-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well it is Texas hold 'em for a reason, you know... Last night I was supposed to nap, run, get groceries, clean my running shoes and socks, do some laundry, and knit. So, what did I do?
I started my nap but just as I was falling asleep DBF called and told me he was going to a poker tournament. I had to be there in an hour if I wanted to play. It was rush hour and raining. I made it.
I lost, but feel that I played almost perfectly. There is only one hand that I would have changed how I played even in the slightest, and honestly if I played that hand again a hundred times over I would probably play it the same about 75 of those 100 times. If I had played it differently I might have been in the game a few more hands but would have been upset with myself about how I played it later. So, what did I learn?
You can play perfectly and still lose; that's why it's gambling. What's the good news? I learned that without paying a cent. :) (And I was cheap leader for a good part of the game!) I was also playing against people who are very experienced (DBF and I were definitely in the 3 least experienced at this 8 person table, in fact 4 of the people at the table had won or placed in tournaments and also attended poker tournaments that are for real money on a weekly basis, so they really were good players. And some of those players praised my playing style. Woohoo!)

Vacation Yippee! It's closing in, we are setting dates, and picking flights! We'll either leave next week (OMG!) or the last week in July! Either way, yeehaw!!! I'm learning alot about Bermuda but there isn't nearly enough pirate info. Grr! I love pirate-lore!

TGIF

2004-06-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw Harry Potter again. I went to Alamo with my mom and I bought our tickets (buy one get one free) and she bought our meals! Woohoo. I made out like a bandit!
I looked hard for a Ravenclaw scarf in the movie and may have seen a glimpse of one but it was only for a split second and I can't be sure that's what I really saw. Oh well, I like those colors the best so that's what I'm making. (Although honestly I also really like the way the Slytherin scarf looks.)

Takin' care of business This weekend I'm going to try and convince DBF that we need to get crafty and get stuff done. Here's what I want to do:
finish painting his bathroom
make his shower curtain
do a few of my shirt reconstructions
finish Kyoko's scarf

and of course on Sunday, we hash. (exercise, right??)

Vacations and bloodletting...

2004-06-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Fun stuff first: Today I have been looking into vacation possibilites. DBF and I are trying to have a good long fun diving vacation in beautiful blue waters (and I'm trying to earn my first passport stamp). Then if we have enough vacation time (and money) left over we'll meet my brother, SIL, and our friends in Vegas for a weekend or so. Hooray!

So. I've been looking today for good deals on neat places to go and I found an awesome place called Saba. It's an island in the Netherland Antilles (around puerto rico). What a freakin' cool place, with good diving, and awesome lodging! Of course it's costing an arm and a leg but looks like possibly one of the least expensive options. We are also looking at cruises.

Let the blood fall freely! Yes, so I gave blood for the first time ever, and Monday the great mystery of my blood type will be resolved (I've had doctors tell me different blood types). So... let the anticipation begin (b/c I'm sure ya'll care).
I was nervous about giving blood but it was no problem. Everyone should go donate like DBF and I. :D

Knitting report: I'm 23 out of 32 in through with Kyoko's scarf. If I'm going to have it finished by Monday I'd better get cracking. That means I'd need to do the lions share of that tonight, say get to 28 or so. 5 inches, that's about 55 rows. Well, I don't have anything better to do tonight... though I'd much rather work on DBF's blanket.

Oh yeah, DBF and I hit the goodwill near his house earlier this week and as we were browsing (I forget what he was looking for, kitchen stuff of some sort) I found a pack of (read 5 skeins) 100% alpaca yarn. It's a pretty light grey color. I hope it knits well, seems to be fingering weight so I don't know what I'll use it for but I'm certainly doing well at building my stash. Oh and for those of you wondering: total price for 5 skeins of about 110 yards $4.

Right, so...

2004-06-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Updates!

Knitting: I have recaston (read: I have started over) on DBF's BBBB (#1). I'm using two threads after all. It looks gorgeous so far. Of course I've only done 2 rows, but... it's coming along.
Kyoko's scarf is closing in on 3/4 of the way finished, but not quite. About 22 inches long right now.
I've decided I must do something for myself so I am making a POA (Prisoner of Azkaban)(yes, that's Harry Potter) scarf. I am even joining the knitalong. I'm going to do Ravenclaw but haven't decided if I'll do the movie colors (blue and silver) or the book colors (blue and bronze). I'm ordering my yarn tomorrow. It's going to take me forever to make this scarf, not just because of how hugely long it is but because this will be my backup project. I must get my Xmas stuff done too.

Yesterday I also managed to wind 4 balls of yarn. (That's 5 this week.) Only 22 more to go! (Not counting the yarn I order tomorrow.)

My ex...: Do you ever just think "What the hell was I thinking??" He had his wallet stolen yesterday (karma) and he was just chatting with me about how he wouldn't feel guilty at all stealing some stranger's wallet. Ugh! I'm disgusted.

Tea swap: Yum! I've tasted the guava leaves tea, a peach tea, a vanilla almond tea, and now ginger oolong tea. Yum!!

Running: I've said it before and I'll say it again: I need to get in gear. I think I'll run tonight (maybe). But whether I do or not, I will do some exercise. I've been pretty good about at least being active whether or not I run.

DiscountYarnSale.com another cheap yarn store!!

2004-06-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Yea discount yarns!
DiscountYarnSale.com TLC Cotton Plus Yarn

BBBBalong

2004-06-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a big bad baby (or in my case, boyfriend) blanket-along. Anyone knitting or wanting to start knitting the BBBB from SNB can join up and keep up to date with other people knitting the same thing. Wonderful!

If you are interested please leave me a comment here and I'll add you to the list!

I'll plan on taking more people all the way through the end of the year (so if you are making any for Christmas this is perfect).

When you have update your journal/blog with progress, let me know and I'll post an update for everyone to check out what you've done! Pictures are great, but this is open to everyone. Don't have a blog? Just send me an email detailing your progress and I'll put it in with the updates or leave your update in the comments portion of one of the other entries!

Oh yeah!

2004-06-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

I cast on for DBF's BBB(oyfriend, not baby)B. I've done 3 rows on it and hope to do a little more.
It's not looking bad so far at all, no mistakes yet (*whew*), but I am still a little worried because the weight of the yarn is DK (sport) and I am only using 1 strand. It may not turn out as cush as I want it to be. I'm still considering ripping it all out and doubling up the yarn like it says. It will take twice as much yarn (which is fine since I bought enough) but it will be harder...
He's worth the harder work but I don't want it to take so much longer that I don't get it done in time or have lots of mistakes or something. Maybe I'll save what I have so far and cast on the right needle size with 2 strands and do a few rows and see which is better and make my decision off that. Good idea, that will be my project for tonight.

Weekends are nice.

2004-06-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

Friday: I called in sick to work because I was feeling so tired and crappy. Not sick just achy and like I was starting to get a cold or something. I tried to sleep and couldn't so ended up going to the mechanic and getting my car fixed. Then taking a nap for about an hour. I felt better in the afternoon and DBF and I went to see Chronicles of Riddick that night. It was... okay. I liked watching Vin Diesel and the girl in it was pretty hot too. The best part was seeing the preview for King Arthur. Keira Knightly is Guineviere which means it's going to rock.

Saturday: DBF wasn't feeling great either so we slept in, ate yummy pancakes and omelet breakfast, watch the new Harry Potter movie (yes, we go to the movies a lot), had an amazing "nap", did a lot of cell phone shopping, both got low blood sugar and a little bitchy, ate delicious chinese food, went home and fell asleep. The new Harry Potter was wonderful. I love the new director and the kids are starting to look less goofy (except for Malfoy who got uglier and wussier).

Sunday: Went to Schlitterbahn (waterpark) with DBF and mom. Still felt a bit off. Had fun aside from getting dizzy or tired/low blood sugar a couple times. The lines were so long and that was a bit annoying as DBF really doesn't like long lines and neither of us really were in shape to wait for them. But I did go on boogiebahn (like boogie boarding a continous wave) for the first time in years. DBF did very good, I stayed on for a few seconds which was cool but it's so hard! I'm suprised mom can put up with us at all because DBF and I are always kissing (usually just lots of little pecks and cuddling and such, but occasionally more when we think no one is looking); we're like a bus full of PDA that blew up. :D
After Schlitterbahn, we ate some delicious mexican food (leftovers for breakfast, woohoo!) and realized I was really burned.

Anyway, my boyfriend is the greatest. *swoon*

Told in a Garden

2004-06-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! Check out the pretty needlepoint. Look under free christmas patterns for some really cool angels!

Interesting article. (Knitting)

2004-06-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

Colors and Chakras

Yea for me!

2004-06-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

Word Strong: Right, so I won the word scramble game for my group at work yesterday. Hooray me! That means we get a pizza day for our group, probably next week. Hopefully tomorrow.

Knitting mean: I finished Yukimari's scarf last night. There are 5-6 mistakes in it that I didn't fix. I don't really care. It still looks really good and you can't see the mistakes unless you are really looking. I'd say his gift is 99.9% finished (because I still have to weave in the ends). Kyoko's is still the same but today I start the mandatory 5 rows/day on it.

So now I have to figure out what to cast on today. I had planned to cast on for DBF's blanket(hereto referred to as BBBB, big bad boyfriend blanket) but am thinking that I may start on Dug's hat instead. I do want to move on from scarves for a bit but should I start a huge project or a small one. I think it will all depend on how the needles I have are acting tonight. I tried to get them ready to cast on for BBBB last night but the connector wouldn't work. (see www.knitdenise.com for info on the needles I'm trying to use, this will be my first project on them.)

Running wild: So DBF and I went to the track last night. Hooray! I was feeling kind of crappy (like I was starting to get sick) yesterday afternoon and was just planning on walking while he ran but of course I should know myself better than that. I ran .75 mi and walked 1.25 (walked .50, ran .25, walked .25, ran .25, walked .25, ran .25, walked .25) for a total of 2 mi. I have no idea how long it took. My run was very slow. I just wanted to up my heart rate a little but not so much that I had to breath heavy or work hard. I wanted to be comfortable basically. So I jogged at what I would guess was a 12-12.5 min/mi pace. Not bad. I walked at probably 13-14 min/mi (I'm bad at figuring out my walking paces).
Anyway, it was a perfect day for it (or evening really).

