September 2006 Archives

Over therapeuticized

I have a moment here at lunch to post that I am alive, well, exhausted, and brain over-loaded with a lot of information. Yesterday we learned about narrative therapy and then tried it out with a real problem we are having. My problem is my frustration, which prompted me to acquire another Ugly Doll, this time Target, as he embodies what I imagine my frustration would look like if it took form. I think what does it for me is the single red eye.

I've realized that frustration is a key theme in my life. When I had my aura photographed back in August, there is a distinct line of frustration present in my energy. This year I shall be working on evolving my frustration. Through the use of the narrative therapy technique, I came to realize how my frustration is a compelling force that prompts me to take action, but it also paralyzes me into dwelling and self-misery.

Other school crap

I miss being able to just "be". But I am also enjoying the social aspects. At home I am around the cats 24/7 and after awhile I start to think too much in feline ways. I have been good about not letting the thoughts of Smee suffering horribly consume my every ounce of concentration. I am focused and very present during lectures and activities. I brought my crocheting in during this morning's lecture on law and ethics.

The food situation is nasty, but I am trying to eat what I can from the buffet simply because eating even cheap fast food can add up, plus the fast food leaves me feeling sludge-ish.

Show me the $$, please!

It's not good that on the first day of module the accounting lady said she had no idea I'd be receiving a supplemental loan! No check has been issued to me, so that means on Monday I get to make some important phone calls to find out just where my $20,000 disappeared to. I've not received any indication that I wouldn't be receiving it, so I'm sure it's stuck in the interdepartmental mail or whatever. The more that the money is actually needed, the longer it takes for it to be processed and the check cut.

Internship starting!

Monday is just around the corner which means I will be starting my internship! I won't be seeing any clients that first day, and will be setting up my work schedule. I've heard stories from fellow students already about their clinical experiences with clients, and I'm not letting it make me anxious to hear how things have been; instead I use the experiences they share to learn from, and realize what could be done to help if I experience something similar.

Well, I shall go get a cup of tea and see about resting before the second half of the day starts. We'll be covering structural therapy this afternoon, wrap it up tomorrow before lunch, and then after lunch we start in on epistemology.

Thirteen Things About Going Back to School Yesterday I started back to graudate school, starting my 2nd and final year of a two year master's degree program in Applied Behavioral Science. I will be interning at a child and family community mental health center where I'll learn to become a marriage and family therapist. I can't say that I've always thought I'd become a therapist; my original academic goal was medical school. I made it into naturopathic medical school only to find it wasn't what I thought it would be. I am coming back to school after a year-long medical leave of absence. During my year off from academics I did very little reading from the extensive book list that every student of the program looks at and remarks, "You've got to be kidding!" However, soon I will have to crack open a few of those books so that I may become informed about narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, and other fascinating topics such as dealing with behavior problems in toddlers or teens, and how to make your marriage succeed. Because of my one hour commute one-way, I got a new car! I get to spend time living in a hotel room and eating average buffet food. I'll terribly miss Pooky. I'll terribly miss Smee. I'll miss the other cats, too, but not quite as much. I won't be able to check my e-mail or wastespend time on the computer. I'll probably still be able to crochet as I can do that while lectures are happening. The fact that I have had major "crunches" with two faculty and they are key people during second year, I guess I'm going to have to confront the conflicts with them and have a "difficult conversation". I am looking forward to getting to know my new classmates. We briefly met in June when I attended their last module of the year. There's also the new first year students to hazewelcome. My mind swims when I try to think how I'll manage orchestra on Monday nights, internship Tuesday through Thursday, and then Modules and Pro-Sems going on, too, plus writing assignments, etc. This past year I've had 100% unscheduled personal time and suddenly losing that upsets me. I'll get over it. I'm just happy that my internship won't require me to be there early in the morning. I should be able to do my hours 12-8 pm, which means my commutes won't be plagued with gridlock and slow traffic. Technically, I could already start seeing clients on my own since I had to get my registered counselor's credential from the state's department of licensing. I even have student malpractice insurance. I've realized that the only way to make good money in the marriage and family field is to write a best-selling self-help book or come up with a very expensive weekend workshop/seminar for couples to attend. By this time next year I'llbe very close to graduating. That means my student loans will then become payable. I wonder if I could just give them one of my kidneys in exchange? Actually, I think my loans total more than the current black market price for a kidney. Once I finish with the program I plan on denying I am a therapist, otherwise people will want free counseling. Therefore, I'm going to claim I'm a telemarketer. I'm that annoying person who knows when you've just sat down to dinner and I'd like to tell you about timeshares in the Poconos.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dear Readership of Home Burrough:

