Genius

Holy quilting! So I finished the top of my first quilt in 5 days, go me! I'm waiting for it to be top quilted right now. I started my second quilt Scrappy Trip around the World by Bonnie Hunt. I'm doing it in, you guessed it, 1930s fabric. Its looking awesome! Ill post pictures soon.

As it turns out, Vivian, my sewing machine, is feeling her age slightly. The belt that was on her is really old and dry rotted which is cause it to slip and mess my tension up. So since she is running under the weather I decided to detail her. I cleaned all the old grease, oil, finger prints and god knows what else off her, down to the cracks, then used Boys good 3M wax and put a nice solid 2 coats on. I even took my motor off so I could wax behind it, and wax the entire motor case. While I was playing with stuff and cleaning, I decided to mess with my bobbin winder which has never worked on the machine since I dug it out from under my desk. It was always gummed up and never spun correctly, just burnt the rubber gasket up. Well I added a couple drops of oil and started working it around and some gunk came out and after adding some more oil, it started working like a charm! I'm a goddamn sewing machine genius!! Now I don't have to have Lynn wind all my bobbins for me, or have to stop because all my bobbins are empty. All I have to do now is wait for my new belt and I'm all set!

Another list of things I learned since I started quilting:
~I suck at sewing straight lines. For serious, its terrible. A blind man could do better.
~ Love you iron! Better make peace with it, its going to be your best friend. I find my little travel Rowenta to be a dream come true. Fits nicely right beside Viv when I'm piecing.
~ Good light. You can do nothing without a good light. Thank god for my clearance Ott light

Oh yea, things that Ive discovered in my week quilting:
~I love 1930's era fabric like this , especially the hexagon patterns like Merry go Round
~ Hand quilting Grandma's Flower Garden Quilt is something I am going to do before I die.
~Im learning to like batiks, especially the vibrant colors of the bali batiks
~ Im absolutley in love with Joel Dewberry's Chickadee Aviary 2 fabric. It is so going to be my new quilt on the bed and a bag of some sort.

Quilting, me? No way

Recently, an awesome lady names Lynn started taking a sock class from me up at the shop. While talking, she informed me she was a quilting teacher. Now before I go further I want to admit that I had never had any interest before in quilting. I saw it as a time waster away from knitting and derby and a space hog because I couldnt possibly be asked to give up or :gasp: share my yarn space with fabric. Not to mention most of the preconceived notions I had of quilting were of old ladies making ugly quilts with hideous fabric (kinda sounds like what most people think about knitting, HA!). Anyway I expressed interest in possibly learning to quilt to Lynn and she said she would be willing to trade quilting lessons for knitting lessons. Hot damn! I love bartering! She brought me quilting magazines I could pour over to get idea's about quilt styles and fabric colors and techniques. So last week Lynn took me to Mabelena's in Ortonville and it was love at first sight.

Lynn showed me all the awesome things I could make with fabric and which fabrics were good and not good for quilting. She schooled me on the art of which threads, rotary cutters, cutting mats, scissors and most important, machines were the best. She helped me pick my pattern Yellow Brick Road (totally fitting and maybe a sign from the quilting gods?), and my fabric because when presented with hundreds of beautiful fabrics, I got overwhelmed, much like I do with picking my yarn colors. And I walked away a happy little camper with some gorgeous fabric.

But wait! What was I going to do about a sewing machine?! I didnt have one. Was my not so carefully and impulsive plan about to come crumbling down around me because of lack of the most important thing? Shit!! Then I remembered that after a good family friend passed away, I inherited a sewing machine, which I had never actually seen because I had never taken the cover off and just put it under my desk. What I discovered was an absolute joy. I have a Singer Spartan, which from everything I could find on it, Spartan was Singers base model machine but it was built with all of the quality that you would expect from a Singer. The Spartan is a stripped-down model 99. It was a very basic, bare bones machine, that came without a light, without anywhere to mount a light, no decals, no carrying case and weights around 16lbs (Aka- heavier the shit!).  Despite all that, everyone agrees it is an amazing little work horse of a machine that sews beautiful seams. I fell in love with her and named her "Vivian". Viv also came with the original manual that appears to have been a service mans manual, so I got super detailed pictures on where and how to oil, take apart and put back together, etc. I did as Lynn instructed me and cleaned and oiled her before I even tried to see if she ran. And of course, she ran like a little champ right off the bat. With a little tweaking from Lynn, my stitch tension was awesome and I was on my way.

I started cutting my pieces on Monday (as in this past Monday, 5 days ago) and sewing my pieces into blocks the next day. Wednesday I skipped derby practice to stay home and quilt (hey, we won our game 3 days before so it was okay), seamed all my blocks together on Thursday and put my borders on Friday. Next week it goes off to the long arm quilter to get put together. Of course, NONE of this would of happened without Lynn's help. She was such a great teacher, and as it turns out, a great friend and surrogate mom. She has me totally hooked to quilting like a crack head.