They're worth how many words? Wow. I must have a lot of writing to do today then because I still don't have my pictures up for all to see. (I did get a avatar yesterday though.) I'll try to do it tonight or tomorrow. Stupid computer...

Fuggin' car: Yeah so I went to have the alignment done on my car yesterday and it turns out I bent part of it when I hit the curb the other day. I'm basically driving knockkneed right now. Argh! It's going to cost me $250(!!) to replace it. Not what I needed right now, but I need this car. I can hardly wait 'til January when I get a new one even though it will be a huge financial strain. Pissonya, you better be happy with getting this car back because it's had alot of work done to it while you've been gallavanting around in Germany! ::grr:: (Oh but thanks for the good timing on getting me that car... don't think I'm ungrateful.)

Project's Progress

2004-06-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

Yukimari's scarf: This is 90% finished! I should be able to finish it up tonight (hopefully while my car is getting fixed). I have one big stripe and two small stripes left for a total of 22 rows to completion! (I may find that it's too small and do another big stripe and 2 more small stripes once it's to the "completed" stage, but I hope I don't have to do that. I will finish it by the end of the week either way.)

Kyoko's scarf: It's a little more than 50% through. Maybe 55%? I'm hoping to have this one done by the end of the month. I plan to do at least 5 rows every day until it's finished.

next in line:
As soon as I finish Yukimari's scarf I'm going to cast on for DBF's blanket.
As soon as I finish Kyoko's scarf, I'll cast on for my brother's scarf.

Eek!

2004-06-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

I vant to take your blood! So I signed up for the blood drive at my office next week and now I'm very anxious about it. I've never had my blood taken (except for tests and I've had that done literally 100s of times). I'm scared. I have tried to have my blood taken twice before but once I was on antibiotics and once I was found to be anemic. So, hopefully all will go well with this so that I can give blood AND I won't pass out. Hopefully.

No pressure... My boss came around earlier asking for a volunteer to represent our group by playing a word scramble game at our monthly meeting today. I told him I would do it if he couldn't find anyone else but to please try to find someone else. Basically I volunteered to help him out if all else failed. Well, guess what? All else failed.
I can feel the adrenaline kicking in my veins and there are still easily 3 more hours before the contest starts. I don't think people realize how seriously I take this. It's not really that I care about winning but I hate to not do well at things. I have this odd need to always be the best. The weirdest part about that need is that I can't figure out what fostered it in me, especially since I can be the slacker of slackers most of the time (until competition is added, even if it's just a competition with myself).
You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize that when I was little I used to enjoy games/challenges for a whole different reason. I guess you could say I liked them for themselves. Now I like them for the feeling of doing my best and sometimes even the feeling of winning. But I dont' really love the activity so much as the rush it brings. I need to work on that. For months I've been working on this with my running. Every time I run I always feel an adrenaline kick ("just get to that line" "almost through", stuff like that feels like I should really step it up and push myself but I get this horrible nauseous feeling from it. Ick! It's horrible. I want to go back to running just because I love how I feel when I run. Because of the wind and the closeness of the earth, and the way energies move around me and comingle with me, and how everything shines when I run. I want to focus on that again. Yes... I will.

What a good day!

2004-06-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

Exercise? Who, me? Well I did a 15 min walk but at a fair pace. I don't know if that can be counted as exercise but at least I wasn't laying on my butt, you know? I might actually get out for my needed run/walk tonight if mom is around and wants to go. We both need to get out more often.

Knitter Natter: I had a great time at the Stich N Bitch! I showed up about 7:20p not really expecting to see anyone yet because it wasn't time, but when I got there they already had 3 tables pulled together! We ended up taking up a full 7 tables!! It was so fun. We just sat around talked about: girly latch rugs, our projects, our work, our boyf/fiances/husbands, tatoos and piercings, how long we'd been knitting, knitting books and projects, and so much more. I'll definitely be going back!

I *heart* DBF: *sigh* Love is so wonderful. Every day I think to myself, "Self, there is just no way I could love him more, all my love is used up, I'm maxed out. I love him with all my being and there is no more to give." Then I see him again and Bam! more love. It's just there. *sigh* I hope this feeling lasts forever. Remember a commitment isn't a one time thing; it's a choice you make over and over again. I love choosing DBF every moment and hope to choose him for the rest of my life (and of course hope he chooses me the rest of his life too).
Yeah, life is good.
My heart just flips when he tells me he's proud of me. He told me last night; I was telling him about school plans and he said, "I'm really proud of you for going back, honey." And he said it with such sincerity and depth that I was taken back. I mean, I knew he was proud of me, but... the words just made it so sweet.
There were about 3 more of those types of moments in the 2 hours we talked/saw each other last night.

It's about damn time!

2004-06-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

StitchNBitch: It's tonight and I'm going. I am. I'm going to run or walk first, pick up my stuff from the dive school, knit n bitch, and then see DBF (maybe go on a walk too).
I'm pretty excited about going but a little nervous because what I'm working on is with crap yarn and is so simplistic. I'll probably just bring Yukimari's ribbed scarf to work on b/c I really want to finish it this week. I figure two hours of work will get me 75-85% done. Then one more day of work on it and I'll be done. I want to finish that scarf before I start DBF's blanket. Then when I finish Kyoko's scarf I'll start Dug's scarf or hat. I only want to have 2-3 projects going at a time.

No pictures, but lots of yarn!

2004-06-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Can you picture failure? I took pictures last night to add to this here journal. Unfortunately the internet didn't want to work for me last night, so while the pictures are downloaded and waiting in photoshop, they aren't here. :( I'll try again tomorrow.

But the good news: Yarn! I took pictures at exactly halfway through both scarfs that I'm working on. I was so happy being halfway through them both! Yea for me!
Then the doorbell rang and it was the UPS guy!! My yarn, my yarn!!
I now have all the yarn for DBF's blanket, mom's shawl, and Dug's hat and scarf. And it is all high quality perfect wonderful yarn. I was so anxious about it because I'd never ordered yarn online and I usually choose yarn by it's texture not what it's made of. *sigh of relief* Plus I was a little nervous about the colors for DBF's blanket but they are perfect too! (I hope I have some left over for a hat or something for myself!)
Anyway, all of it's perfect and of course I took pictures; I'll put them up when I get a chance and the computer at home is working right.

More school ramblings: I was talking to my mom about school in the fall and having to work 30 hours to have insurance. And how I'd rather work 25 or so and that I don't think I'll need the money from the other 5 hours (25 hours compared to 30). She suggested I get student insurance or something like that instead of working the extra time. I can't get insurance through her since I'm not a dependent and don't want to become one again because of financial aid reasons.
So now my todo list for school includes:
Find out if work will pay for my school,
Get info no insurance,
Make a back up plan of classes in case some of them are full when I register,
Register for classes (July 12),
Figure out where the money is coming from for first payment and make budget for fall,
Buy/find school supplies.

Another lazy arse: I haven't run in about a week. I'm not really worried about it because I was fairly active with the scuba last week. But I need to do something today to get back in the swing. I think I'll take a walk and then if I decide to run while I'm out there then I will.
I want to go biking at the veloway sometime this week, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to get together with DBF to do that, maybe Saturday. Hopefully Sunday will be Schlitterbahn, which I can't really count as exercise but is certainly more energy blasting than just about anything else.
The weird thing is that I have been watching pretty closely my calories in and out on Fitday and I have a huge deficit. It says I should have lost a lb a week for the past month. But I've maybe lost 2 lbs. I need to get down to the gym at work and use their scale again since that's the one I used to go with. Maybe tomorrow I'll remember.
Oh well, as long as I'm feeling healthy and active the weight doesn't really matter, plus I can fit into my clothes, so as long as I'm not gaining, I'm fine.

Poker news: I went to the library yesterday and got a book on poker (Poker for Dummies, actually). They only had two poker books and the other one didn't even have a Hold 'Em section. So I may have to check some other libraries in town for other books or buy them (gasp!). Maybe Dug would lend me some of his.
Anyway, I really want to get a better hold on the statistics/math/percentages and such before we host another poker night. I don't care if I actually win but I want to do well, feel like I made the best decisions etc. I take my gambling very seriously. I weigh my risks etc and if I lose I don't feel bad b/c I played the odds and my guy feelings. I need to get better at that in poker though.

School works...

2004-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

So my hopeful schedule for the fall is this:
Saturday (with DBF I hope, or not at all since I can't fit it in anywhere else) Yoga from 10a-12:30p

On Thurs, I would take Speech for Business from 6:30p-9:10p.

On Mon and Wed, I'd have Intro to Business from 9:10-10:25a, then have 3 hours off to get lunch/brunch and do distance learning art history, then have Math for Business/Economics from 1:25-2:40p, then have audit my Japanese class from 2:45-5p.

What I really like about these days are:
I would be near DBF's house and far away from mine and I'd need to leave his house the same time he needs to leave for work so I'd probably stay at his place every Sun and Tues night!
I'd have time to go to lunch with TAF and some of the other hashers like I used to.
Japanese is last so if I don't need to go (since I'm just auditing, since I've taken it before, no grade is needed, just a reminder course), I don't have to go back I can just take off at 2:40 and be done for the day!

But the problem is work. How can I fit in 30 hours? I guess I could work. 7-4:30 (which would be 9 hours) on T,Th,F. That's 27 hours. If I don't need insurance I can do that. So I'm hoping that if I go to school fulltime (which I will be doing) that my mom can add me back to her insurance. If so, 27 hours will be fine (although I'd rather do 24 or 25 if I could afford it, 8-8:30 hours instead of 9 hours a day). If not I guess I'll have to come in to work for an 1:30 M and W or 3 hours on one of those days (so 6-7:30 or 6-9). Not too bad. I could do 6-7:30 pretty easily AND get to see all my old night shift buddies twice a week. The problem is then... will my work let me be half night shift/half day shift. I think they will. *whew*

Now to see if I can get my classes. Registration starts July 12.