I'll be away at Module 1 of the new school year from Tuesday, September 26th, through Sunday, October 1st. I start my internship on October 2nd, so the next couple of weeks I shall be mostly absent from the blogosphere. I'm going to miss reading your blogs. I am assuming that my adventures into the world of mental health counseling will provide me with entertaining and amusing stories to share—about myself, not clients, as I must uphold HIPAA.

The upcoming year will be intense with so much to do, so little time to do it in. Along the way you'll get to accompany me when I am able to check in and blog about my emotional state, what new things I am learning about myself, and how my journey is going on my path to becoming a marriage and family therapist.

As much as my life is about to change in regard to how I spend my time, I know that I can crochet during class. There's a knitter who works on her projects, so I imagine I can also work on mine, too.

I'll be missing you this week! Hopefully I can check in from time to time!

I awoke this morning and found this strange, brand-new car in the driveway. Pooky says that I shouldn't feed a strange car as it will think it belongs to us and it won't go away, and I certainly shouldn't give it a name, (which I am kind of thinking I might call it Inky), because once you name it, then you won't be able to take it back to the car lot where it followed us home.

Yesterday Pooky got the idea to car shop and do some comparisons. We've been planning on getting a second car as I have this lovely commute ahead of me each day I have my internship, and we were thinking we were about 2 weeks away from making a purchase. My eye has been on the Saturn Ion, and recently we stopped at looked at the new ones.

But then Pooky felt we should look at the top-rated models in comparison, so we went to Mazda, Toyota, Hyundai, et al, and we ended up back at the Saturn lot. I spotted a deep blue Ion immediately and scurried over to it. It was a bare-bones manual transmission with A/C. The price was just right! The dealer said that cars priced under $15K are moving fast, so the chances of the car being here in two weeks was slim, and doing a dealer swap would be slim since bare-bones cars are in high demand.

We pondered the idea of buying the car now and then paying it off once my loans come through. What would be the worst-case scenario with my loans? If in the small event there would be a delay, it wouldn't be more than a month, so we weighed that against the 45 day grace period before the first payment would be due.

After having lunch (or was it an early dinner?) we came back and signed the papers. The interest rate is wicked, but not surprising to us since Pooky's credit is in rehab/recovery. Let's just say that the sooner we pay off the car, the happier life will be and the more money in our pockets instead of the bank's. But, the good news is, out of the money we had figured for a second car, by getting the bare-bones model we came out ahead of budget by $2500! Yeah! Which means my credit cards can be paid down, and maybe have something left over for the holidays.

So, that leaves me to talk about the car's name. Our older Saturn is known as the C-Berry (for "Cranberry") and I was think this one could be called "B-Berry" for "Blue Berry" but that doesn't hit the spot. My sister suggest Inky. I kind of like Inky. She also suggest Nocturne, which is cool, too. In the direct sun the car looks a deep blue, but in direct shade it takes on that nighttime appearance.

The car has OnStar which means I will find out about my car's monthly diagnostics, and in case I lock myself out or need roadside assistance, I just press a button. The car has manual windows, semi-automatic locks, CD player/radio, 5-speed manual, hydraulic assisted clutch, regular disc brakes, and cup holders. Not bad for about $14,500.

