Tuesday night at Yarn Therapy I got a late birthday/early moving/random happy day gift from Terri Pike the fearless leader of our group.
It is a felted rock.
The cat embroidered onto it symbolizes “a nice lady lives here” in hobo signs.
(For more hobo signs, just google “hobo signs”. I told Terri that the “Barking Dogs” sign would have been a good one for me too:-))
I bought 2 of Terri’s original College Park felted rocks for Christmas presents. One went to a friend and the other to the hubby. Theirs didn’t have anything on them, just felt.
Neither of them “got it” and they are two people that are artistic enough that I would expect them to “get it”. It was sort of disappointing….
Anyway, I thought that my felted rock was the coolest one that I had seen yet and I absolutely adore it. Although, Milo for some reason doesn’t like it. Twice she jumped up on the window sill to push it off while I was taking that picture. I was not such a nice lady to her for a little bit…..
Tonight is the Happy Hookers in Orlando. It is at the Fashion Square Mall in the Panaera Bread. Be there or be, well, boring!
Tonight was Yarn Therapy night at Infusion Tea. God knows that I needed some sort of therapy after the day that Monday turned out to be (the cat peeing in the bag was just the straw that broke the camels back [though if that made the camel easier to comb so I could spin some of that nice, expensive stuff….]). Anyway, Terri’s group is growing by leaps and bounds and much fun was had by all. Lily and I got there extra early so that we could eat as they have most excellent food there as well as tea. Of course I brought my big-assed camera with me and of course I completely forgot to use it once again. I know, I really need to start using it in order to justify lugging it everywhere. Oh well, one of these days…..
Today Chris went and looked at a house for us to rent. I am not too optimistic about us getting it as there were some people looking at it on Saturday that seemed really into it. It would be nice though as it has a 2 1/2 acre yard and a couple of greenhouses and is nice and big. Really perfect for us. I am getting tired of these great houses getting grabbed before we even have a chance to look at them. I am glad that Chris is actually there now so that I can start sending him out immediately to look at properties. It is making me nervous that it seems that our stuff is more on the go than the pets and I are currently!
Lily and I went looking for running shoes for her at the local Sports Authority. It happens to be next door to the PetSmart (which I needed for some bird supplies as that stuff is ALL IN THE UK NOW) and, oops, Jo-Ann’s. so we bopped on over (I mean, we both had coupons so it was meant to be, right?) and I introduced her to the Deborah Norville yarn that has just recently shown up there. It seems pretty nice, I’ve got a couple of skeins of the sock yarn and one of the worsted weight. But what’s up with this? Is the new claim to fame not if you have a fragrance named after you but rather a yarn line?!?!? All I can say is that if there is ever a BSG line of yarn I am so there. I can kinda see it now. The “Six” yarn will be a sock yarn that is drop dead gorgeous with a serious don’t-fuck-with-me nylon core. The “Laura” is a cashmere blend in sportweight, all class. The “Starbuck” yarn is a worsted weight in the colors of yellow, red and blue. I’m not sure what the “Apollo” yarn would be….maybe a nice wool sportweight? I do know what the “Baltar” yarn would be, a fun fur (they always seem so straight when you start working with them but they always end-up in a mess!). For whatever reason, I keep seeing the “D’Anna” yarn as a chunky weight nubby thing with lots of interesting quirks. What would the “Admiral Adama” yarn be? Has to be wool I think given his affection towards the classics. I would think muted colors…. Worsted?
Ok, have to get off of that topic or the next thing that you know I’ll be at a sci-fi convention wearing a colonial military uniform and I’m not sure that I could pull that off….
This is what you get after spending most of a day in a car chasing down two governments sets of regulations, with a freak snow storm thrown in for good measure.
This is an obscene amount of money spent with nothing really to show for it except more money to be spent.
These are my parrotlets, who are supposed to be in the UK by now.
Oh, and for good measure, the cat peed in my bag tonight.
So, I guess now the reality of the whole move has set in. I’m sitting in, I guess it’s actually a “camp chair” but it’s what we got when we asked at Wal-Mart for, “cheap, lawn chairs” so I’m not quibbling over it’s title. Chris’ chair is, in fact a white plastic lawn chair that has been sitting in our yard since we got married…. three and a half years ago. We found an old pillow that didn’t go into the container that came with, get this, a freecycled dog bed. We are really styling right now at this castle!
The vet and a tech came today for the birds health inspection. We had no place for them to sit so we all ended-up sitting on the floor. It sort of made the $400 that we are paying for the honor feel a little better. I mean, they couldn’t even sit on the turd! But everything went well and the birds are on their way, well, at least to Gainesville!
Otherwise, not a lot going on. House cleaning, back to work working, the usual. Except, that we go to sleep each night on a bouncy airmattress. It’s gonna be a long month…
Yep, it is official, the turquoise turd is on it’s way to the UK. Not only did we have space for it, but I could have fit another 500 or so books more in that 40′-er. A 40′ container is a lot of container. Everything went well today. Minimum damage to either house or furniture and it was all loaded in the specified amount of time. So, we are calling it a win for the home team!