Another weekend down, another week to go

2004-06-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Friday When we last left our harriette, I mean, heroine (that's me by the way, not our stash of drugs), I was pouting about not getting to go to poker night. Well turns out, scuba class went fast and I was out of there around 8:30p. In other words, I caught about half of poker night. I didn't have cash on me though (plus buy in was $2, why show them what I got for a total of $10? $5 a piece and I would have been in. Me? Gambling problem? Uh, no?) so I just played a couple rounds (borrowed enough for a big blind from DBF and then won and played with that). But since I lost on the very next hand, I ended up being dealer most of the night or just sitting there being eye candy for DBF. :)
Saturday Took scuba to the lake. Wow! It was awesome. My ears acted up a little but as long as I descended very slowly, I was fine. I'm a little worried that DBF is going to get annoyed with how slow I have to descend if we are somewhere neat. He's going to want to get to our deepest depth ASAP so he can see all there is to see for as long as possible. Hopefully he'll just take the slow descent as an easy going look around as we go down. I got to feed the catfish and perch vienna sausages and really had a good time.
Then I watch Celebrity Poker (a couple hours worth) while DBF made tomato sauce to be canned from the stuff he bought at the farmer's market that morning. Woohoo! Hooray for men who know their way around in a kitchen!
Sunday I opted not to hash this week. But DBF went since we will be missing next week's hash also (Schlitterbahn trip!!). I knew it would be a crap hash b/c the hares all wanted a really long really hard trail. DBF was going to call after it was over and come up to my place and play games with mom and I before we went to bed. But he called at almost 9p and said he just got home and his cell phone and pager were broken from spending so much time in the water and that they had been ON trail for over 3 hours. Man, can you say "I told you so", I can and I did. ;)
While he was sweating on the worst trail of the year, I managed to watch both of the Harry Potter movies (since I know that we'll go see the 3rd eventually and my mom owns the first two) and get about 3 hours of knitting done as well as all my laundry cleaned and put away and my room and bathroom straigtened up. Oh yeah, and I cooked dinner and did the dishes. A very productive afternoon/evening for me!
I am now officially halfway through Yukimari-san's scarf (unless I find out that it's too short and need to do more) and am about 40% finished with Kyoko's scarf. I'm really excited and am going to try to post pics if I have time tonight (and can find the camera).

Life's funny, don't you think?

2004-06-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

Update:
Right, so back to normal. All better. What happened?
I had some support from a friend or two. I got some great advice. I got an email from DBF that really quite hurt my overly emotional self and that about did it.
Poor guy, all he said was that he was having poker night tonight at his place (still hurts to say it, damn!), that it had been too long since he'd seen me and he was looking forward to Saturday, and some stuff about getting stuff done around his house. Yeah, so poker night, without me, ouch!

I still am in shock. I don't blame him and I certainly don't think he should cancel it or anything. But this is something I've been wanting to do, oh, since we met. AND, I'm the poker fiend, he's just getting into it more since we've been together. *sigh* They better not play for money or I really will be hurt. I also feel very excluded.
Then I think about it; what did I expect him to do while I was in class? Honestly, I thought he'd just do work around the house, get stuff done, you know, since he makes it seem like there is so much to be done all the time. I've made a point about not trying to take his friends away from him, so it's not that he's doing something with them, it's WHAT he's doing. They couldn't think of anything else to do?? I want to cry (oh wait, I sorta already did). Why do I feel so excluded by this?
It's really making me resent SCUBA, like SCUBA is what's taking me away from him AND poker night. Not to mention, that, while it is my bday gift (I asked for it), I do enjoy it, and I had thought of taking it before, I am taking it for his sake. I realize he doesn't think of it that way but the whole reason, the ONLY 2 reasons I asked for it, was a) to be with him when he wants to scuba, to be able to spend more time with him in a hobby he loves, b) and to keep me in the water since I was going to give up Schlitterbahn passes since he said he didn't like waterparks. (Of course he had the same idea but reverse, in that he gave up his hatred of waterparks so that I could have season passes, so only pay attention to (a).)

oh yeah

2004-06-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Some sort of conciousness must be coming back now...
Last night I realized that I adore being called 'beautiful'. Not just as a compliment (as in "you look beautiful). I mean that's great too, but there is just something absolutely perfect about being called 'beautiful' as an endearment (goodnight beautiful).

So DBF if you're reading this (doubtful), take note. :)

Say it with me now: Horny...

2004-06-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

One way or another: I'm gonna scream tonight. Okay, so I started realizing yesterday in the pool, this really strong sexual energy. I was very good girl and, of course, fought/ignored it (I have no desire to have sex with anyone but DBF). BUT, I'm dying this morning. I had some very weird dreams (though not erotic or anything fun particularly) and this morning I'm just going crazy. Everything sounds sexy. I walk in and one of my coworkers holds the door for me (normal) and I say thanks and he says something like 'you're welcome' or 'no problem' (also normal) but his voice just sounce so melodious. I mean, 'hubba hubba'. Eek! (And while he's not ugly at all, I've never been attracted to him on any level.) Same with last night. I love accents, I always start to drool for a good accent (not that I want the person but I just want to keep listening). So the (annoying) 22 y/o has a great accent (it's redneck but so charming and very smooth, it's odd but gorgeous). Last night he kept calling me 'beautiful' ('alright beautiful' 'goodnight beautiful' etc). While this guy is completely undateable (and he DID ask me out last night)(and hooked up or no I wouldn't go on a date with him or do him), he was actually moving out of the annoying category into the sexually interesting category. (Again I don't want to have sex with anyone BUT DBF. But I can appreciate others sexually anyway. In fact, I can't turn that off, or wouldn't want to; art can turn me on, so why can't other people. It's just gonna happen.) Anyhoo, eek some more!! I don't know how I'm going to last in the pool with these guys who both want me, and have made that known and who flirt with me etc and would go about as far as I'd let them, without bursting! Argh! I need DBF tonight!
The really annoying thing is that I have to wear my one piece b/c if I switched over to the 2piece they'd think I did it so they could ogle me better (which they would b/c I'm fairly popping out of that suit, only in good ways). Right, so, how can I work today.... I'm gonna cry.
So the obvious answer here, right?, is to let my fingers do the walking. Well, while that might be a possibility, I just don't think it would work. I don't actually NEED sex, so much as the touching, loving, wonderfulness of it all. *sigh*

Um, yeah That's all I got. I can't concentrate at the moment. Too busy thinking about DBF and all the wonderful things to do to him, ahem, I mean with him, uh, I mean... *shakes head* *sigh*

Oh, so now it's beautiful!

2004-06-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day: There isn't one. Get off my back! ;)

SCUBA doobie doo: Last night was WAY too stormy to go to the pool, so we did the rest of the classes AND took the test. I passed. 101% (I missed one friggin question and I'm pissed. Me? A perfectionist? Why do you think that??) Oh well, moving on from that disappointment...
The sky is blue and beautiful. No storms to be had which means there should be no problem getting in the pool tonight. I guess that means that we'll be doing snorkeling, water entries, clearing mask and snorkel etc, learning to use the BC, etc, etc. Tomorrow I think we will do the rescue practice stuff and get ready for our dives in the lake. I just want to get in the pool!

Running out of time?! I miss running. *sigh* Today is a gorgeous, gorgeous day to run. But alas, none for me. (Of course if I had nothing to do I would go to sleep early instead of running. Ok, actually I would go see DBF because I miss him, but still get to sleep early.)

Yarn Whore: I'm having yarn whore tendencies. I really really want to get the yarn in (of course I have no control over that right now since it's on it's way in the mail).
But that means you get to hear about all the lovely yarn I'm getting:
for mom's shawl: Handicrafter Cotton(Knitting Worsted Weight) 100% cotton, in forest swirl.
for Dug's scarf and hat: Reynolds Lopi 100% wool, bulky, made in Iceland (see here) in colors 118 (just a tiny bit on the hat, none on the scarf), 54, 116 (I think. It was called mulberry heather or something like that), and 53 (ish. I don't really know the numbers for the colors I bought, so these are just approximations).
and for DBF's blanket... (drum roll please): Plymouth Encore DK, 25% wool, 75% acrylic (yes I know, I hate acrylic, just let me finish here). Colors: red rainbow tweed and greens w/ blue. They are gorgeous colors, this is machine wash and dryable, AND affordable that's why I got this kind of yarn. If I get it and start to knit it up and HATE it believe me, it will change. Here is a much more expensive option: maybe 4043 and 5915. Anyway I'm really hoping the one I bought works out (if not it will certainly find a good use, believe me) BUT I certainly hope it works out wonderfully!
I can't wait to get home and knit even if I only have crappy acrylic projects going right now!

Pool? Are you kidding?

2004-06-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Rainy days, rainy days: Yeah so yesterday we didn't get in the pool because it was overcast and drizzly (ok, so there was a flash flood storm watch but whatever...). Anyway, today is twice as bad. It's disgusting (even for me, who adores the rain). Lighting throughout the day (there wasn't any yesterday). Ick! I wonder what we'll do if the weather doesn't clear up enough. Probably try it out and only get out if we have to. But if we have to, then what? Do we have to have a make up day? He better not keep us there AND make us do a makeup day. I could be doing something else, like being with DBF!

Have I mentioned I love DBF?

2004-06-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Because I do.

It's so nice to feel loved equally to how much you love someone. You know, I'm realizing it doesn't take that much. Just an email here, a thoughtful touch there, and a text msg thrown in for good measure. Just being reminded out of the blue is one of the best feelings in the world.
Thank you honey. You're amazing.

Another day: torture

2004-06-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day:
prestidigitation \pres-tih-dij-ih-TAY-shuhn\, noun:
Manual dexterity in the execution of tricks; sleight of hand; legerdemain.

Ex: If I am going to continue spinning poi, I need to improve my prestidigitation by leaps and bounds.

