The beginning of an end or the end of a beginning?

Does it really matter which way you say it? Doesn't it all sort of mean the same thing - change?

Yesterday was my birthday and as much as I loathe the thought of chalking up yet another year I must admit I enjoyed the day very much. Maybe because I had most of the people I love the most around me. Maybe because we had some really awesome chow. Maybe because I got some really cool gifts. Maybe just cuz I'm up looking down and not the opposite. Either way turning 45 was alright with me. Age is just a number you know. I am reminded of that every time I go into my new favorite Starbucks and get to see this young guy that works there. I have no idea what his name is (although I would like to know so I could stop calling him "guy") but it's not like I have a crush on him or anything. Not at all. For some reason which I cannot explain we seem to have this connection. It's like when we look at each other he knows what I'm thinking and that in another time or place we would have been friends. Like when you meet someone for the first time and you automatically have some sort of chemistry and you talk and talk and feel like you could talk forever. But I know this "guy" is probably like 24, or 23 or 22... I just don't know, but he's young. Young enough to be my son and here I am now 45 old enough to be his Mom and yet we still seem to connect. It's so weird. And yet it's not weird at all because that's the kind of thing that makes life cool and worth blogging about.

The DH and I got back from South Carolina and I can't wait to tell you all about that trip but I will until I have the pics so you can see our Soldier for yourself. It was a good trip. We both really liked the South. The people were amazingly friendly and polite. The weather was unbeatable as long sleeves and jackets were a must-have. It rained and it was windy and chilly. It was perfect.

SONG OF THE BLOG: "This Love" by Maroon 5. I know, I know - old song, but I love it just the same.

Pics

This is the latest scarf from my collection. I call it "Cowgirl Up".

Is this at the local yarn shop? Nooooo, it's my new craft room!!

I'm sick....very, very sick.... LOL

Saturday

Greetings fellow bloggers! It was a tad bit chilly this morning in Murrtown! Woohoo! Can't tell you how happy I am about that! The DH woke up with a migraine today =( so he is taking it easy today. He was going to work but had to cancel. Now if I can just get him to CHILL out for the day. LOL That's not easy...

Well, my To-Do list isn't much shorter... Been working on taking pics of everything but it's not an easy job. I'm thinking I might ask our daughter to be my model for the scarves. I think with her pretty face and smile it will definitely help sell them. I'm getting quite a few views, but no buyers. The DH says to be patient and witht the holidays fast approaching my stuff will start to move. Sure hope so...

Have any of you seen the movie "Shoot Em Up"? I watched a little bit of it the other night before I went to La-La Land. It's pretty funny - way out there with the shoot scenes, but it's entertaining.

SONG OF THE BLOG: "Take Back the City" by Snow Patrol. How's that for different??

F-F-F-Friday

I know, every day for me is a Friday, but hey - I'm still enjoying it. Got up this morning rather leisurely. Went to Sbux for a caramel machiatto and a slice of the pumpkin loaf. Sat outside on the back patio for a bit with the hubby enjoying the quiet of the backyard and watching our cat stalk the lizards.

I have much to do...

1. Make the most of the son's digi cam before we take it to him next Wednesday. I have to take pics of all my completed blankets and measure each as well.

2. Start going through boxes and decorating the house. Not what we want to do, but since we know we are probably going to be here for at least two years we figure we might as well enjoy the house.

3. Pack for South Cacalacky! Woohoo!

4. Organize my new craft room!

SONG OF THE BLOG: "Trying to Love You" by Trisha Yearwood.

PHOTO OF THE BLOG: Hot, Hot, HOT!!!

Flippin Hot

I'm angry it's back to being so hot. All I want to do is sit in a chair staring blankly at the TV screen. It saps my energy. I have been trying to crochet - but the heat doesn't make it easy to have yarn in your hands and in your lap! Here is the most recent scarf...

Still no sales on the Etsy shop. Here is that url by the way: www.redkranch.etsy.com

Got a letter from the son in basic yesterday. It was a very cool letter. He actually told me he misses me and can't wait to see me. Awwwwwww. We are so excited to see him, too!

The Dh and I have been talking about staying here in this house now... At least for another 5 years. I'm not against it entirely and neither is he. We could do a lot worse. We both love this house and couldn't ask for better neighbors. And so it goes... Who know where we will be in 2 years? 5 years?

SONG OF THE BLOG: "Better As A Memory" by Kenny Chesney.