I did however run into a few snags along the way. Thursday night when I was sewing the final strips of blocks together I started panicking when I started coming up an inch or more short at the end of the row, blocks weren't matching up correctly (or more correctly they were matching and they weren't suppose too for the pattern), then I somehow came up an entire block short at the end of the row. I finally sat back staring bewildered at the quilt thinking "What the fuck is going on here?!?" and
realizing it has grown any longer even after I added two rows. Now at this point Im thinking to myself I screwed this up so bad and Lynn is going to fire me as a student and my quilting days are over. Then I did what I should of done in the first place and layed my quilt out on the floor. Once it hit the floor I realized I hadnt been sewing my rows on the bottom of the quilt like I was suppose to, I was sewing them along the sides of the quilt!! Relief flooded through me and I quickly (well, not exactly quickly) took the seams apart, repressed them and did it the correct way, making sure I had the correct edge of the quilt. By 10pm Thursday night, with pieces of ripped out thread in my hair and peppered all over my chest and legs, I hung the completed sewn blocks on my felt board (which is hanging over the master bath shower doors because its the only place I could find big enough to hang it) and stared in amazement at my quilt. I couldnt (and still cant) believe I had actually made it. Me, sewing, becoming a domestic goddess!

Happy Birthday Jesus

Well, Im playing around on the new laptop thinking to myself "I need to start blogging again". Since Ive gained like, a million pounds, Im going on a healthy kick for the new year. Rita and I signed up for a Planet Fitness membership and we are doing The Biggest Loser through her work. Rita and I are a couple of fat chicks who want to get healthy not skinny. Big difference. Our goal is to, of course, slim down, but to be overall healthier in our everyday choices. We want to also tone our bodies up to better help our derby game. Our goal is to become kick ass Derbots.
Ive decided to document my progress on my blog. Hopefully it will serve as something I can look back on and see where Im having problems, etc. So Im saying Goodbye back fat and hello flat tummy!
Gaining weight has really been a problem for me these last 6 months due to depression. I couldnt understand why I wasnt interested in derby or knitting anymore and why all I wanted to do was sleep ALL day, everyday. When I finally figured it out, I was 30 lbs heavier and feeling like a tub of lard.
So Im taking back my life and being healthier in order to be a better person is what I plan on doing. I know Ill struggle at first, but I can do it. I didnt realize just how out of shape I was till last week when we go to Jackson Hole, WY to ski. I had to walk up about 30 steps in my ski boots and winter gear to get to the base of the mountain (in all honesty, not that far of a walk for a regular, in shape person), and by the time I got to the base, I was sweating like a whore in church and was gasping for breath. It was a rude awakening just how out of shape I really was. There were times skiing in Jackon Hole when I had to stop and catch my breath, especially the higher I went, because I was so out of shape. It was downright embaressing. I mean, Im suppose to be an athelete  who plays derby. In truth, Im sucking major air and have fresh meat passing me by.
Im sick of being ashamed and grossed out by myself. Its time to do something about it. This year will be a good one :)

Hot fun in the Summer Time

Ah, what an awesome summer its been so far...well for the most part. Other then my intestines feeling like their going to explode, its been a great summer. We've been on the lake wakeboarding as mush as possible and thats been super fun. I got new bindings for my board this summer, some Ronix Relik's and Im in love with them. Ive been using Shauns Murray board and I love it. Its so light!! Its like there is nothing attached to my feet.

And since my intestines hate me so much. I havent been able to skate for about a month :(  Its taking everything I have to get out of bed and go to work. Doctors still dont know whats wrong but Ive been in for a CAT Scan (dont have results yet) and ultrasounds, but nothing thus far. As twisted as it sounds, Im really hoping its acutally something instead of nothing, because its its nothing, it means I have one of the most severe case's of IBS my doctors ever seen. If its something, they can fix it.

Death by Change?

Impending doom is looming over my world and dispite what anyone says, there isnt anything I can do about it. I feel a large change about to take place and I can only sit back, hold on and say "Holy fuck, this sucks but at least Im not being eaten by great white sharks". (even though if I could choose an animal to get eaten by, it would totally be a fucking Great White Shark!)

I hate when I cant be funny or think of something funny because everything I know is about to change. What a downer, damnit!