When do we DIVE?? So at SCUBA class we are supposed to have part classroom/part pool every night, but last night was too stormy to get in the water. We had to spend all four hours in the classroom (thankfully the instructor gave me a break to go swim some laps since I couldn't concentrate). But the great news is that we will be in the pool all night tonight!! Hooray!
By the way, I love dive tables. They are just a shitload of fun for my geeky analytical mind.

Dude, where's my car? Ok at the moment the car is in the parking lot at work. But in just few hours it's going to be at the parking lot of Discount Tires. Last night on my way home I took a turn to fast and hit the curb. I was able to keep going but was afraid I had bent my axle because I had to keep the steering wheel turned to the right to go straight down the road. However, when I saw this morning (I couldn't see last night, just looked around for damage and didn't see any), I realized that the tire was actually pulled a little off the rim. Eek! I had to drive it this morning to get to work which is close to the tire place (thankfully) so I'm going at lunch to get new tires. The good news is I needed new tires anyway and if getting a new tire fixes the problem that is a whole lot less expensive than a bent axle or something. The bad news is I'm not sure I have the money for new tires right now. I have $120 that I can use for tires. I hope to find some for $99 or less. "Give me your cheapest tires!"

Have I mentioned I love DBF? Because I do! I miss seeing him on the weekdays. I miss running with him: which goes something like this:
me: "DBF, don't forget I have to run today."
him: "Okay, no problem."
couple hours later
him: "Ready to go run?"
me: "awww. I don't want to."
him: "C'mon. Get up, let's go. You said you need to."
me: "Do I have to?"
him: "No but you should."
a few minutes pass
me: "Why aren't you ready? I thought we were going to run."
afterward
me: "Damn I love running!"
him: *shakes his head*
I miss sitting or laying in his arms or cuddling up to him while he tries to watch his tv. I miss the way he looks at me when I'm so into a poker game (on TV) that I'm telling them what they should or shouldn't do or actually trying to watch AND cuddle.
I miss holding his hand and following him around in the supermarket.
I miss watching him cooking and how careful he is with everything (and my body misses the good food we eat). I miss cooking with him, and having him around at my house.
I miss the silly looks he gives me whenever I slip it into a conversation that he should wear less clothes or no clothes at all.
I miss touching him and being touched by him. I especially miss the touches that noone thinks about: a brush as we pass by each other, a kiss before we get out of the car, taking my hand when we walk, massaging his shoulders when he's sitting, playing with his hair or his beard. And I, of course, miss his stoplight kisses. (sigh) I've been to so many stoplights and not had any kisses this week! It's a travesty I tell you, a travesty!

Knit knack paddy whack: I have gotten the first two stripes done on Yakimuri-san's scarf. That equals about 3 inches. I've started the next stripe (the first large one) but only the first row of it. It's looking great so far. The colors go well and the ribs are straight and pretty. The only weirdness is the on the sides, no matter how hard I pull those last stitches they seem kind of loopy and big, I'll probably go back and fix it at the end if I feel they look bad. I thougth about adding fringe but decided that it just wouldn't look good for him. I would add fringe to Kyoko's but it already has a ruffle.
I can hardly wait to start DBF's blanket. That's the one I'm most excited to start although I'm having a lot of fun on Yukimari's scarf. I want the yarn to get here soon, but really need to get farther on these two scarves before it gets here. Work, work, work. So everynight before I go to bed I'm just knitting up a few rows on one or both of them. (And sometimes in the afternoon between work and scuba, I knit a few rose also.)

Yarn Update!

2004-06-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well it's bought and on the way. I bought all of the yarn for Dug's and DBF's gifts and for mom's shawl. Later (when I'm halfway or so through DBF's blanket, done or close to donewith Dug's gifts, and finished with mom's shawl) I'll buy the yarn for mom's scarf and Machan's backpack.

Who me? I'm a walking zombie.

2004-06-08T05:58:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day:
expatiate \ik-SPAY-shee-ayt\, verb:
1. To speak or write at some length; to be copious in argument or discussion; to enlarge.
2. To range at large, or without restraint

Ex: Everyday I expatiate with great detail about my life in order to pass the time and for my own entertainment more than anything else.

SCUBA? I thought this was a physics class? I started SCUBA last night. The class was supposed to run from 6p-10p. But it ended up going from 6:15ish to 10:30ish. I'm dead tired. The class was fairly easy, though the instructor isn't that bright since he would ask a question, get the right answer from us, then say "no it's..." then repeat the exact answer he had just been given. Argh! Anyway, once I got over the need to tell him I was in fact CORRECT, I just breezed through class. Competitive? Not me.
We did a lot of physics and such but nothing that wasn't easy to handle. I figure it's the 22 y/o guy in class who isn't figuring those out, but I'm sure his mom (who is also in the class, thank god b/c she can calm him down occasionally) will explain it to him. Now the great 14 y/o guy in class, he seems to be picking it up. So then we get to swim. Do 16 laps and tread water for 15 min. Of course both the guys have to compete about it but the 22 y/o has to act like I'm showboating. I'm sorry (no I'm not), is it my fault I'm the strongest swimmer? I think not. I was enjoying both my laps and the treading and wish we could have done more!
Anyway, I got home fine (although driving 620 in the rain at night in my car was quite scary). And am just very tired this morning and wishing I had some time to read the manual that we were given to study.

Rain, rain, go away. As much as I normally love this weather, I'm not looking forward to driving home in it, let alone all the way out to the dive shop and back tonight.

And to knitting... I have the yarn for Kyoko's and Yakimuri's scarves. (I've been working on Kyoko's for over 2 weeks now and am not even 1/3 of the way through. Never again will I choose such small needles for a scarf unless I absolutely must!) So I have started both their scarves. For Kyoko's I'm just doing a very simple all knit scarf with a ruffle at each end in a green/white variegated acrylic. For Yakimuri-san, I'm doing the ribbed-for-her-pleasure (oh, the irony) scarf from stitch n bitch, but I'm adding stripes. So I'm doing 3 rows of a variegated blue/darkblue/lightblue, then 3 rows of darkblue, then 15-20 rows (whatever looks best, we'll say 15 for now) variegated, then 3 rows darkblue, 3 rows variegated, 15 rows darkblue, 3 rows variegated, 3 rows darkblue, 15 rows variegated, etc, etc to the end which will end with 3 rows darkblue, 3 rows variegated (so it matches the beginning). So it's basically two little stripes, one big stripe color 1, two little stripes, one big stripe color 2, etc. I think it will look absolutely wonderful, even though I'm using crap acrylic yarn. (Both of their scarves are just using up my stash! Woohoo! No money spent!)

I'm about to buy the yarn for mom's, DBF's, and Dug's (that's my brother) gifts. I'll buy Machan's later. For DBF's blanket I'll need 38 balls of yarn!!! Wow! I'll never finish!
All together, everyone's gifts will cost me just under $150. (I think.) That's not bad since I'm getting really good yarn for everyone and DBF's blanket is so plush/big/good quality. I mean spending $30 on Dug, $40 on Machan, no money for her parents (except sending it to Japan costs), $25 for mom, and $60 for DBF is all pretty cheap. But I'm putting so much time into it (and thought of color schemes etc) that I think it works out. (Plus they all know I'm poor.) I'm sure I'll also pick up some other gift items for Dug, Machan, mom, and DBF but just trinkets, these are their big items from me.

I'm hoping to have Yakimuri's scarf completed (or almost done) by the time the rest of the yarn gets here (I imagine in 3-4 weeks). Hopefully I'll also be at least 1/2way through Kyoko's by then.

To Do Today.
I plan on:
reading the dive manual during lunch today.
stopping by the store for some necessities on the way home.
changing into bathingsuit/getting ready for scuba.
starting laundry (which I meant to do this morning, but slept instead).
eat some cereal for dinner.
knit or read more of the manual or both.
go to scuba class.
come home.
shower and sleep.

So for the next few hours, it's just a waiting game before I can get this stuff going. *sigh* I hate waiting.

Caloric rantings. I hate those people who say that losing weight WILL happen if your calories in are less than your calories out. Not that simple for everyone, ALRIGHT BUDDY! No, nobody's said that to me or anything lately. It's just that here I am eating less calories than I burn for over a month and I'm just back down to my low weight. (In other words, I've lost a little that I had put back on over my brother's wedding. But not as much as I should have with doing so well for a whole month.) Patience right? Sure... we'll see. At least I'm back to right around my lowest weight ever (give or take 1 lb or so).
I need to weigh in again one of these mornings but I have a feeling I'll be so tired I won't be thinking of it, so maybe next weekend.

Ughhh!

2004-06-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Just illin' and chillin'
My stomach hurts. I think it's from the taco stuff I ate this morning. I think they made my stomach hurt a little last night, but I didn't eat as much filling because I had yummy toppings. Of course now I'm eating cabbage and green beans and then some pb cookies (happy bday!), so... hopefully I'll not have ill effects from them. Plus dinner is mexican so... ughhhh. I may just need rest. Yeah, that's it. I'm also really dizzy but trying to ignore it. When am I going to sleep? *sigh*

Death to Petey!

2004-06-07T06:18:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day:
garrulous \GAR-uh-luss; GAR-yuh-luss\, adjective:
Talking much, especially about commonplace or trivial things; talkative; loquacious.

Ex: This weekend I wasn't nearly as garrulous as I am normally because I was in such a state of constant suprise and wonderment.