Here are some pictures.
All of my worldly possessions sitting out on the front lawn like a giant yardsale.
Honestly, it didn't look as big outside as it all had in the house... (though my stash still seemed wicked huge!)
When the truck got here with the container things got interesting.
Home sweet ocean going container
Lots of heavy lifting
Bye-bye truck (notice the spinners on the back wheels!)
Anyway, I am about ready to fall over from tired. I will try to write more and try to be funny later….
Not a lot of time to post a full, long story. Just wanted to let you all know how things are flowing in Sarah land. It is nearly 1 in the morning. The moving crew is supposed to arrive sometime between 9 and 10 in the morning, in other words in about 8 hours or so. The packing is “mostly” done, just some odds and ends to find homes for. The pets are freaking out from everything going everywhere, my back feels broken and I have to be up in just a few hours. I will be so glad when this part is over…..
I received word that the (hopefully) last permit that I will need has been issued in the UK. I hope that I get it soon as London is currently snowed-in…..
(I will try to take pictures of the insanity tomorrow but I can’t promise anything….)
Yesterday was my 31st birthday. Yeah, it was my 31st on the 31st. I guess that the majority of people have their age and the date of their birthday match sooner than I did which is probably why everyone kept giving me these odd looks when I bothered to point it out.
Anyway, I had, quite possibly, the best birthday that I have ever had. Becca, Denise, Kim, Lily, Tyra and I started out at Christo’s in College Park for breakfast. The hubby joined us for this portion of the day but left as soon as breakfast was over to go home and work on some more packing. Then, the gang moved down Edgewater to the The Beauty Spot, a spa. We had all gotten gift certificates for a manicure/pedicure, a massage and a facial back before Christmas. The staff there was fantastic and we had a great (and very relaxing) time. We had our own “party room” and Tyra had brought balloons and treats. I got some lovely cards and presents and we discussed poop. Literally. Among other things of course.
The group (clockwise from top left): Lily, Kim, Denise, Tyra, Me, Becca
Becca getting "tag teamed" by TWINS!!!!!
Kim, looking like she's gotten more than just a massage...
Tyra and I seriously "lounging"
(Thanks Lily for the great pictures from the spa day!)
At the end of the day Tyra drove me home and then I opened all the lovely presents that my husband, his parents and my friend Sarah Jane sent me. The in-laws sent me a lovely skein winder as well as many other lovely things. The hubby’s presents were pretty camera centric, including a pimpy new flash for it as well as a photo tent that makes it easier to photograph my yarn stash and the most fun (especially when you’ve had a few margaritas!), a remote for the camera. Sarah sent me some great pampering lotions and a really nice scented candle and a snuffer to put it back out.
Remotes are FUN!!!!
I got the entire last season of Knit and Crochet Today on DVD!!!
The lovely skein winder that my lovely in-laws gave me!
I think that this is probably a good idea!!!
I then washed the massage oil off (there was a LOT in my hair, it was making things look pretty nasty) and got dressed and went to our friends Tony and Laura’s house. Laura was so kind as to host a sort of birthday/going away/new citizen party (one of the Hubby’s friends became an American citizen about a week ago). There was a ton of food, lots of drinks, interesting conversations and lots of very competitive Pictionary.
Tony telling the RULES!
We had a LOT of food!
Laura, our hostess with the mostess!!!
Pictionary is FUN!!
Let them eat........
We didn’t get home until about 2:30 in the morning and promptly fell asleep.
Today has been totally taken-up with packing for the move. The kitchen is now mostly done as is the bedroom. It still feels as though we have a lot to pack yet I find myself casting about looking for something to finish off the box that I am working on. The dogs and cats are all getting sort of annoyed with us as there seems to be no really safe place for them to sit and sleep. As soon as they get comfortable, they get rousted from their place by one of us needing something that is below them to pack. Oh, and most spaces where they would normally lounge have been covered with boxes.
We also said goodbye to the worlds toughest goldfish. We’ve had this guy for a few years now and needed to find a new home for him. It came to us through freecycle that there was a family looking for an aquarium for their little girl. So, we said goodbye.
Call me "Blossom" now baby...
It is strange to type with painted fingernails. I cannot remember the last time that I had my fingernails painted an I have them what I am calling “race car red”.
Last night I went to my usual Happy Hookers group. Even this pack mistress needs a night off every now and then. It was a little unusual in the fact that we first went to Super Suppers for a tasting arranged by our one and only amazing Lily who set it up for us. I got some food to heat and eat for when Chris is gone and then went and forgot it in the trunk of the car when we got home. However, it wasn’t the end of the world as it was still pretty frozen this morning when I woke up thinking about the monkey bread and went and got it all from the car…. It was a fun night as usual even though we weren’t in our usual Paneara. Didn’t get a lot done on the blue and white torture, but that’s ok. I have resigned myself that it will get finished when we are done with the move. I won’t have much else to do but crochet it and look at the pets trying to pop the airmattress.