Fuck, I need to Keep this Shit Up

Ok, Ive decided Im going to try and keep my blog updated even if its useless bullshit. After a long lull and absense from blogging due to procrastination and lack of sibstance, Ive been inspired again to blog by http://www.hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/, which is Allie Brosh's blog. She is seriously a fucking literary genius (and if you dont think so, I'll set your house on fire. Kindding. Maybe). It was like a sign from Jebus and a chorus of retarded angels parted and started singing when I read her blog. I was all like "Holy fucking shit! Someone else thinks exactly like I do, thats fucking awesomeness!!!" but then I was like "Wait a minute, does this mean that she is me?" then I got worried and thought "Do I have a sister out there I dont know about, is she more awesome then I am? I mean, my moms was kinda of ho back in the day, but that was the times (dont fucking judge her! Thats my job assholes!)" then paranoia "Oh my god, she has stolen all of my awesomeness from our gene pool, is my evil, genius twin and left me to just be the retarded polish one, FUCK!!! Bitch!!". Then reality kicked back in and I was like "Wait, she is fucking awesomeness to the power of ninty elebinty!!!". Word.

So Im sitting here trying to think of something serious and interesting to say but I cant because I have no attention span right now, Im doing 3 things at once, Facebooking, searching Etsy for vintage knitting things, and trying to type this. Im failing. Im thinking I need to search out new layouts for my blog because this one is really old and I cant do awesome one work links with this format Im using now, at least I dont think I can. I am computer retarded. Anyone know how? I'll have to see what I can do. I also hate how this format loads pictures on here. I can only put pictures on certain spots, and that piss's me off. I cant put them where I want them so my blog flows nice and they way I see it in my head, it flows all fucked up and choppy the way the stupid ass computer wants it. Blah! Commie ass computer.

But I made derby signs today and there totally awesome and that made me happy :) Our sister leaugue, the Muskegon Skee Town Skirtz are playing Mid-Michigan Derby Girls tomorrow and Im so prepared to watch the Skirtz kill Mis-Mich. My signs are full of kick assness and its going to be a great game. Flints last home bout is this Sunday. Im kinda happy its our last home game and kind of sad. Happy because my poor body needs a break from getting the shit kicked out of me by all the fucking butch chicks with dicks, amazon bitchlings. (sorry if your a chick with a dick, thats totally cool as long as you dont check me in the face during a bout, that sucks and hurts) And sad because I no longer get to go hit bitches every weekend. I mean I do get to hit bitch's, but those bitch's are my teammates and its just different and not has fun as hitting a total stranger. Its like molesting them, only with consent, and its all okay after and everyone is happy and you get to walk away and never see them again so you dont have they weird ass akwardness that follows. I love Roller Derby!

Ok, I feel drunk because Im so tired so Im going to bed. Please dont die while Im asleep. I would be sad. Im leaving you with an awesome picture of my derby alter-ego JackHerUp Rabbit #10-4 because Im a badass and thats how I roll.

The Devil Wins Again...

Yea, Tony Schumacher won US Nationals again for the 8th time tieing Big Daddy Don Garlits for the most winningest Top fuel driver. I swear, drag racing was against me yesterday. Why does it hate me so? Why does it allow Satan Tony to win even though Allen Johnson is no longer his crew chief? Why oh why? At least Ashley Force won in Funny Car becoming the first female to EVER win a US National in history in Funny Car so that was awesome. What was even more awesome was her dad, John Force almost kicking Tony Pedregons ass for talking shit about John Force Racing, right after Ashley kicked his ass racing!! It was pretty intense and funny to watch. God I love drag racing!! US Nationals is, after all, the most important race of the entire year and a win there means more to drivers then winning over all championships.

But other then racing not much else is going on. My mouth finally stopped hurting from getting my teeth pulled, but I still have super annoying holes in my mouth that catch food and from what I hear, this lasts for a while, shit.

I was in the Flint Journal for Roller Derby in August. http://blog.mlive.com/higher-education/2009/08/the_flint_roller_derby_girls_a.html Im obviously the one in the pink with the green plaid helmet with my name captioned next to the picture. Its a horrific picture of me. NO ONE looks good bent over in pads and my face looks huge and swollon because it is, I had had my wisdom teeth pulled two weeks before and that was the first practice back that I could get my mouth guard in without tearing out my stitches out and the the swelling allowed me too. I was also in The Grand Blanc View last week http://viewnewspapers.net/moxie2/Scene/flint-city-derby-girls-ge.shtml The pictures too small to see but Im there and Im quoted at the very end. She put in exactly what I wanted her too. As being one of the heads of Promotions Committee for Flint City Derby Girls, its really important I get the word out about all the great things we do for our city and out community.

But now I need to sleep because I have derby practice tomorrow and Boys going to kick my ass during it because, of yea, he's our coach. Coach Nazi, and we love him for it!! But I need my sleep. It takes alot out of me and out first real Bout is this Sunday at Rollhaven at 6pm.