Birthday suprises! On Friday night, DBF came over and we bought my booties for SCUBA. Then we bought all the groceries for the hash and made the taco filling. Then we went to sleep around 10ish so that we'd be well rested. He told me we had to get up and out of the house by 8:45a because we were to be in San Antonio for an early lunch at Tower of the Americas!! So we also had to dress nice. And then he had a whole day of stuff planned and wouldn't tell me more... so I had to bring something comfy to change into since it would be hot and wearing my nice clothes all day wouldn't be very comfortable.
So Saturday morning we get up and get dressed. I'm wearing a beautiful dress I've never worn before (and he loved it, couldn't stop telling me how gorgeous I looked in it) and my mom helped me put up my hair a pretty twist and even helped me taylor my dress so it fit perfectly. By now we are running late b/c obviously we hadn't planned on needing time for sewing etc. But I look gorgeous (makeup, dress, hair up, the works). Then he realizes he didn't bring his dress shoes, so we'll stop by his place. It's sort of on the way anyway. So we grab breakfast and stop by his place and he's taking SO long to get ready. No rush at all even though we are going to be late. Arg! But he's being sweet and lovely so I just try to relax and let him be in control.
Well we are upstairs (he was making me help him pick out a new shirt and frusterating to no end by saying "not that one" "are you sure" etc etc. Just put it on buddy! But then the door bell rings. It was my mom. I was really confused but she said that Dave had forgot to tell me that I needed some stuff for that afternoon so she had brought it by for me. I looked in the bag and my bathing suit was there so I thought, oh were going swimming in San Antone later. Hmm. Nothing more. I didn't put it together until I looked up at mom and she and Dave were obviously waiting for me to figure it out. Then I noticed she had on her swimsuit under her clothes. Hey! Wait a sec... are we going to.. .to Schlitterbahn??? Wooooohooooo! *did a dance*
Anyway it was so fun!!
So when we got there, we all got season passes (mine was a gift). Awesome! DBF hadn't ever been before and still got one because he knew I loved it so much and didn't want me to have to give it up for him! What an amazing man!

Then when we got home, we ended up driving all the way back up to mom's house at 10pm because she had gifts for me. I got (aside from the Schlitterbahn pass) a TX parks pass (free entry into all texas state parks!!!!), Stitch N Bitch (knitting book), Denise needles (lots of knitting needles), a Nike bag (very cool), some old old old crocheting patterns from my grandma's stash, an undershirt of my grandad's (he's been dead for years, I miss him, and I'm so glad I have his shirt now!), some old old old sewing stuff from my grandma's stash, and some quilted pieces that match the quilt top she made for me when I was younger (that I still use on my bed). Awesome! And a really cool shirt and pants outfit that I have yet to try on to see if it fits. Man, I hit the jackpot this year!

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to hash we go. Sunday morning we woke up, had a lazy breakfast, and took off with a bag of flour and a dream (or a map... I forget which). We drove to the start and start walking, me chalk in hand and 15 lbs of flour on my back, he with 5 lbs of flour in a sack. We drew our way to the first check and laid two enormous falses before cleverly taking an unlikely route through mud beside a gorgeous trickling creek. Then we went back and walked around to the soccer fields (instead of climbing the barbwired fence like the unfortunate hounds had to, muahahahahahaha!). We then took a nice easy, obvious street route almost to the beer check. We did one check that at a four way stop that also had a trail head for a greenbelt at it and then laid a false down part of the greenbelt. Most of them fell for it but fairly quickly made it over to our check (where we sat watching all the confusion and having a SCUBA lesson). Soon I was sent off to buy more beer because the keg wasn't coming and more hounds had showed up after we left. DBF cleverly turned the wrong way (in his car) and drove the long way to the end (my mom's house) so that all the hounds (having watched that he turned right) followed suit and turned right down a very long false (which gave us time to get everything ready at home). DBF pulled into the driveway right behind me but I didn't have more beer (evidently you have to have an ID with you or something...) so we sent some autowankers off to get the beer and they came just as the first hounds were coming in the back gate. (Which had taken an obsene amount of time as they had all gotten tricked by a particularly amazing check/false I had laid!!)
Anyhoo, a all sitting circle commenced after some much needed refueling and the knavish accusations flew in our pack of 20 or so. Lots of fun! So tired last night. DBF stayed to sleep. And we are both still tired this morning. Of course, for once, he's got a chance to get to bed before me since I have SCUBA tonight.

New Depths: Tonight is my first SCUBA lesson, well my first official lesson. I'm very excited but I'm also very tired. I hope I can keep up when I'm this tired! I have all the gear and DBF even left me the book (because he wanted to go over it last night, but I was too tired). I hope we get in the pool tonight, but I bet that we don't. Either way I'm just excited to get started!

Uh-huh.

2004-06-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

More CH: I've now also talked to Burg (who I may get to FINALLY meet when he and his chica come down to Austin this summer), roacher (what exquisite hair), ddbum, Watt, Michael, actually spoke with Jenn (instead of just getting a msg) and did I mention that I spoke to Pete earlier. I talked to him yesterday but he called me today also! :) Life is good!

Plus Pete has decided that DBF is going to ask me to marry him this weekend. I see this as very doubtful because I doubt DBF is ready for that, but when asked what I would say my reply was "yes". I realized that DBF is everything I'm looking for, and while he isn't perfect, he's perfect for me. Honestly and with quite a bit of soul searching, I can say I think that we would make a wonderful married couple. I think we would both continuously work for the kind of relationship we need/want/have and I think we would continue working on our communication skills and understanding each others needs.
What I did make clear to Petey is that I would say yes but probably want a long engagement. Maybe a year or so. You know, things change and I may just want to be with him as soon as possible but right now I'd suggest we be engaged for awhile, if nothing else just to plan the wedding, get me out of debt, and save up money to pay for the wedding and honeymoon. Also we'd have to talk about financing my school and living together and all kinds of nonromantical things. But the bottom line is I'd say yes.

Right so I'm going to kill Pete now. He's got me wishing even though I know it's not likely. *sigh* Pete, you better keep one eye open buddy.... grr!

So much to say!

2004-06-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

Running crazy! Ha! I did it. I made myself go run. I went out at 7:30 and did my half hour run and it was great! A beautiful night. I'm very proud of myself and am planning on getting my 4 runs in next week even with SCUBA lessons.

The Clubhouse I'm so freaking excited! I visit this running website. And some of us CHers decided it was time to talk again. So we started calling each other. I've talked to/left msgs for/got msgs from: Xero, Chris, Megan, Kevin S, Ken (I hadn't talked to Ken in 6 months!!!), Andrea, and Jenn! Kevin S even sang me happy birthday. It has been very fun and I hope I get to talk to more people. Plus, while typing this my former cocaptain Tracy called and while I was talking to her Orza called and left me a happy birthday msg! I love my running friends!!

To knit with you! So the stitch n bitch wasn't yesterday... arg, will I ever make one? I did manage to do another 10 or so rows on Kyoko-san's scarf. I've also decided I will not be making scarfs on size 5 needles again anytime soon. Ahh! What a horrid idea! It's taking forever. I've done nearly 80 rows and am about a fifth of the way through. It looks very nice though and will keep her warm; she'll love it!
On a better note, as I walked out the door to go to work this morning, I found a package on the ground from UPS. It was from Denise Interchangeable Needles. I wonder if that is my gift arriving since that is what I asked for... hmmm, let me guess. Woohoo! It's here!! I get them on Monday and can start plotting my next move. Muahahaha!

Today is the day... After work today, DBF takes control until Sunday night. This is what birthdays are about. Relax, wait for suprises and presents, and just hang on for the ride. Yeah! I can't wait to find out what he's planned! My only thought is that perhaps on Saturday we might go to Schlitterbahn or the rock climbing gym... but those are very unlikely possibilities, I just can't think of anything else we might do. Maybe we'll just have a nice normal weekend again. Hit the farmer's markets, have lunch out, maybe have a poker game (that would rock), shop for my booties. I just like the excitement of not knowing AND that is new for me. I have to really trust you to like suprises. If it were my mom or anyone but my brother really I would hate this. It's kind of scary that means DBF has only one 'level' to go before having equal trust from me as my brother has. (And my brother has the most I can possibly give.) It's scary but makes me so happy. I couldn't marry anyone that I didn't trust with my life (which is the top level that only my brother has, which means I wouldn't be getting married...) but DBF is definitely closing in on that kind of trust. He makes me so happy. I love and respect him and trust him so much.

Well enough of that. Time for the word of the day review for the week.
badinage (bad-uhn-AHZH), noun: playful raillery; banter

ex: I need to learn not to take offense to DBF's badinage, especially since I tease him also.

torpid \TOR-pid\, adjective:
1. Having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed; as, "a torpid limb."
2. Dull; stupid; sluggish; inactive.

ex: I'm feeling somewhat torpid today. Knowing that I got enough rest yesterday, my torpidness can only be solved by an energy-accumulating activity such as running.

puerile \PYOO-uhr-uhl; PYOOR-uhl\, adjective:
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; juvenile; childish; trifling

ex: Sometimes I find that an overuse of badinage can come of as being very puerile.

Ahh... accomplishment.

2004-06-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day:
puerile \PYOO-uhr-uhl; PYOOR-uhl\, adjective:
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; juvenile; childish; trifling

ex: Sometimes I find that an overuse of badinage can come of as being very puerile.

Amazingly, I actually got some shit done yesterday! Wonderful!

I...

signed up for scuba classes. I start Monday! I'm very excited about it! I will have to buy boots sometime this week/end though.

made Hawaiian Sweet Bread. Yum! I had some for breakfast this morning with blackberry jam. Mmm.

took care of some mail stuff. I wrote a thank you not to my aunt (which I mailed this morning) for some pictures she sent me. I got my father's card ready for father's day, just need to get his address from my brother and send it.

worked a little on designing what my room would look like if it were properly aligned using feng shui.

put away my clean laundry.

cooked stuffed tilapia, cabbage and green beans, and tomato salad. Yum! And DBF actually ate some. I overcooked the fish a little bit but he didn't seem to mind too much. He was very suprised to find out that it was the first time I had ever cooked fish. I think he's still getting used to the idea that while his family definitely fits into the Harriet and Ozzy kind of normal, not everyone's family could fit into TVLand. We never ate fish at my house when I was little. My mom didn't like it so we never had it with her. And I didn't like the smell so I never ate it when we ate out with Dad (and we never cooked in with him, so... no big deal). None of their families ever serve fish either, now that I think about it. Anyway, it was very good and I'm going to have to start trying more new kinds of fish (this was my first time to ever eat tilapia).

even took a nap.

got the mail and changed my address for the magazines I get. It was weird I called them all and they all already had the addy change in effect. Who told them? I'm so confused. But I did call them to change it. I also caught up on reading back issues of some of them.