It wasn't in Augustana that I was Counting Crowes under a Maroon 5 sky

So Thursday my daughter texts me and asks if I like Maroon 5 and after I replied I did she asked me what I was doing Friday night. She scored two free tix from her bio mom and asked me to go. Sweet! Augustana was the opening act (double score) and then Counting Crowes played right after followed by Maroon 5. If you haven't heard Augustana, you should give them a listen, especially their song called "Boston". They were awesome. They played about six songs. Counting Crowes wasn't so awesome. Well, let me rephrase that... I suppose if you are a serious CC's fan you would have thought they were awesome. I must not be a serious fan because most of the time while they were playing I found myself looking around at the others in the audience for someone to translate and/or interpret. They did their hits, turning a 4 minute song into a 10 minute song. The lead singer with the wild hair was just "out there". I'm sure he is a great artist and talented if you get into his kind of ad-hoc singing. The best example I can give you is the rest of his band sort of went silent and he sat down at the piano and said, "I'm not going to do a lot of talking tonight - just playing a bunch of songs. (much applause and whistling and yelling from the crowd). This next song is about me...alone in my room...on a dark night...at the bottom of a canyon..." After that song I really couldn't tell you much else about what they played. It was just so bizarre. They were passing out free sticks of "5" gum - it was a new citrus flavor. We were kind of hoping you chewed it to be able to understand what the heck he was saying... No such luck!

Maroon 5 on the other hand was freakin' awesome. How I have let them slip by me is beyond comprehension. I can hear Birdman saying, "Well if you didn't listen to that shit-kicker music you might have heard them!" They were really good. James Valentine on lead guitar rocked. And Adam Levine - well, what can you say about him other than he is smokin' HOT. Needless to say I will be downloading many MV songs to my Ipod.

I have five items listed on my Etsy.com store. None of which have sold. The DH keeps telling me they have only been up for a week. I guess I am just overly anxious. I am about 95% done with the Raiders blanket and will be starting a Chargers (gag) throw. I am also crocheting scarves as an idea hits me. The most recent scarf to go up for sale is one I call Lone Star.

I have it listed for $28.00 and although it's gotten quite a few "views" no one has bought it up. Do you think the price is too high? Too low? Scarf is not appealing? What do you guys think?

SONG OF THE BLOG: "Won't Go Home Without You" by MV.

No clever title

Blah. That's how I am feeling today. I went to bed late (1:30) and although I did get sleep this morning I woke feeling...not tired, but restless. I got all dressed to go ride, stopped at Starbucks for breakfast and a few minutes of crocheting and just couldn't see myself doing much of anything the rest of the day. I realized sitting at Starbucks how it's difficult for me to fit in with any other women. There were three women there chatting about their kids in school. They were all probably my age; maybe a few years younger and their kids were in middle school. Mine are all grown; out on their own; soon to be parents, soldiers, etc. I just started to think about life and what it means to me to relax and enjoy it and I promptly packed up my yarn and instead of driving to the barn today I came home and here I am! Lucky you!! LOL

If all goes well, I will not HAVE to look for work until after the first of the year. I am enjoying the time off I have now very much. The DH has been a huge part of this and I can't thank him enough for taking the stress off of me. At the same time I wish I were bringing in more than just what the unemployment pays. I can't have everything though, so I'm trying to hard to produce quality crochet products that will sell.

Tonight is the second episode of "Sons of Anarchy". I'm looking forward to it. Like I said, it's a bit rough around the edges, but I like seeing the bikes and getting a peak into the biker club lifestyle - even if it's probably not the normal bike club of today. I am still taking the rider's course in November and then with luck will have a bike at Christmas. I have been reading a lot of blogs and forums regarding first time bike owners and their fear of riding. Seems it takes time to log on miles on your bike in different kinds of traffic and road conditions. After reading that information it makes much more sense now why there are so many used bikes with low miles. I guess women as a rule have a harder time riding solo and getting up the courage to just take their bike out on their own to gain experience of the road. Although there is no sure way to tell if I will fall into that category, I am thinking I know myself pretty good and I will be able to ride on my own. My next purchase is a pair of biker boots. There are so many styles to choose from it's difficult to know which I like. I mean, I can rule out the ones with heels. LOL But I also don't want to look like a dyke... =)

Tomorrow is the oldest's doctor appointment for his pregnant gf. We are wondering if he will call us with the news since he doesn't call us about anything else, we seriously doubt it.

SONG OF THE BLOG: "Animals" by Nickelback. . I LOVE THIS SONG. I know it's old but it's on my playlist and I love it.

PHOTO OF THE BLOG: 2004 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200. I like this bike. I don't like the color, but I like how it looks. I like the saddlebags. Only thing is that mine will have the double seat.