Someone Please cut my head off

I wish I could say that laying awake in the chair this morning watching the fish tank come alive with the rising of the sun was as magical and breath taking as last time, but something is seriously missing when your wishing someone would cut your head of and the only thing taking away you breath is pain. Shall I explain? I had my 3 wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. It wasnt such a wonderful night and itsnt turning into a glorious day. I layed awake in pain and nauseousness most of the night and it seems like everytime I did fall alseep, my alarm would go off to take more shitty pain pills that didnt work because for the first 12 hours I couldnt take good stuff cuz I had, had too much anesthesia. So finally after feeling sick to my stomach and in ALOT of pain, I ate a piece of bread with the add of water, took a big boy pill and fell asleep for a couple hours. Then my alarm went off for more pills and I couldnt sleep after that so I watched fish and started re-reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. OH, and did I mention I wasnt allowed to sleep up stairs which was why I was in the chair in the first place? Yea, had to keep my head elevated. Which turned out to be a good idea cuz I couldnt lay on the side of my face if you paid me. Thank god for my over stuffed velure airline pillow. Its the only thing that supports my neck and doesnt press into my ever so sore cheeks

And for the funny part. Boy was I HIGH off my ass yesterday, oh my good lord. I dont know WHAT they gave me but geez. I remember the nursing giving me Nitrious Oxicide and asking how I felt and in honestly I was getting a little paranoid and panicky from that feeling, but I told her if she was giving it too me because she thought I was going to freak out when they put the IV in I would be fine, Im not afraid of needles. She "Oh, okat, we'll just give you more oxygen then" and after that I felt better. Then the doctor came in, put my IV in and I remember NOTHING after that. The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery chair talking to Boy about marriage (scary!!). And could of sworn he was laughing at me. But the car ride home made me a little nauseous and then Boy had to practically hold me up to get me in the house I was so high. And while him and his mom where trying to figure out where to put me, I just layed down on the stairs and closed my eyes. Apparently I couldnt be bothered. But I was soon moved to the couch with the aid of Boy and I was out. I woke up to a note on my knee's saying he was next door working on the car and call him if I needed him and my cell in my lap. When he finally got home I asked him how my face looked and he told me to close my mouth, that he already wasnt feeling good. I didnt get it. It wasnt until I got into the bathroom and looked at myself that I realize that he ment. All my teeth were cover in dry caked blood along with some wet, my gauze was soaked red with blood. It looks like someone beat the shit out of me with a bat, and felt just the same, only half my face literally was still frozen then. I pulled my gauze out, rinsed my mouth the best I would, wipped my teeth off the best I could too and packed myself back with gauze. I was still scared at 6 this morning when if you went directly to the middle of my lower lip, drew a line down to my chin, everything to the right of it was still numb. I was begining to think the doc. fucked up. But by 10am I could feel it so everything was ok. The swelling isnt as bad as I thought it was going to be and the pain could be 10 times worse, but it still sucks major ass all the same. Now Im just chillin, about to attempt to do some knitting and read HP Half Blood Prince. And for the faint of heart, you may want to skip the pictures. For those of you that know me I just HAD to take them. I had to sneak my camera while still high, while Boy was in the shower. Have fun!

Me showing off mai bloody grill AH, up close!

Bloody tongue with a clog I think. Blue Steal with a half dead face, but I tried!

Well You Know

Not too much happening round my parts. Boy and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on Friday. He took me to Bennihana's, which to be completely honest, doesnt feel special anymore because we go there so much, but none the less, it was still a nice dinner out with him. I wanted to go roller skating too, but his neck was hurting really bad so we didnt go. Oh well, he made up for it later :winkwink:

Think I threw my back out this weekend. My lower back is killing me. I thought it was hurting because maybe I was going to start my period, but its been three days and no period, but still a killing back. I spent all day yesterday laying on the floor in the fish room on a heating pad with my feet up on my knitting chair watching the fish tank. The tank actuallyt looks cool as hell upside down, the water is mezmorizing from that angle. And the fish kept staring at me like, what the fuck are you doing down there, and feed us. Eventually after 3 hours they lost intrest in me and did there own thing. I didnt sleep well because it was hurting so bad, and Ive come close to ODing on Advil yesterday and today (but not really), and Im chillin' with the heating pad right now, and it still hurts. I just dont know WHAT I did. And yes it hurt before I got my freak on with Boy friday night, so that wasnt what did it.

KNitting wise, Im still plugging along for my Master Knitting. Cathy has told me that on Wednesdays she wants me knitting my master knitting stuff from 2-4p to set a good example. I told her if she was going to twist my arm about sitting there and knitting while getting paid, I guess I have no choice. My job is just so tough I tell yea. I also turned the heels and picked up the gussets for my 2 socks on DPN's last night. Suprisingly, it was actually really easy. I like my students are going to be totally okay with doing it. Its not that confusing at all. Im doing the gusset decresses right now. They should be done by next week. Im also casted on a felted tote using the Lizard Ridge blanket pattern from Knitty. Its gonna look so bad ass when Im done. Im also doing a class on that too.