Yes. I did alot yesterday. And all that before DBF came over. Then we ate, drove around perfecting our hash route, and then watched a movie (Drunken Master) and went to bed. All in all, a productive day and comfortable evening. DBF and mom made me sit outside while they plotted something or other about my birthday. DBF has complete control of our schedule Friday through Sunday. I find this very exciting because I hope it means I don't have to make many decisions. Usually we sit there and neither of us really care and then one of us (I believe this to usually be me, but won't say so for sure until I know what he thinks) just says "Ok this is what we are doing." It's kind of annoying (for both of us), but it's how it will work until we make it happen some other way.

Exercise, schmexercise. The only thing I really didn't do that I should have yesterday was run. I really need to get my butt outside. It's just been so hot lately, even at night. I'm just going to have to do it anyway. I guess that's my goal today, run.

Just stichin' n' bitchin'. I also plan on going to the StitchNBitch tonight for the first time ever, unless I'm too tired. The run takes presidence over this by far but since really they are all I have to get done... well, I should be able to do them both.

Stay in School. What's with all this friggin' paperwork? I need to print off the application forms and fini aid stuff so I can start filling that crap out. It has to be turned in by July 1st. Otherwise I will most definitely be attending the community college in the Fall. (Actually that's sounding like a better and better idea, all around, if I would treat it like a real uni and go to class. I suppose I could.) Maybe I'll just do that and save the application fees and transcript fees until I know I can get the kind of fini aid I need. That's probably the best finiancial decision I could possibly make and I know DBF would be disappointed in me big time if I didn't go to class (or actually if I didn't do well in class b/c I was skipping or blowing it off or whatever, I don't think he'd care if I actually show up as long as I'm doing well). Right, so... decision made. Now I just have to wait for the schedule to come out and sign up!

On the topic of Kissing:

2004-06-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

I had previously decided I need to really sit down and think about what kissing means to me and where my boundaries lie, mostly because of the relationship I am in now and how I feel about my wonderful DBF.
Then I read this entry by emeraldmyst, which got me thinking again.

So here's my thinking outloud:
I previously had alway thought "hey, kissing, it's nice. I like it. I want to do it to show that I care, not necessarily romantically, about people, but also just with people I'm attracted to because I enjoy how it makes me feel. It makes me feel wanted and loved and cared for and happy." I don't think feeling like this is wrong, but have previously also had problems with my (now ex) boyfriend's feeling getting hurt that I was kissing other people, not romantically and everyone involved knew that.

Now I've met a few people who feel kissing is something intimate and should only be shared with those you are intimate with (whether sex/intimate or soul/intimate). My DBF is sort of on that line. (He isn't completely because he doesn't mind little kisses with friends.) So I now want to really think about what my perspective on this issue is, without really taking into consideration what he thinks, so that if it comes up I can defend my position or at least explain it.

So on first glance, I'd say I still feel that it's what's behind the kiss that matters and not really the idea of pressing your lips to someone elses. So if I kiss a friend, say one of our hashers (both Have A Nice Bitch and TAF have given me friendly kisses before), then I'm just sort of saying hello or thanks or whatever. Just the same as a slap on the ass might be from one of them. Not at all intrusive into a relationship and not giving off any signals.
But kissing someone in a way that seems romantic to bystanders or to the kissee/kisser is unacceptable for this reason. If it is romantic then that is intrusive into the wonderful relationship that I want to keep wonderful.
So really... to me, it's about who I'm kissing and why. That's really all it comes down to. And since I won't be kissing anyone (that would be the who I'm kissing) that would be seen as romantic that's no problem. But should I control the why? I mean, can I just kiss someone for the hell of it? I mean if I can kiss someone as a "hi beautiful how's your life going?" kiss what's different between that and a "just thought you could have used a kiss" kiss? Hmmm...

It's not like I'm going around kissing the masses here. These are only people that I feel comfortable with and vice versa, but perhaps I should take into consideration DBF's feelings at this point. What if he doesn't feel comfortable with me kissing a specific person? I'd probably take that into account and if I felt that his reasoning stood up (as in not just "I don't want you kissing people, because I just don't.") then I'd probably do as he wished and not kiss that person. Like I wouldn't kiss Cheaper because I don't want him (Cheaper) to think I mean something by it. I know that Cheaper's relationships have different boundaries than DBF and I's relationship has. And I like where DBF and I's relationship boundaries are.

So... wow. That was easy to work out and I definitely feel I have my position. I would take into consideration what DBF thought on an individual basis but would have to have a serious discussion if he didn't want me to even give my friendly kisses. So... all fixed. Woot!

11:00 AM

2004-06-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day:
torpid \TOR-pid\, adjective:
1. Having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed; as, "a torpid limb."
2. Dull; stupid; sluggish; inactive.

ex: I'm feeling somewhat torpid today. Knowing that I got enough rest yesterday, my torpidness can only be solved by an energy-accumulating activity such as running.

Dentist, cancelled! 1 down, a few to go.
edited to add: SCUBA school picked, just have to have my visa to sign up now! Will do as soon as I get home. (And it does start on my birthday, 6p-10p!) That's MONDAY! I'm so excited!!! I can't contain it!

Halfway to Xmas Since it's almost my birthday now, I know that Xmas is approaching faster than I can make gifts. I plan on making a scarf, a hat, and a purse for my mom, my sister in law, and my sister in law's mother. My brother will get either a scarf and a hat or a large comfy throw/blanket. But what am I going to get DBF? I'd rather make him something than buy him something (unless I know something he really really wants), but he doesn't wear scarves or hats. Maybe I'll make him a blanket since he's always bitching about being cold at my house. hehe. Eh, I don't know. I guess if I can get working (and finishing) on everyone else's stuff I can worry about his present when it's getting closer to time.

Of course his birthday is in just a few months... so that's a whole 'nother issue. He doesn't celebrate birthdays, so maybe his gift will be a bottle of wine that he likes and a nice evening not thinking about his birthday. I bet he'd enjoy that. And maybe a nightie or something along those lines just in case he gets the urge to unwrap something... hmm... That means I could go lingerie shopping again soon. Yes, I like that idea. A gift for me for his birthday, wonderful! (And I haven't even worn what he bought me for the weekend for him yet. Ay-yi-yi!)

Speaking of birthdays I can hardly wait for my gifts from mom and DBF. I want to buy yarn this week for mom's shawl for her birthday so I can get started on it, but I'm having to wait until after my birthday so I can mass buy the yarn. (After I get the stitch n bitch book I will know what kind of yarn I need for whatever project I decide to do first, so I can buy all the yarn at once then.) And, then I can start playing with the needles she's getting too!
And I've already previously mentioned today my incredible excitement on getting started on SCUBA! I want to start ASAP, if for no other reason than to just get in the water. I miss swimming!!

Today I will...

2004-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

...call and cancel tomorrow's dental appointment. I called twice before I realized that they don't open until 10:30a. Argh!

...call and scedule SCUBA classes. I want my birthday gift! One of the places I'm considering (I've already got it down to 3 places) has it's next class starting on my birthday. That would bug the crap out of my mom who wants to have my boyf and I have dinner at her place that night (if the classes started that day I'd be too busy for that and she'd have to wait until the next day, OMG!, before we had dinner together). Anyway I'd like to get started with them because I'm superexcited about it! It looks like with books and boots and classes it's going to run about $250. Bleh! I wonder how much of that DBF is going to pay as my gift and how much I will pay. I'll feel bad if he pays more than $100 and damn that's alot anyway!! Then again this is a gift for me that will pay off for him in the future because he'll get to dive more if he can take me with him.

...run/walk while looking at hash route. Stupid me, signing up to hare the freakin' hash this weekend. As if DBF and I didn't have enough to do, now I'm commiting us to hare. Ok, so I have a good idea about the start and I have a definite beer check and OnIn, but we still have to buy the food and fix it, put up the shade in the back yard, scout trail and lay it. We are going to have a busy weekend!

...extras that would be nice to have out of the way: take of my nail polish (since I'm no longer a glitter monkey), do a few loads of laundry and put away my clean clothes, make some hawaiian bread and corn chowder, perhaps start on a new set of flags and/or practice poi, hmmm... maybe get some more done on the scarf.

...hopefully get to see DBF, and even more hopefully get to stay with him (or vice versa).

Another yarn store

2004-06-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

elann.com - Knitting Yarn at Irresistible Prices
Check out under bargains for some awesome prices!

6 days to 23

2004-06-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

Word of the Day badinage (bad-uhn-AHZH), noun: playful raillery; banter

I need to learn not to take offense to DBF's badinage, especially since I tease him also.

Flipside: a quick review:
Friday: partied with greeters, played in creek, partied all night, won lots at the casino, drank alot, had fun spinning, then made DBF babysit me as I puked up all the MREs I ate.
Saturday: slept all day to avoid heat and lose hangover, did a little spinning and juggling (very little), walked about enjoying the sites and sounds and meeting people, upset that I missed the nighties show off
Sunday: had a spinning lesson, watched Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat and watched oil wrestling (was that Saturday or Sunday...), watched the monkey burn, gave away a hundred jello shots and an equal number of sparklers, watched some awesome fire performing
Monday: took down camp, sizzled in the sun and the creek, got a sunburn, went home

All in all: It was the best Glitter Monkey Rodeo I've ever attended! I can't wait 'til next year!!

To knit, to run, to sit on my arse...:
Amazingly on Friday, I did get some knitting done. We sat around in the shade and DBF caught up on some reading while I knitted. Someone even said I was skilled (in that I knew how to knit and they did not). That felt good! I still have a fair amount to go on that scarf, I'm maybe 1/3 of the way through it now though. I also really need to get my butt in gear on the shawl for mom if I'm going to finish it before her birthday. I guess I should order the yarn today. There's a SnB on Thursday that I might go to. I keep saying I'm going to go one of these days but never do. Key phrase of the day: GET MY BUTT IN GEAR.

