Shopping, a Question, and Friday Fill Ins

I started my Christmas shopping last night, thank goodness for the internet or no one would receive anything from me. lolol. I hate going to the store and shopping for things, especially when I am not sure of what I want. So almost everything is coming from the internet this year, in fact, I cannot think of anything that isn’t. Saving time, frustration, money, and gas!

I was doing the Friday Fill-in thingy and number five got me to thinking. You know how panhandlers will stand at the highway off ramps and busy intersections collecting money with little signs saying, “I am desperate” or “I am broke”. I always wonder how you can tell which of those people are truly desperate and which of them just make their living that way. I always feel guilty for not giving them money, but at the same time, I feel like I work hard, and I do not want to give money away to someone who doesn’t want to get a job (I don’t mean someone who cannot get a job). I always feel guilty if I do not give them money, but my husband always tells me that they make more money than I do, but can that be the case with everyone who stands on a corner asking for money? So my question to you my bloggy friends is how do you decide which people to give to or do you at all?


1. You get cookies for Christmas.
2. I find that it is best to get right to the point.
3. It's holiday time.
4. Life is often ridiculous!
5. I feel more blessed when I read about others who are not.
6. I’m done...goodnight!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to making dinner, grocery shopping, tomorrow my plans include going to the movies, cooking, and knitting and Sunday, I want to decorate the tree and veg!

Blather and Friday Fill Ins

Can anyone tell me why I can get to Twitter from my work network but not Facebook, does that make sense to anyone? I can waste just as much time on Twitter as I can on Facebook so that cannot be the issue. Oh well, mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do or die. Lolol

This has been a really long week; I have been prepping reports for the department, and writing the memos that go with them, justifying any variances or out of whack issues. The reports sections are not difficult, I can manipulate the data easily, but writing the memos kills me. I like to write as I talk (as you can tell) and I cannot do that in memos to the department. I have to use “governmentese” which is not pretty or easy to understand in most cases.

DD1 has been in Illinois this week looking for an apartment, and it has been very funny. She has never had to relocate on her own before, so she has never searched for an apartment and evidently, there was not a lot to choose from. She did finally find one across the state line in Iowa, but she called me a gazillion times while she and her boyfriend were looking. She starts in a couple of weeks and the agency can move her at any time during her training, so the boyfriend will not be going at first and she will be all on her own.

I am so happy that this is a three-day weekend I could die! Have a great weekend!

1. Sweet dreams to you.
2. & 3 Silliness is imperative, especially for me.
4. I will not be home this Halloween.
5. Outstanding or not , I will knit.
6. A gooey, creamy chocolate bar is what I want right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning up, tomorrow my plans include cleaning, errands, etc. and Sunday, I want to veg!

Manic Monday, Some Knitting and A Question

What gives you hope? Children usually give me hope, and reading the good things people do for others gives me hope. Knowing that a better future is right around the corner gives me hope.

How often do you get your haircut? Describe your worst haircut. I don’t have a set time for a haircut, I get one when I have a coupon or my hair is driving me nuts, whichever is sooner. My worst haircut was a combo haircut and perm, when I was done; I looked just like my grandmother, even though I was only 39. It was awful

What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why? I have some emerald earrings and a necklace that my daughter gave me (which is why they are my most treasured pieces.)

I found a stitch for the black scarf I am making for DD1, I was browsing in my “Field Guide to Knitting” and found the Diamond Lace chain and I think it will be perfect. It is simple, and perfect for running down the middle of the scarf, plus I don’t have to fuss with a chart on this one, which will make it quicker. I am using Caron’s Simply Soft so it can thrown in the washer and dryer, this will make the problem of dog and cat hair easier to deal with.

You know, I really love working with fine wool and blends, but with all the animals in my house, it is just too hard to take care of the yarn and then to use it afterwards. When I made J’s scarf it was so full of hair that I took it outside and shook it, but the yarn could not go in the washer and dryer, so the hair was pretty much knit into the scarf. However, T’s scarf was with washable wool and a wool blend, when it was done I threw the darn thing into the washer and dryer (gently and lightly) and it came out beautifully. How do others deal with that issue? Do you have a room where animals are not allowed to go for knitting? Alternatively, do you just ignore the hair and pretend like it is not there?

Have a wonderful day!