All and all, things are good I would say. except for this shit ass back crap which is for the god damn birds.

Woolgirl Sockclub 2009!!!

Got my first package of the year today for Woolgirls sock club and let me tell you am I excited as all get out!!! Jen has totally done it again. Alot of people didnt sign up again this year because the price was raised, but I trusted Jen when she said it would be worth it and I paid up, and let me tell you, IT WAS WORTH IT!!! The first shipment contained cashmere sock yarn!!! Oh my fucking god, totally worth it right there!!! Also came with a kickass pen (which will now be my planner/check pen), some yummy lilac lotion Ive already used and love, some chocolate Im going to give Boy because, well, I dont like chocolate, a great Latern Moon sock bag, a cute card and calendar magnet. She also put in our fun contest questions which I hurried up and answered and submited because if I win I get $50 worth of Woolgirl goodness. I cant pass that up!!! Jen is also doing another sock club, The Wizard of Oz sock club....and your goddamn right Im doing it!! How could I not?!?!? Its one for my favorite movies, I wouldnt miss it for the world. With this one you can pick and choose which months you want to do, but not me, Im doing the whole thing. I dont want to miss a single month. :GEEEEE: So excited!!

On a shitty note, I finally figured out what I was allergic to on my face. Its my fucking makeup remover. My eyelids and around my eyes were itching so bad yesterday and it got worse after I washe dmy makeup (which is somethign I do everyday as soon as I get home) so finally I couldnt deal with the itching so I put Caladryl on my eyelids and around them and went to bed. When I woke up this morning I could bearely opne my left eye. I knew it was going to be ugly, I didnt want to sit up and look in the mirror. But I did, and I looked like Sloth from the Goonies. It was horrible. My lids, especially my left one, was all swollen and looked fluid filled. They were so big they were hanging over my eyelashes and making it hard to open my left eye. So needles to say no makeup today. I wore a hat and ate allergy pills all day to help with the swelling. And Im going to be getting new makeup remover. Its new and its Neutragena, and the next person that tells me "Oh, its hypoallergenic, that cant be it" I'll seriously punch in the face. Its apparently not fucking hypoallergentic for me, just look at my goddamn face you tawt! GAH!

Boy drove me down to Heritage Spinning in Lake Orion this evening which was really nice. We pulled the new Corvette out for the first time this year from its hibernating spot in the heated garage (stupid spoiled fucking car). I needed a certain yarn for my masters knitting that they carried and I called him and asked if he wanted to go with me since we have been fighting lately because I havent been home and we havent spent anytime together (but we made up last night finally...SEX!!!!). It was a nice drive down and he was a real trooper in the yarn shop. He just stands there real quite and follows me around. I ended up getting two hanks of this Shepards wool in a cream/white. Its a local Michigan yarn and its so devinely soft and wonderful and just a pleasure to knit with. But beyond that I needed it because its nice and lofty and hides little mistakes well in my swatches and thats what I needed. I also got some handspun, hand dyed sock yarn from Heritage themselfs, and a really cool shawl pattern.

Now Im designing a hat pattern for a lady at the store. She came in with a newspaper and said she wanted a pattern of the hat some chick in the paper was wearing. I said we didnt have anything like that but it was an easy pattern and she should be able to figure it out easily. She said she was a new knitter and couldnt do that. I told her, give me 10 minutes and I could have a pattern written up for it and a couple days to have it knitted up. She was dumbfounded. I guess I just have a knack. So its my first design and were going to sell it at the store. I personally hate the hat and would never wear it, as funny as that is, but people love shit like this. I'll post pictures when Im done. The first wont look wonderful because Im double stranding some acrylic just to get the pattern details down on paper, but then I'll do it up nicely.

Swatch You!!

OMG, these master knitter swatches are killing me! I ripped my first swatch out 8 fucking times!! The knitting nazi's of the TKGA are going to be the death of me, I swear to god. I did finally finish a swatch though and Im halfway through another. I think alot of my wonkiness will be blocked out thank god. And if it isnt, then I guess my ass is re-knitting it. Progress I say!!

On other fronts, my goodies from Esty are slowly trickling in :giddygiggles: I got in a vintage green knit sweater today, and a skirt and funny t-shirt. I also got in this kick ass hat, and custom KPO needle holder. I'll have to take some pictures and show you guys. And all my vintage charms for my charm bracelet are slowly coming in too. And Im about to get some really cute knit sweaters for super dumb cheap tonight too. You cant beat the prices and I wear the crap out of my sweaters so its totally worth it too me.