I didn't do any running at all this weekend. I'm glad I didn't really force myself to because it was just too hot during the day and there was too much other stuff to do at night! I'm not going to make myself run tonight just because I'm so tired and I think my body probably needs rest more than exercise at this point. But I will either run tonight or tomorrow (or both) for sure. I need to (say it with me now) get my butt in gear.

4:56pm

2004-05-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Update: 17 hours and counting So here I sit waiting for my DBF to get off work so we can get together and make jello shots for Flipside, pack up his SUV, and then ? I don't know what. I have no idea what I'll be doing at this time tomorrow, but I bet it will be great fun!

Major Failure reporting for duty! So I've got all the info I need to get started on Fini Aid and admissions for St Ed's. Will I get in? If so, will I be able to afford it for the Fall? I certainly believe I can get in, although there is a slight chance of being refused.
I think this FAFSA "under 24 y/o isn't considered independent" bullshit is, well, bullshit! I've owned my own fucking house, thank you very much. I've paid for my schooling up to this point while working fulltime to do so, thank you very much. I've been through alot and have been financially independent of my parents especially my father for years now! How can they be expected to pay part of it?? They won't. So, I'm exploring other options. Bleh.
I'm trying to get accepted into St Ed's Accounting Technology Information degree program (basically you get a BBA in Accounting and a BA (or BS or whatever) in Computer Information Systems at the same time. I'm minoring in art. I like art best, but the other pays bills better and affords me the kind of life I want. Why I'm getting the CIS degree I don't know. I hate computers except for playing on them. But maybe as I learn more about them, I'll understand them better, and it will certainly give me an edge in finding a good job, I hope.

45 minutes later

2004-05-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

So I've only run once this week (and it doesn't count since I didn't run the full time) (out of 4 proposed runs). I still have until Sunday for them to count, which means I could run today, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday and count it. Not likely. Not even a good idea! I don't want to wear myself down like that nor do I want to miss out on so much at Flipside (although I do plan on taking a run or two, packed running clothes and everything). So it looks like I'll be repeating this week again next week. Are my knees ever going to heal??
I would love to have the chance to start biking again. I would even settle for biking to and from work a couple times a week this fall instead of wild, fun, scary-as-hell mountain biking trails.
The good news is summer is on it's way and that means swimming!!! I can't wait: Barton Springs, the Guadalupe, the lake, maybe a few pools, and, hopefully, hopefully, hopefully, the Caribbean!! Whoofreakinhoo!

That of course would be after my SCUBA lessons, which I have yet to sign up for. Hopefully I can find sit down and call some people about lessons the Tuesday after Flipside. Maybe get started that next week, ASAP after my birthday.

Update: At this time tomorrow DBF and I should be being quizzed by the greeters and/or setting up our campsite!

School is cool (cont) I talked to the lady in charge of the info sesh tonight and concluded that I didn't need to go. I got the info I need from her (or she told me where to find it), so hooray! that means in 4 1/2 hours I am completely, completely free until Tuesday!!

Argh!

2004-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

So you know how I said I was gonna get back to work? Well we can't. Our stupid programs aren't letting us complete! So, I'm back here...

Flipside is officially open and swinging as of right now. :( I'm not there... obviously. But I'll be there at this time tomorrow. This is when we should arrive. That's right I'm 24 hours and counting from my arrival. Why am I so excited about this? I think that it's my way of getting out the nervousness. I've tried to prepare but I have a feeling nothing will prepare me for this. I can't get DBF to tell me any stories about his previous 2 Flipsides.

*humpfh* I guess I'm off to play more games and waste more time, maybe do some work or read some more blogs.

School is cool. I am supposed to attend an info session at St Ed's tonight. I just don't know what to expect from it. It's been awhile since I was in school, and even longer since I was seriously attacking a degree plan. (Okay, I don't think I've ever seriously attacked a degree plan; in fact, I know I have not.) More on that soon.

9:10a

2004-05-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Flash: Update: At this time tomorrow, DBF and I will be nearly to Dripping Springs! (Or at least have left the house.)

I'm sorry, did you say "Get back to work!"? Was I supposed to be working today? Oh shit! Alright, well... I suppose I could do 1 or 3 curlies before my next update. *sigh*

At this time tomorrow: updates all day!

2004-05-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

At this time tomorrow I'll be just waking up!

Flipside: 1 day and counting! I'm so excited! I finished packing yesterday and now just have to get it all down to DBF's place tonight. I also finished the second flag, so now I have a set of 2 flags. I'm so happy! DBF wasn't even amazed that I was both packed and finished with the flag (and eating dinner) when he got there. Pffft! Maybe if I'd snuck in a run also he would have felt I'd been productive enough. (Although he certainly didn't think I hadn't been productive enough, I just thought he should be impressed that I had it all done.) Anyway, before he got there, I played around with my flags. I actually figured out that if I just dance around with them and not worry so much about "moves" they work fine. I'd still like to find a little help with them at Flipside, but I'm sure that won't be a problem at all and now I at least have the confidence to play with them anyway.

Whodunit? I'm really enjoying this new game: Inspector Parker (or something like that) on MSN. I'm not great at it (ok, I'm not great at any game) but I really am enjoying it. Plus it's played in levels that you can stop between AND you can pause it, which means it works great at work!

What's a girl to do?

2004-05-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

A change in the wind: Today I changed my blog (yes, this here blog) from blogspot.com to livejournal.com. I'm not sure why really. I still have the blogspot.com blog active, just in case I don't like this format. I think I like the idea of message boards and actually having some sort of interaction. Yes, that's it.

Yawn! I think I'll take a nap: Yesterday after work all I needed to do was run (30 min), make the yellow flag (maybe 1-2 hours), and eat dinner. So, what did I actually do? Well. I got out the MREs and picked flavors for Flipside. Then I took a nap from 5p to 8p. Then DBF called and told me about his holy crap day and asked me if I'd done the few things I was going to do. No, I hadn't. Now I felt bad. I'm so slack.
I managed to get up and decided that I would eat and make the flag, if nothing else. As I started to make my food, I had the realization that if I didn't go run I was going to have to tell DBF that when he asked and I would feel like I had disappointed him. Why would that disappoint him? I don't know. I just get that feeling.
So, I went for a run. I only did 15 minutes but at least I got my sleepy butt outside and moving. When I got home, mom (yes I live with my mom, SYFPH!) had just gotten home and we ended up talking through my dinner and watching Russ's movie, The Next. By the time I got showered and did the dishes it was after 10p. I tried to go to sleep but my ultralong nap earlier and the fact that I still hadn't packed (at all) and that I hadn't done the flag were annoying me, so I started gathering all the stuff from my list. Now I'm essentially packed (well, piled anyway) except for the stuff from the garage and the stuff I need to buy. Flipside here I come, right? I still haven't made the second flag.

A little yarn shopping goes a long way! So I need to find a yarn for mom's shawl. I'm thinking something rich and soft and rust colored, maybe this. What a great price too! I know I'll be checking them out in the future whether I use that yarn for this project or not.

The StitchNBitch North is meeting today. They previously had been meeting on Thursdays which meant I couldn't go this week (yeah, I haven't been to one at all, ever) because I have orientation at school. But, I could go today, except I haven't seen DBF since Monday morning and I miss him (everyone together now: awww!). So I'll probably go spend the evening with him instead of StitchingNBitching but if he and I can't get our shit together, then I'll go knit. That seems fair.

Have I mentioned I'm excited about Flipside? I'm excited in a nervous, fun, adventurous, can't wait kind of way. I think it's going to be absolutely amazing and I think I'm going to be dead tired afterward because I want to do EVERYTHING. Plus between the voyeur and the exhibitionist in me, I'm gonna be plenty busy. ;) I wish we were going out there tomorrow, what lame asses that makes DBF and I. *sigh* I hope I can at least practice up on the flags or poi with the guidance of sweet DBF to help me on Thursday. I have no idea what to do with those flags, not nearly as easy as poi. (Which makes me suspiciously worried I made the flag wrong.) I played with the blue one yesterday and I just couldn't figure out many things to do with it that didn't tangle it up in itself. I guess it just takes practice, at least I can dance around and look pretty! I'm good at that!!

Impatients are my favorite flowers...

2004-05-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Mark my words: Run. (cont.) Did I say I would run four times last week? Yes. Did I run four times last week? Yes (if you count the hash, which I am because I ran the requisite 8 min). That means that this week I'm moving on to 1:30 min runs and 2 min walks. Yeah! Movin' on up! (Ok, you caught me. I'm not that excited about 1:30 min runs. Last year at this time I was easily running over an hour. Of course I was trucking along at a 14-15 min/mi pace and now my runs are 10 min/mi or less on average. It's still discouraging!)

Gifts, gifts everywhere! Unfortunately none of them are for me. Mom's day gifts changed from a knitted scarf (which had been changed from a beach bag) to a picture frame, 2 candles, and a porcelain box. She loved them! I shouldn't put so much work into it next time. (Of course next time is only 3 months away because her birthday is in August.) I'm hoping to work on a shawl for her. It should knit up easily enough and quickly enough. Good.
The scarf I am making is now going to probably become a Xmas gift for either my sister in law or her mother. I think it would look beautiful on her mother, so I'll probably give it to her.
In other "gift" news, I had to drop out of my random craft swap in order to have time and money to do all this other stuff I have going on. I feel bad but am hoping that they can just edge me out (whoever should have sent to me, can send to the person I was sending to) because I'd feel really crappy getting a gift without giving one!

FIRE! FIRE! Oh, cool! As I discuss what to bring to Flipside with DBF (I love their tagline, "Where TX comes to burn!), I'm beginning to hope we will be very near our car (or at least drop all of it off and pick it up). We are bringing a lot of shit! Tent, sleeping bags, all the normal stuff, PLUS all his burn stuff, my flags and poi, my run stuff, 2 EZ-ups, 3 coolers, etc, etc, etc. But no matter, it's going to rock! I'm just much more accustomed to primative camping than car camping. I'm very excited. Do you hear me?? I'm very excited!!
I made my first flag yesterday. (Yes only one so far.) I finished it at 3am! It didn't really take long to make I just couldn't sleep, so I went ahead and made it. I bought the fabric (ripstop nylon) and weighted tape (and monofiliment) at Hancock Fabrics. I got it all [enough for 8 small flags or 6 flags {4 small, 2 huge)] for $20. Hell yeah! I got bright friggin' yellow and blue. I made a small blue flag (about 21 x 30??) yesterday and plan to make a small yellow one today. I also want to try making 2 that are blue AND yellow. If I have time tonight, I'll try those.

