Better late than never?

Yeah, I suck.  My life has been a little crazy lately.  First, I've spent the last month trying to move, trying being the operative word.  I had to delay moving day by a week, and I'm still not completely unpacked, and it's having a profound effect on my ability to deal with life.

Second, I just got back from a week-long vacation in Canada where I got to visit with my brand-new niece!

She is the most beautiful little girl, and I am completely in love with her.  It was sooooo hard to leave her and come back to my boxed-up home.  Luckily, my sister is all about the technology, and we've already Skyped several times, and I've been getting 'baby-of-the-day' photos in my inbox everyday, which makes me very happy.

Third, since I've been home, I've been sewing.  Many of you have already visited Colby's blog, so you know how awesome she is.  This week, I made her a dress.  No, not just a dress, a snake dress.  For last night's Harry Potter opening, Colby was dressed as Nagini.  It was pretty epic.  Soon, I shall have photos to share, because it really was awesome.

I know, I know, I shouldn't have abandoned you all like that, and I'm sorry, Blogglings. But I have been busy, and out of town, and it's always been my policy to refrain from mentioning any travel plans online until after I have returned.  I am, however, fully back, with real internet and everything at home.  Hopefully, this post marks the return of your regularly scheduled blog-reading.

Enjoy your weekend!

1-2-3-4

One arm bruise.

Two scrapes.

Three cuts (not scrapes, because they bled a teensy bit).

Four mosquito bites.

The result:

Check out the new grill!  It took a couple of hours, but my dad and I managed to assemble it ourselves!  And we even tried it out - it was perfect!  I'm pretty excited about trying it on my own sometime... to make pancakes.  Yes, pancakes.  My grill has a griddle.  It's made of awesome.

Sometimes I surprise myself

I just spent four hours waiting for the gas company to come, and no one showed.  Grrr.

In other news, I ended up staying up later than planned last night to watch the end of "William & Kate" on Lifetime. I know, I know, it was cheesy and gimicky, and I didn't plan to watch it!  I just happened upon it as I was searching for something to fall asleep to, and it caught my attention.

I know that everyone seems to have an opinion about the royal wedding these days (probably because it's this weekend, right?), but I don't really have a lot to say about it.  I'll probably watch it if I'm home at the right time - I remember watching Charles and Di when I was a little girl - and I think it would be fun to see.  At the same time, it's not essential for me to watch it.

Also, I'm kind of getting tired of TLC's Wedding Week specials.  There's nothing wrong with weddings, but a wedding should not be the be-all, end-all goal for anyone's life.  I'd rather be watching, well, almost anything else at this point, and it's only Monday.  Luckily, HGTV isn't airing wedding stuff, so I'll spend the week watching home improvement shows.

Watching home improvement shows is actually a good plan because... I've got a house!  Yes, that's right, I will soon give up the apartment dwelling lifestyle, and be stuck doing all of my own repairs... Um... Hm... *reaches for the remote in a panic*  Must watch more HGTV!

A letter from my body

Dear Danielle,

We want to preface this by saying that we love you.  However, after today, we're not quite sure how you feel about us.  The poor legs are exhausted!  You started the day with Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease, and it was hard on them.  And then you wore your Sketchers Shape-Ups all day!  Don't you like your legs?  Or your feet?

And let's not forget your poor skin and back!  What on earth possessed you to start hauling tree limbs around?  We understand that there were nasty storms this weekend, and that your yard was full of debris.  However, you apparently forgot that you're allergic to everything with leaves, and now your hands and arms are covered in little welts from brushing up against pine needles.  Next time you decide to do yard work, please stop and think for a moment, then go put on work gloves and long sleeves.  And instead of hauling the 18 foot tree limb over to the curb by yourself, GO ASK SOMEONE FOR HELP.  Dumbass.

Of course, we can't ignore your brain.  First, you wake up early to exercise, which is really screwing with it.  Then, you spent the day doing statistical analysis.  Can we say ouch?  Granted, you did give in and provide some extra caffeine today, but your teeth aren't all that impressed with the extra dose of sugar.

In closing, please be nicer to us tomorrow, or we'll go on strike, and you'll have to lay in bed like a vegetable.