Okay, Im going to go watch House and knit on some socks because if I have to look at MK swatches anymore today, I'll throw up and punch someone.

Hey Yoda, This Master Knitta's Comin' Ovah!

Well, today is the first day I partake on my journey into Master Knitting and truely becoming the knitting Yoda. Cathy ordered the Level 1 Hand Knitting from TKGA for me and I got the email today. I printed everything out read through it and jesus christ, these people are fucking nazi's about knitting. They take all the fun out of knitting, I swaer to god. The ar einstructing me done to the size box I mail my binder to them is. And every swatch has to be perfect and if they so much as dont like my yarn color, they can send me back my entire level 1 binder and make me start all over again. WHat the FUCK have I gotten myself into? Thankfully there is no time line on how long you have to complete the program. But there kind of is for me. I have a year to complete all 3 levels or I'll have to pay Cathy back for it, which isnt bad because the programes only $300 total I believe, but I would really prefer not to have to pay her back. And if I do complete the entire program and become one of the elite few to be a Master Knitter I can get a raise at woork and charge more for classes :Yeehaaa!: So far Cathy, Julie, Carol, maye Carrie and I are all goig to do the Master Kntting program toegtehr. we are going to try to meet twice a month to keep each other motivated because level one is soooo boring.

But I thought I would chronical my journey through the Masters program here. So far Ive started swatch 1 which is a simple K1P1 rib for 2.5" then garder for 4". Im using a Ella Rae's Classic wool in Baby Blue-ish for all my stuff and size 7 Addi's. Hopefully nothing will come back to me. I will be PISSED if it does. Okay, going to bed, its almost 3am.

Yummer Soapies!!

I just placed a wonderful order at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5008693 , which is Naiad Soap Arts. And if you've never been there or ordered anything, you must go and check it out and order the wonderfulness that is Naiad's. Erin has the best stuff Ive ever seen and she makes them all herself, everything is all natural and almost everything is vegan people freindly (not that I care about vegans). My favorite chapstick comes from there, her SPF 15 Cocoa Butter Lip Balm which I first got from one of my Woolgirl Sock Club packages last summer and I took it to Norway with me and Ive been nursing it and loving it ever since. Its just awesome stuff. I was only going to order lip balm, but them Erin added a ton of new stuff to the site and sent out a Valentines day coupon (because she rocks!)So I ended up ordering:
4~SPF 15 Cocoa Butter Lip Balms
1~Cherry Peppermint Lip Balm
1~Half Bar Tuberose Moss Shea butter soap
1~Lemon Creme Body sugar cubes
1~Tea tree Oil Facial soap
1~Wasabi Shave soap
1~Moss shave soap
1~Custom lilac room spray

So much for just getting lip balm. But the Lemon Body sugars will exfoliate my face finally since its all dry and using a pumice stone on your face is really a bad idea, trust me, I know. And the Tea Tree Oil soap will be great to help wash makeup off my face without clogging pours and making it nasty, the Tuberose will simply make me smell devine and the shave soaps all have special clay stuff in them to help smooth my skin and lather up for a wonderful shaving expirence. And the custom Lilac spray, she making it just for me because I asked, how fucking cool is that? I told you she rocks! Im gonna use it for the car and maybe for me. I decided to spoil myself. And the best part? All those hand made, all natural goodies I got fort under $50!! You cant beat that dude, Im tell you. Check the site out. You wont be sorry. I promise.

Boat Show and Toxic Gas

Boy is trying to kill me right now with some toxic ass farts, I kid you not. He is sound asleep, but every couple minutes toxicness comes waffing my way. I want to cough, but I cant because I dont want to wake his dumb ass up, but damn. Im dying over here!

Anyway, we went to the boat show today down at Cobo. All and all it was a shitty boat show, thank god we got free tickets because I wouldnt of paid to get into there. But on the plus side I did get some cool stuff. Boy got me a 2006 Shaun Murray 133 wakeboard that was origanally $500 for $75 cash (hell fucking yes!!!) for our anniversery next month. You cant beat that deal with a stick. I finally have my own board, and its one of the very best at that too. Then I also got myself a wakebaord bag so I can lug my board, gloves, lifejacket, suits, ropes, etc. around with me in one nice neat bag that was originally like $120 and I got them down to $75 also which was nice. I also got myself a new pair of wakeboarding gloves that actually fit me so I dont destroy my hands and get HUGE blisters. And it just so happens that while I was there, Shaun Murray, whose board Boy had just bought me, was there and was hanging out at the Silver Spray booth which is that place where we bought our Nautique at and where our slip is at (Silver Lake). So I sat down and chatted with him and told him how I loved his Detention 2012 movie and that his yellow helmet from the movie was the inspiration behind Danger Jessica. I explained the whole story of Danger Jessica and he thought it was an awesome story and asked if I had posted any clips on Youtube yet and I said no, just pictures for now. He gave me his email addy and said I should do some clips and email him the links. Then he asked if he could sign my board "To Danger Jessica" and I said totally, that would be killer. So he did. Its fucking awesome. Shaun Murray was way cool and really down to earth and not a total dick face like alot of the other pro guys. He was just your regular guy. And he sat down and pointed out all the cool shit on the bottom of my board he drew and what it ment and that was cool. I told him how much I paid for the board and he gave me a high five and said that was killer getting it for that cheap. I though he might be mad or something, but he was happy that I saved money.