This weekend in one word: Adventurous

2004-05-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday: the adventure begins.

First stop: Windsurfing. The Austin Windsurf Club has a yearly "Learn to windsurf" day. DBF and I signed up and went. (He'd done this once before about 10 years ago, I was a windsurfing virgin.) We started with a 45 min-1hr lesson and simulator, and then (yikes!) were on our own. We did have some very nice helpers running about in kayaks giving advice and help when needed. The first time I stepped up on the board I actually got in a little bit of a ride before falling off. But the quick summary for the windsurfing: I had 3 rides across the cove and ended up kayaking back each time. I probably got up on the board a gazillion (or at least 45) times to manage those 3 runs but it was worth it! I have huge bruises all down my shins from getting up on the boards over and over. (I also really enjoyed the kayaking!)

Break for picnic with DBF

Second stop: SCUBA Diving. After a quick review of earlier lessons to make sure I knew my stuff, DBF took me out to the water to try this scuba stuff. (He used to be an instructor and I've recently decided I want lessons so that we can have another fun thing to do together. He wanted to be sure I knew what I was getting into before money was involved. So he took me out; what a sweetheart!) It was scary (b/c the bottom of the lake is murky and foreign to me) but it was also exciting and a lot of fun. My favorite part is when this adorable little perch kept trying to nibble DBF's ears! It was so cute (although it annoyed the hell out of DBF.)
Anyway I had a great time and can't wait to take the classes! I know I'll be scared of all the cutie little fishes, but I think I'll also be in awe of the wonderful things to see. Hopefully it will even out!

Finally: Curry Cookoff! Yes, this was an adventure. There was African curry, Thai curry, Indian curry, even Texas curry! Cheese curry (paneer), wheat germ (satan) curry, and tofu curry. There was pork curry, chicken curry, lamb curry, and beef curry. And NAAN, yes there was naan. And that made all the difference. Social Retard's entry number one was a chicken (lemony) curry. Very nice. Chlamydia's entry #2 was cashew chicken yellow curry. Yum! I love those cashews. So far not too spicy, I'm doing well. #3 is Father Syph's entry: I have no idea what it was... we'll call it the Pot of 1000 Deaths. I took a bite (and mind you I'm only tasting these curries, not taking much, just one or two bites) of Father's curry and couldn't taste anything. In fact, my lips were on fire and that was the only thing I was concerned with at the time. What? I have food in my mouth? Really? I hadn't noticed because I'm too busy looking for a fire extinguisher! I skipped the Body's (#4) entry because it was hot and sour PORK (ew). Entry 5 was Fluffer's. It was New Mexican Green Chile Tofu Curry. I took a bite and thought "Wow, how incredibly flavorfu... ow! ow! It hurts, it hurts!!" Again, I searched for the ever elusive fire extinguisher. (The naan, tea, and water were sorry excuses!) Entry 5 (Crotch Rot)'s wheat germ infused curry was interesting but wasn't best directly after Fluffer's spicy curry. In other words, I have no idea what this tasted like, just that the wheat germ stuff was kind of a funny texture. Next up was entry numero 6: Keeper of the Beams Texan Chili curry. All I can say is: oh yum! This was so good. Onions and beef and chili-esque flavor all in a delicious curry. Totally great! Entry 7: She Mussel Bitch's chicken curry with a side of cheese curry. Wow. The cheese was awesome! Great job. The chicken was good but I think I was still thinking about that chili! DBF dug the SMB's chicken curry a lot! Entry 8: Unzip Me's african coconut milk and corn curry. Wow! This should have been in between some of those hot ones! Great to cut the oils wonderfully and was a very unique flavor. (He also served up some candied coconut bananas. Entry 9, the final entry: Squeef's lamb and spinach curry. It was acceptable but quite uninteresting and I couldn't find any lamb whatsoever. It did have a kick at the end which was mean to me but not so to many others.
It was a great cookoff and I think I might help DBF out with some cooking for next year's. (Obviously we didn't have time for this year's.) Congratulations to all the winners!

Sunday: much less adventure, much more sleep.
Sunday was a slower day. Dim Sum, farmer's market, fabric store, shaved ice shack, friend's house (to watch an award winning short that he and his brotehr wrote, directed, etc), and then the hash. What a life!

So much fun, not much done.

2004-05-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

To bike or to be a fat arse? (cont.) So I'm sure you are all (yes, all of you) on the edge of your seat waiting anxiously to find out if I biked to work on bike-to-work day (yesterday). Well, no, because I didn't go to work yesterday. I, instead, chose to take the day off and move my stuff from one room in the house to another. How fruitful.

To be a fat arse? Are you sure?? I did however run (on Wednesday and Thursday!), which means I wasn't a total lazy bum. That also means that over the next 3 days (between now and Sunday) I need to run two more times to move on in my recovery schedule. Hooray! I could actually manage to do that. DBF has already said he'll run tonight and Sunday with me! Wonderful... wonderful... wonderful.

Poker, poker hard. Last night I played some great Texas Hold-Em. Unfortunately it wasn't for $$, just for fun. But I think for the first time in my life I was chip leader (by enough to make me feel like I could be a bully) for several hands (if not a substantial part of the game). DBF took everyone out of play though (as usual). But even then I still had more than him for awhile. At that point I was just ready for bed and it wasn't for $$ so I just went all in every hand until he had all my money.
DBF has found some tourneys for us to go into. I need to practice more before then! But I think it would be awesome to play if the buy-ins are in my price range. It would be nice if I could develop some ESP so I could read people better, that's my biggest problem, reading people. Okay it's my second biggest problem in poker, my first being not analyzing what hands people could have that are better than mine. I did that yesterday and think that is why my luck turned around so much. I must actually be learning to be a better player! Yes!!

Just knittering along. I dropped the project I was on, knitty's frill, and opted for a much easier scarf (for mother's day). I'll get back to frill sometime when I can manage it. It was just too tedious and didn't knit up fast enough for this beginner. The scarf I'm making is very very easy and relaxing but it's taking awhile because I'm using small needles. I've also decided to find some pretty rust colored yarn (hopefully something on sale) and knit up a shawl for my mom for her birthday (in August). It will give me something fun to do on my downtime (if there is any) while I'm at flipside.
For my birthday present from my mom (just a couple weeks from now!) I'm getting a set of Denise interchangeable knitting needles and Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook. Honestly I'm still a little wary of the book, but it seems like it will help me out with the finishing off of projects and making them look good even if I don't use the patterns much. Maybe it's just my obsession with not fitting in too much that keeps me from wanting it, I don't want to be a follower and do what everyone is doing (seemingly), but I've broken down and I'm getting it (but damn if I'm going to spend my own money on it). I hope my mind changes as I look it over.
I really like the Coney Island Fireworks scarf and I think the Skully sweater isn't bad if you take out the skulls, do it in a more neutral color, and taper the sleeves. There are also a few other projects that I'd be interested in also, I think.

You wanna swap? I did get my swap package from the ExLibris swap. It's all very fun stuff. A reading journal (books to be read, books I have read), a dragonfly book mark, exlibris papers to put in my books, a book cover, and I believe I'm leaving out something also. Very neat to get the package!
I may have to tell my swap mate in the random swap that I suck and won't finish her stuff on time, because I really want to make her stuff well. I don't want to be rushing it. But I only have 'til the 5th and there is still alot of sewing to do. Not a problem except my weekends are extremely busy (that's another story altogether) and my weeks are getting busier and busier (what with school appts and regular chores and running and knitting for mother's day).

Busy like a bee, just with more sting As for my busy weekends, they are very exciting! This weekend I'm not only going windsurfing for the first time ever, but hope to get to try out scuba diving a bit as well. Then there is also the curry cookoff (which I'm not cooking for, but hopefully will get to enjoy anyway). And all that is just on Saturday (because Sunday of course is a hashing day)! Next weekend is Flipside and the weekend after is my birthday weekend!

My blog: to do and tada!

2004-05-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is "ride your bike to work" day. Am I going to ride my bike to work tomorrow? Pros v. cons.
Pros: I could use the exercise, it would be nice to "participate", my bike needs to be ridden more, my car needs to be driven less, and I'd save a few miles worth of gas. It might convince me I could do this once a week!
Cons: I'd have to get up a little earlier so I could get to work early enough to clean up, I'd have to ride home in mid day heat (90s), my knees might not be ready for a 5-6 mi trek (seeing as I am still recovering from runner's knee).
What is a girl to do?

To run or to be a lazy bastard? I can't believe what a lazy arse I've been lately. DBF (dear boyfriend) managed to get a walk out of me yesterday but I must run today. Honestly I need to run four times between now and Sunday to move on in my recovery training schedule. Will I manage that? Doubtful. It's only 30 min a day, surely I can manage that. It's not like it's hard on me either. Alright I'm just going to do it. Grr. Mark my words, I'm going to do it!

Swap me? I'm also sorely behind in my crafting... I need to finish my mom's day gift (which turned from a beach bag to a scarf due to funds and time constraints). And I have to finish, ok start, my crafts for the swap I'm in on crafster.org. I've got to make 2 wraps (pareos), a drawstring sunglasses holder (out of the same material as one of the pareos), a towel with cute little patches on it (this should take 2 seconds, just need to iron on the patches), a beach bag (made out of a pillowcase) and a covered notepad. *sigh* Will I ever finish? Hopefully. It has to be sent out by the 5th of June! And all this with Flipside coming up soon! (Which is a whole 'nother problem because I really wanted to make some crazy fun clothes or something for it. I guess if I can get one more wrap (pareo) made for me that I can wear my pareos all weekend, one for each day!)
And I haven't gotten my stuff from the ExLibris swap! Soon, anyday it should come!