Love,
All the parts of your body

P.S. Here's a picture of the pile of yard debris that was hauled to the curb today, including the 18' tree limb. It doesn't look nearly as impressive in the picture as it did in person.  There was a lot of debris... and still is, but it will require a wheelbarrow to bring it to the front yard.  Also, it will require work gloves and long sleeves.  And some assistance.  Sorry, body.

Letters to things

I am totally snagging the awesome letter-writing-stylings of Kiersten White.  You should go check out her blog, because she is really cool.  And short!  And her book, Paranormalcy, is a New York Times Bestseller (which I feel very guilty about not reading, because I read her blog faithfully, but I just don't like reading hardcover books - they don't feel right in my hands - so I'm waiting for the paperback edition).

And now, on to the letters!


Dear Spiders-who-look-like-dryer-lint,

   I know it's still a bit chilly outside.  However, I would appreciate it if you would STAY OUT OF MY BEDROOM.  I would also appreciate it if you would stop lurking in the basket of clean-but-unmatched-up-socks.  There is very little that freaks me out as much as reaching to pick lint off of the sock I want to wear, then realizing the lint has legs and is moving towards me.

Arachnophobically yours,
Danielle


Dear Clean-but-unmatched-up-socks,

   I promise, I haven't forgotten you.  I just had a lot to do this weekend, and getting you all back with your partners will have to wait until the rest of the laundry is washed and dried, the dishes are done, the carpets are vacuumed, the guest room is decluttered, and Otter's sweater is done.

Until my downtime,
Danielle


Dear Otter's sweater,

   Yes, I realize that you're a maternity sweater, and that we're on a deadline.  I'm working my hardest to get everything else tided up, so I can work on you without getting you covered in dust or spiders or mis-matched socks.  I'm not avoiding you, really!  I can't wait to get back to enjoying our time together.

Hurrying through the dishes to get to you,
Danielle


Dear mean pug at the dog park,

   Don't bite my dog!

Snappishly yours,
Danielle


Dear Blogglings,

   I hope you've enjoyed my outbursts at (mostly) inanimate objects.  I hope to finish reading another book to review soon, so we can return to a more writer-ly focus here.  Until then, please enjoy visiting some of the awesome blogs I follow by clicking on the "Links" tab above, or just clicking on this link to Kiersten's blog.

Always (trying to be) entertaining,
Danielle

Casting off!

I'm nearly done Rachel's baby blanket! I decided this week that I needed to focus on one project, finish it off, instead of hopping from piece to piece.  So I concentrated on this blanket, and I'm casting off.  Unfortunately, I ran out of yarn.  I miscalculated the amount that I had left.  Even more unfortunately, the edging is made of a wonderful yarn called 'Heaven' that is fluffy and REALLY difficult to undo.  So now I need to go and buy one more ball of it, so I can finish the blanket.  But I'm 2/3 finished casting off, and once I'm cast off, all that's left is weaving in ends and trimming them.  And I'll probably do the weaving-in before I get to the yarn store.

Next on the list: finishing Otter's blanket.

In other news, I'm closer to being unpacked!  I unpacked my books, and I filled four boxes to give away.  I put up my wind chimes outside.  I'm charging my power screwdriver, and I'll probably put up my drapes in the living room on Wednesday (they need ironing first!).  I've got a taker for my big box o' yarn, and I've got a place to donate my clothes.  Now I just need to find a place to send my books (oh wait, NaNo is doing a book drive!), and my purses and bags...

Also, I got flowers this weekend, and they are lovely.  Thank you! (Because I know you read this!)

Weekend update!

Normally, I'd post something about crafting on a Sunday.  This week, though, I've done about three row's on Otter's blanket, and half a ball on Karen-at-work's baby blanket.  The rest of my 'free' time has been spent on my apartment.

Yes, that's right, I've been cleaning/tidying/emptying spaces and packing boxes.  I'm moving at the end of the month, and I'm trying to get my life in order.  And it's hard work!

I did, however, discover that the storage area under my stairs is actually an interdimensional space.  I pulled about 2/3 of the stuff out of it, and realized that it covered the entire floor of my living room.  And there was still stuff left.  I have a closet of holding! (Okay, yes, I'm a D&D geek. Deal with it.)  I'm really hoping that at least one of the closets in the new place is going to be a closet of holding too... if not, I may be screwed.