Over all it was a kick ass day. Hung out with a dope pro wakeboader who signed my board, and got a bunch of new shit just for me for the new wake season. I cant wait to get on the lake now....with my yellow helmet...

Im Back...for now...

Yea, yea, yea, its been awhile. I dont want to hear it. I have other more important things you could yell at me about, trust me.

Anyway, today is the first day of the season for drag racing!! How fucking exciting. Hooray for Pomona!! Although its appears that almost no one has sponsors this season. Especially my favorite racer, Melanie Troxel, who is a Funny Car driver. And since the devil, Tony Schumacher, lost his secret weapon Alan Johnson because AJ got his own team this year, HE IS GOING DOWN!! Your evil rein of terror is over you bastard!! HA!! We finally have something to watch on sunday nights too. TV has become so painful its not even worth watching anymore. Except for channel 111 on my TV, which is ID, Investigative Discovery. Im so addicted to it, its like my crack. Its all murder shows and serial killer profiles. Im loving it. Its so my thing, my cup of tea. Those are my favorite kinds of shows.

In other news, Im still working and teaching at the yarn shop and Im still loving it. I love going to my job everyday. Im so lucky to have a job that I love going to. I mean, how much better does it get then to get up everyday, go to an awesome job, and get paid to do something and teaching something I love? I'll tell you. It doesnt get much better then that. If you hate your job then it sucks to be you. Dont hate be because you have a shitty job. You should worry less about hating me and just be thankful you still have a damn job in the first place okay you dumahopper!

Then in some sad news, my really good friend Julie, or better said my best friend up here in the GB, found out she has stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma. Her 4th treatment of her first series of chemo is coming up this friday. She only has 2 more after this for this series and hopefully this takes care of it for the next 5-8 years, or so we can hope since lymphoma isnt curable and its already in her marrow. It was reallyt hard to take at first. I finally found someone that I get close with and get along with up here and she has to go and start dieing on me, WTF!! And its also not just that. Its the fact that she has three kids, her youngest being 7, a great husband who loves her and that she is a great person and she does everything right. So tell me why someone like that has to get this stupid illness, when there are so many other pieces of shit out there that seriously dont even derserve to breath, like my biological dad, who get to keep on living being healthy. Thats total bullshit. But I make the best of it. I dont show how bad it really hurts and sucks because she doesnt need it. Trust me, she is living it first hand, she knows how bad it hurts and sucks. And when the day comes when she finally says "Enough", Im not going to blame her. Are you? No, Im going to be by her side, holding her hand telling her she was braver then anyone should ever have to be, and that its okay to go and finally be out of pain. Thats what a true friend does. Then Im going to steal her yarn ;) What! She told I could so fuck off, dont judge me!

Well Its Been A While

It was brought to my attention (thanks Julie) that I 1)Havent been here in a while 2) havent told you guys whats been going on with Mister, my duck. All things on the duck front are great. He still doesnt have half of the top part of his bill and never will, but he is fine. He can eat on his own and prean himself pretty decent for the most part and he can still bite (fucker!). He also lost half of his total body weight when it happend, and when you only weigh 5 lbs to begin with that tricky. But he has gained it all back and looks like his big fat self again. We do however still hand feed him twice a day just to make sure he is getting enough food, and we bath him once a week with baby shampoo to make sure he is clean since he cant clean himself as well as he used to be able to. But all in all, he is fine.

I finally got a job. Im working up at Ewe to You Yarns where I live. Im teaching sock classes up there and puttering around and Im fucking loving it. Im getting paid to do what I love. It seriously doesnt get any fucking better then that!

Right now its raining. Its been raining for a couple days now as a result of all the hurricans and I swear, we are going to drown. There is a lake in my back yarn. Pretty soon Im going to be able to wakeboard back there, no joke.