Still packing. I don’t know just how so much stuff fit into this little 900+ sq. ft. house. I mean, I know that a lot of things take more space when packed but damn, I think that the amount of mass is multiplying in some mysterious anti-physics way. Think the Tribbles episode of Star Trek. Only these aren’t cute little furry creatures rather ugly looking, brown, cardboard boxes and things wrapped in throw rugs and shrink wrap (I love shrink wrap, just an FYI for y’all).
I took both dogs and 2 cats down to the Virgin Atlantic cargo office on Wednesday. I wanted to make sure that all of their crates were of appropriate dimension’s. I’m glad I did as I found out that the cat’s crates were all too small. I have ordered larger ones for them. Here’s the odd thing…We are now taking up considerably more space in the plane but we are being charged a lower amount, by something on the order of $500. Once you pass a certain threshold you are charged a different rate. Who knew? So, a word to all you thinking of taking a bunch of pets overseas, go ahead and upgrade your pets crates, it could make it cheaper for you!
I have exactly 5 full days before a gang of 4 men descends upon my house and removes everything in it as well as (hopefully) a lot of things around it and puts them into a 40′ container that will get loaded onto a big ship that will bob it’s way across the Atlantic ocean and into London. Ok, so bobbing isn’t probably the best description of what the ship will do but I thought that it was probably better than zooming since it is going to take 5-6 weeks for my stuff to get there. I’m freaking the hell out going so far as to measure the front of my house at 9 o’clock at night with my little sheep tape measure that maxes out at 5′ last night when the hubby asked, “just how freaked out would you be if everything didn’t fit in the container?”. I needed some perspective on how big 40′ is. Just so you know, the house is only 25′. I think we are going to be ok but it was seriously not cool of the hubby to say that as I am sure that he already knows the fucking answer!!! I am also trying to get the last of the paperwork done for the birds as they are flying with the hubby on the 9th. I could melt pennies in the acid pit that is now my stomach (and esophagus I am sure) and I am prone to fly into a rage. The one house that fit our needs got rented before we could get to it and a replacement has been elusive. I am still working part-time as well as taking a class that I need to graduate.
In other words, please forgive the blog silence. I’m a little busy right now…….
Packing continues here in lovely Apopka. The yarn room continues to be filled with more boxes and containers than were even in there previously. It is interesting to see the house seem to gradually empty into a couple of rooms which are completely impassible. It will be an experience for me once everything is once again out of the house to see it’s bones. I don’t think it has been completely empty since I bought it. I spent a couple of weeks cleaning it before I moved in with my friend Liuba as there was a lot of, well, gunk on the walls in the kitchen and stuff like that. We had it mostly empty while we remodeled it a while back, but not completely empty. I am going to be sad to leave this house. I bought it when I was only 21 not knowing just how hard buying a house is supposed to be! I think that had I known I wouldn’t have done it. I’m not going to say that this is one of those fantastic stories that you hear about all the time, where someone buys a house down on it’s luck and magically transforms it into a palace. It isn’t, the house still has serious limitations but I am leaving it a much more livable structure than the one that I bought. (For example, it has A/C now. It didn’t when I bought it. Seriously. I lived here for a year with no A/C.). Still, I have spent a third of my life here and it will be hard to say goodbye…..
Wool washing also continues. Luckily, wool washing appears to be coming to an end. I am on my last sheep fleece from Rhinebeck, all I have left after that is to wash lovely Chico’s blanket and everybody is clean… I finished washing the Romney’s fleece and it is even more lovely clean than it was greasy. It has more silver in it than I even thought. Now I am working on the Romney-Rambouillet crossed fleece which is another of the white fleeces. Lots of soaking it in the washer and hauling hot pans of water out to it. I’m glad that the alpaca fleece doesn’t need hot water since it has no grease in it.
With random balls of yarn that I have found around the house as I was packing, I have broken 1000 on the Ravelry stash list. That means that I have 1000 different kinds of yarn, not 1000 skeins or balls of yarn. I have way more than 1000 skeins since many of the kinds of yarn that I have I own more than one ball of it. Still, it is dubiously a banner day for me!
I am optimistically hopeful that we may have found a place that will work for us in the UK. Not only would we be able to live there but the entire zoo as well. I don’t want to talk about it too much for fear of jinxing it, but I will say that it even has a greenhouse!!!
I’m not going to talk about the inauguration here. I listened to it on NPR and I am sure that there are LOTS of folks blogging about it. I’m just glad, in a perverse way, that it is happening before I move overseas. For the past 8 years I have felt that I had to apologize when I told people over there that I was an American. I no longer feel that way. I am happy and proud to be an American and I hope that I stay that way…..
Sarah Jane Humke 