Today, I put shelf paper on the shelves in the new kitchen, and I packed up most of my glasses/cups.  I'm hoping to take those over to the new place and unpack them today.  I need to run the dishwasher, and then I'll have all my dishes clean, and then they'll get moved over, too.  That means that I'm doing takeout for the rest of the month, but you know what? That's cool.  I like McDonald's and Subway and Taco Bell and all that jazz.  There are a lot of options nearby, so I should be fine.

There's a part of me that's really sad to be moving, because I have an amazing apartment right now.  However, it's exciting, and fun, and a great way to clear out crap.  Now if I can just manage to let go of stuff... I've actually considered giving away some books.  Eep!!

I doubt that I'll get much crafting done next week, either, but that's okay.  Once I'm moved in to the new place, I'll have a day of knitting to make up for the week of boxes.

I am covered in paint.

Today was the SuperFun Priming Party, and I'm covered.  Except for where my coveralls were.  I've got paint in my hair (despite wearing an oh-so-attractive pink bandana on my head).  I had paint on my nose.  I've got paint all up and down my arms, and my hands are multicoloured.  It's not as pretty as it sounds.

Tonight's blog is short, because I must go scrub all of this paint off.  I can't sleep with it.  It just freaks me out.  And then I have to go edit a novel... hm... this will be a LOOOONG night...

Boxes, boxes, everywhere

I'm in the midst of packing, and I forgot how organized, yet chaotic, it is.  The last time I moved, it was a cross-border move, so I had to have the contents of every box specifically recorded.  My OCD brain loved that.  This time, I'm doing it again.  Each box gets its own worksheet in an Excel spreadsheet.  Boxes are labelled with big number stickers, and each number sticker has a coloured dot in the corner that indicates the room in which it will eventually live.  Most of my boxes are bankers boxes, though there is a set of Alcon boxes that I rescued from the office.  It's so pretty... I've got three stacks of boxes sitting in the living room, and they're all the same size and shape...

It's also nice, because I'm getting a current inventory of all of the STUFF I have.  I now have a complete record of all my DVDs, all my CDs, all my books, all my EVERYTHING!  I even have a list of the types and quantities of yarn that I own.  I think I need to stop buying yarn for a while...

However, in addition to the boxes that are neatly stacked against the wall, ready to go, I have piles of unassembled boxes, box lids, tissue paper, bubble wrap, tape, labels, and stickers ALL OVER!  And there is stuff all around, too.  I took the afternoon off of work to try to get it under control but, well, not so much.  I think tomorrow night and Sunday will be tidying up time, trying to at least get things into the room where they belong so I can pack them when the time comes...

And on that note, I must get to bed, because tomorrow is the SuperFun Priming Party (Again)!  Wish me luck, and helpers!

Need your opinions!

You may or may not know that my SO and I are in the process of renovating a house, so that we can move into it together.  This is a rather stressful event, as there is a lot of dust and chaos, and I don't like these things.  However, in the end, there will be nicely painted walls and a 13-foot bar in the basement.  And a huge-ass TV and gaming table.  And more bookshelves than I could have dreamed of.

However, the other day, I realized something.  We will have a yard.  Okay, so I didn't just wake up and say, 'Hey, we've got a yard!' - I did actually notice that when we looked at the place.  What I actually realized was that we have a yard where we can put stuff.  We talked about it, but I think we've decided against putting up signage for a particular presidential candidate, because we're not entirely sure how that will go over with the neighbours - there aren't many of those sort of signs up in our neighbourhood.

Then we came up with what I think is an awesome idea - we're going to put up Canadian political signage!  I'll have a Liberal poster in my front yard!  And maybe a Tory one, so my dad doesn't totally disown me.  And maybe, for fun, we'll put up NDP and Reform signs, too! (And yes, I realize the Reform party doesn't actually exist anymore, but who's going to know down here?  Besides, looking at it will remind me of Ross Perot shouting "Refoooooorm!".  Actually, I don't know if he ever said it like that, but This Hour Has 22 Minutes and The Royal Canadian Air Farce always spoofed him doing it.  Wow, this has been a really long parenthetical comment.)

So I want to know, if you had a yard, what kind of signage (or other things) would you/do you put up in it?