Pins and Pretties

Well, start of the New Year, and no resolutions for me. That’s what Lent is for, in my opinion. But I want to be more social and make more friends, and if that’s a resolution, so be it. At least it’s a fun one!

Yesterday, my friend MsOz put up a challenge at the social-site-with-faces: 2013 Craft Pay-It-Forward. Basically, the first five people to reply get a handmade item from her, with the stipulation that those participating also place the same status on their social site and do a craft for others as well. After thinking and thinking and more thinking, I decided to make these:

Pincushions made from vintage tea cups! This one I made from leftover fabric and a cracked demitasse cup I found somewhere. So, today I am going out to scour the antique stores for lonely little tea cups in search of a home. I will post the tutorial later this week.

I don’t know if this would work with voodoo, but it would be fun to try 😉

Obviously, I am Not a Woman of Mystery

Christmas was a big hit around here. We spent it at my folks for the first part of the day, then drove home to open the gifts in the evening.

When Eldest asked if I wanted my gifts wrapped, I knew it was going to be fun. Seems that *ahem* people forgot to wrap my gifts. No matter. I told her it was a waste of time and effort and to just put it in the bags they came in. Hubby had taken the kids to shop for me. I will never let him do that again, because apparently the kids did the choosing.

A hoodie to wear at football games, or whenever I please….

Don’t get me wrong. It’s very cool, and very warm! It was the Sithy gift.

And this was the wino gift.

Taste wine? What a novel idea…

The Wine Tasting Lolita™ glass! I didn’t have it, so that was a plus, because I hate, hate, HATE returning and/or exchanging anything. So I got Sithy and wine gifts for this Christmas. All in all, people know me well.

I may need to get a new hobby 😉

Conversations Without Coffee Should Come With a Warning

This morning I get up with my alarm, smiling because A) it’s Monday, and 2) only a week or so before Christmas. I get to see my family and hopefully friends during the holiday. It means baking, and cooking, and a warm house. I’m so happy watching the coffee brew that I don’t notice until later that Eldest is not awake and in the shower. Turns out she isn’t feeling well and will be staying home for the day. Sigh… the day is a bit dimmer, but still I am quite happy to get rid of the rest of the kids chauffeuring kids. I return from dropping off the last one to check up on Hubby, who is also still in bed, not feeling well.

Y’all know what this means: I shall be sicker than whale poop come Christmas Day.

No matter. I lay down on the bed and he asks me what I have planned for the day. This is where things got….sticky.

Hubby: What have you got planned for today?

Me: Well, I have to finish wrapping Christmas gifts, and sending out packages, and having Eldest home won’t help.

Hubby: You have plenty of time to wrap.

Me: No, I don’t. Christmas is next week.

Hubby: Um…… oh…..

Me: Hm?

Hubby: Is that your way of letting me know how long I have left to buy your Christmas gift?

Me: No, that’s my way of informing you what the calendar says.

Hubby: Uh huh…

Me: Careful, I haven’t had coffee.

Hubby: I’m getting up now.

It can be argued that I kept my wits and did not erupt emotionally at the thought that once again, he has forgotten to go shopping. It can also be argued that the siren song of the coffee kept me from doing so. What can not be argued is that he now has fair warning.

I’m magnanimous like that 😉

The Day of the 12th Man

The story of the 12th Man is special at Texas A&M University.

[T]he first recorded instance of the term “12th Man” referring to an individual was to denote E. King Gill and his actions in Dallas on 2 January 1922. At the Dixie Classic, the forerunner of the Cotton Bowl Classic, Texas A&M (then known as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas) played defending national champion Centre College. In this hard fought game, which produced national publicity, an underdog Aggie team was slowly but surely defeating a team which boasted three All-Americans. During the game, A&M coach Dana X. Bible realized that one more injury would leave him without another backfield player to send into the game. Coach Bible remembered that Gill, an individual who had tried out for the squad but who “lacked the experience and ability to play for the varsity” had made the trip as a member of the school’s Corps of Cadets and was sitting with his friends in the stands. Bible sent for Gill and asked for him to suit up and be ready if needed. Gill later said, “I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me.” Although he did not actually play in the game, his readiness to play was noted. As there were 11 men on the field, E. King Gill was the 12th Man, hence the term. (From Wikipedia)

As Aggies, we are all 12th Man. We stand at the ready at every game, and stand at the ready for any Aggie in need.

Today, at 12:12 PM, on 12/12/12, Aggies around the world will participate in the ultimate Aggie moment: playing the school’s war hymn at their place of work, home, or wherever they may be. Several Aggies at Hubby’s place of work will be participating, and I shall be on the phone with my sister and brother, warbling my head off.

Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! GIG ‘EM, AGGIES!!! AY!!!

WHOOP!!!! 😉

My Preciouses

It’s a simple tale. One of a new hope that I would score the new Darth Vader ornament from Hallmark™. Alas, the stores around here would sell out of the very few they would get in stock, for the demand was high, and the lists were long. But hope refused to die, and so I placed my name on the list just this past Friday, thinking that maybe, perhaps I would get a call from the imperial salesperson.