Oh yea, be got a boat! A 2000 Sport Nautique but it has the factory ballists and tower so technically its an Air Nautique. And its purple!! Not my color of choice, but whatever. Boy and I have used the shit out of it. I was the first to get hurt on it, of course. Knocked myself out cold after a jump when the board came up and hit me in the back of the head. Then like a moron I went again and fell, again, and gave myself whiplash. Ended up throwing up for 4 days before I went to the ER. Turned out by then all I had bad a bad concussion. Good thing I didnt go in sooner.

My Lady Sweater

Oh my, its been awhile since I've written, Im sorry. Im partaking in one of my guilty pleasures right now ( and no, not that pleasure you sicko). Im watching A Haunting on Discovery. I love that show. I like scaring myself, its fun. It also gives me the much needed adrenaline rush I crave. The other night I was watching it at 1am and I ended up scaring myself. I was freaked out and I didnt want to leave the couch to go up stairs. Im such a dork.

Anyway, I started the February Lady Sweater. Its an awesome pattern, I love it. I really want to make another one after I finish this one in cotten, in wool for the winter.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater
I also got my Nameste bags from Ewe-To You Yarns in Grand Blanc. I love them. I got the Malibu, the Laguna and the Newport. They are a bit stinky from the pleather, so I have them stuffed with dryer sheets to help defunk them. I really hope it works. They stink.

What the hell?

So I got this email last night from my mom. I have no idea what made this come about (other then watching Hope Floats). I have no idea what to think about it. I, for once, am speechless.

"I wish I could go back home and find what I was looking for or lost. I amsorry for what I put you thru looking for..... Looking for myself. I messedup a lot and I just tried to get the money to get us what your daddy neverhelped with. I just wanted the best for you. I hope you understand. I am soPROUD of you yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I gave you what I could, eventhough it wasn't always the best. But, you turned out to be the best personthat ever happened to me. The BEST person I ever knew. I am so glad I wasstrict with you, even though you hated me. I just always wanted the bestfor you. I will always be THANKFUL for having you. I guess this moviebrings out some sappy things in me. Thanks for remembering watching thismovie with me. I love Sandra Bullock in this. Reminds me of the way I wasso many years ago. Only I was a loser. My life never ended like hers. Howsilly I am. It's a movie. But movies sometimes relate to life. My Mom wasnever like hers though. Maybe that's why I'm sad. I don't know. Just loveme for how I tried. Ok! I Love you so much and am so proud of you! I wish Ihad done as much as you at your age. It was reallly sad when she went tosee her daddy and he didn't know her, but remembered her from a picture. Imiss my Daddy after that part.Ok, enough mushy stuff from me. We'll talk before I leave.

I Love Jessica.
Love Mom
Have a great day.

What do you guys think? Im not sure if she was drunk or what.

Bad or Not?

Things have been really stressed around the house. With the duck getting attacked, racing season starting, Motor City Knits launching, Boys job, things are just crazy. Even though things have been crazy, I found time to read a box called "Riding The Bus With My Sister". For those of you how dont know about it, its a real life story about a women and her struggles with dealing with her mentally challanged sister. Reading it helped me understand that Im not the only one who gets frustrated with a mentally challanged family memeber. So here is my point: Boy's sister is mentally challanged. Some days she is totally on her game and you would never know that there was something wrong. Then other times she it so stupid (its what we call it when she is have an off day. We dont actually call her stupid) and she can bearly get out of bed, get dressed or tie her own shoes. She also has wild mood swings. One minute she loves you, then next you on her shit list and you dont exsist in her world. Its so annoying because when your on her shit list she is a totally BITCH and it will driving you nuts. Case in point, when we were at the race track she was filming Boys pass and when I asked her if she got footage she said no. Then 10 mintures later she staanding there showing Boy and his friend the footage she hhad gotten. When I walked upped the clip was just ending and she was like "Oops, its over" and slapped the side screen closed. I was pissed. Really pissed. I dont care if she gets attitude with me at home, but when she pulls this shit at the race track in's very unacceptable and she knows better. I know it may not sound like much, but added with all the other little tud's she gives you on any given day for no reason, makes you just flat out pissed. Boy was like "Are you fighting with a retarded person?" I guess yes. She is very hard and annoying to deal with. When she gets her attitude, she is impossible to be around because you want to just smack her up side her head. She is also a repeater when she talks so she says stuff twice. In a convo, its enough to make you mad. But the worst is her lying. My god does that women tell some lies. You can never believe what she says be 50% or more is lies.
Does this make me a bad person to be annoyed with a metallt challenged person? There are just days I dont want to talk on ends about horses with her, I just feel bad being annoyed with her, when its not her fault. I know she cant help it, but somedays she is so normal and your like Yesss! She is in this world today. Then on her bad days she'll drive you fucking crazy
I dont know. I just feel bad about it. My couch meds are kicking in so Im fading. I'll touch more on this tomorrow.