I perused the interwebs looking for the ornament. Alas again, eBay™ was the least expensive alternatives to be found in the shopping empire.

The cheapest being $40 starting bid.

I love you like a father, Vader, but there’s a limit.

But Life is funny, and strikes back when you least expect it!

BEHOLD MY NEW PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!!!

I received the call that the store had but one in their stock, and I was next in line!! As soon as Hubby was home we went to get it. The imperial saleslady was *ahem* less imperialistic when she explained that she had forgotten to call on Saturday. I was too happy to care. And because I was too happy, I got him a minion, too.

My tree will be EPIC!!!

The Force™ was definitely with me 😉

Hello, Monday…. We Meet Again

I would say I am happy to see you, as I usually am after the weekend, but not today.

You made me very unhappy. Seriously?? A cold front to greet me?? What have I ever done to you, to deserve such treatment? I cheer for you every Sunday night as my kids drag themselves to bed. I wake up with a smile to greet you. I hail your presence as I eagerly drop them off to school. And yet, today you decided to just… forsake me!!

The 54*F (12* C for my foreign readers) doesn’t bother me. But that 28*F (-2* C) ?????

WHAT THE HADES???

I’m sorry, Monday. I’m breaking up with you. It’s one thing for a cold front to come in any other day, but heartbreaking when it comes on what was my favorite day of the week. You’ll have to shower me with sunshine next week to make up for it.

Or shower with water. We sure could use either 😉

Words Fail Me

Sometimes friends know me too well. There was that time when I was trying out for a school play and my friend said I would be no good as the main character, but the witch was a sure fit for me because I could cackle. Things like that. But there are times when they know me so well, that words just fail me.

My friend Teresa is amazing. This is why:

That, my friends, is a Darth Kitty Pincushion!!!!!

Complete with pipe cleaner lightsaber!!!!

When I opened the box last night, and saw what it was, I started to laugh, and cackle, and wheeze, and hurt a lot. And it was completely worth it!! Truly I have wonderful friends.

The only quandary is, do I use it as a pincushion, taking a risk on voodoo, or do I let it reign supreme over my Sithy work area?

Decisions, decisions 😉

What a Mesh

Seriously, decorative mesh is awesome!!

My sister Reno Queen made those for her front door, because her house is so far from the road, she wanted them to be seen. A wreath just looks like a splotch on her door. You can download the instructions for it: How to make a Santa

You can find deco mesh in any hobby store, but some florist suppliers usually carry it for far less, so shop around!!

Hm….I wonder if you can make a wreath with those bath poufs, too. Yay!! PROJECT!!! Time to drive down to the Dollar Store wait for Hubby to come home to drive me to the Dollar Store.

GAH!! I hate waiting… 😉

Perspectives

First, I do apologize for the briefness of my last post. When you think about it, there really isn’t much more to add to it, except to give thanks to God for watching out for everyone.

Some things with which I had to come to terms:

Young Frankenstein is Mel Brook’s finest work. Honestly, it’s a toss-up with Blazing Saddles, but the ending of Blazing Saddles was weak.

Yellow is definitely not my color.

It’s smart to put those treating you for trauma at ease. It isn’t smart to make them laugh while they are trying to stick you with an I.V.

I found the perfect chandelier for moi. And it’s just this side of redneck.

It’s perfect, and I want it, and if I learned anything this past weekend, it’s that Life is too short to wait for the right time for anything, or to waste time pretending to be something you’re not. Which is why this is just this side of redneck!

But the best thing to come out of this? The huge blessing that is the support and caring I received from my family, and from my friends, here and in cyberspace. Y’all are wonderful and I ♥ you all 🙂

Life Moves Pretty Fast

What a day, so far.

Coming back from dropping off the kids, I witnessed a car accident and boy howdy, it was loud. Came home to wake Eldest up to take her to the dentist, and after dropping her off, saw a herd of cervines (deer, in case you wanted a new word of the day) running across the highway, bringing traffic to a screeching halt. Went to get gas, only to find that the gal in front of me in line was short to pay, so I paid the remainder, earning brownie points from the cashier. Came home to walk the dogs, who had to be restrained when they spotted a tiny rabbit running across the median. Went back to pick up Eldest, and take her to get her learner’s permit with the required 1,003 proofs of identification and a unit of blood.

Life stopped moving for about an hour at this point.

Once that was done, took her to lunch, came home to gather her school stuff, dropped her off, and went in search of a thrift store, where I scored a Blue Ball jar (Shut. Up.), old hardback, and nine paperbacks for ten bucks. Go outside to find a freakin’ hawk on my vehicle, calmly return inside until hawk was done stalking the poor rat that didn’t have a rat’s chance.

I must admit, it was rather awesome to see the hawk take off, dive and grasp the rat in its talons. I hope PETA is offended right now.

Once again, go to my vehicle, and begin the drive home, enjoying the fighter jets landing at the base. Come home, and squeeee about the jar again, and now it’s 1:40 PM, and time for me to get busy.

Life does move pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. 😉