It's weird we have a new car! I keep thinking it will drive itself back to the car lot—like it hasn't imprinted itself upon us yet. I have yet to see if my cello will fit in the car. That's a concern. The new cello I am renting has a larger case and it wouldn't fit in the C-Berry with the seats folded down; I had to wedge it in the back seat.

The new cello is named Shady Bourbon. I haven't even taken it out to tune it, let alone practice! As soon as I got it we went to Pennsylvania. Today I have to crack it open and get acquainted with it as tomorrow will be the 2nd week of rehearsal and since I missed the first week, I need to get up to speed.

Somehow I almost forgot my birthday did happen on Tuesday. With the hassles of flying on that day, it slipped my mind. I consider the weekend my birthday and not just the actual day. When we got back I realized that now on applications, forms, and surveys I get to claim I'm 34. I also returned to find gift surprises!

Gift Certificates

Special gift certificates were received from Shrone Ro (iTunes), Sister Elle Marz (Handy Hands Tatting), and my Dad (Amazon.com). The GC from my sister bought me a whole box of threads that I'll be drooling over—so many pretty colors and doilies awaiting to be crocheted! With the Amazon.com GC I bought the two crocheted Aran sweater books I've been drooling over, added to my Muppet movie collection, and got the third book in the K-Pax series. I think with the iTunes card I'll indulge in some favorite 80s music that I miss! Will I go with my favorites of k.d. land and Morrisey/The Smiths, or will I go the route of XTC and OMD?

Thank You, Jen!

Jen of SheCrochets sent me Cool Crochet, another crochet book with awesome patterns! I've already picked out a sweater I want to make! This is such a wonderful surprise! Jen is also a fellow Shrone and now a fellow participant in Thursday 13.

Ugly Dolls

The two plush critters up in the photo are part of the Ugly Dolls collection. They remind me of Lady Linoleum's creations with the odd number and style of eyeballs. The 3-eyed octopuss like creature, called Cinko, is for Pooky's birthday. The reversable doll, with two personalities, is called Bop N' Beep. I think it fits me because some days I do feel like the green monster and other days I feel like the pink one.

There are so many more must-have Ugly Dolls that I'll be wanting them now for all holidays, birthdays, and assorted just-because moments.

Moon Mug

Rounding out the gifts is a new mug bought at the Puyallup Fair. It's a local ceramic artist who also have a starry night sky design, but I opted for the moon design as I was feeling more like a lunatic yesterday, and I am more partial to moons than stars.

I've been so in awe of the kitty doily that I forgot about everything else in the goodies package sent to me by my Secret Pal. She included a book I know I'll enjoy reading about cats and their miracle stories. The cat calendar will be used and most likely left on my wall for many years past 2007. The yarn and cotton yarn are a lovely purple color (my crappy lighting doesn't show it, but they are deliciously purple!). Sweetening the package is a ton of candy--the Swedish fish and Sour Patch kids and black licorice will sate my sweet tooth when it strikes (which is often). Some autumn theme note pads were included, too!

My Secret Pal says that she's working on something for my 5 beasties and that her daughter is in on the surprise! I'm sure my kitties will be thrilled with getting a little something since they do seem a little disappointed when I open a SP package and I get everything inside of it LOL!

Thank You!

Among the mail that I received upon coming back from Pennsvylania was an envelope containing the two ribbons pictured. I have no idea who sent them, the postmark isn't clear, but whomever you are, thank you do much for sending them to me! I feel blessed to have friends at C'Ville who would take the time to lift my dampened spirits regarding the outcome of the Tala doily at the fair.

When I get back the doily I shall put these two ribbons with it, and when I do get around to making a display, these ribbons will be what I put with it. This small gesture means more to me than I have words to express!

I went in for an eye exam today as my vision has been more apparent to me lately that my need to enlarge the fonts on the computer is more pronounced. There's a new machine that scans the retina eliminating the need for pupil dilating drops. I have a horrible memory of trying to drive home on a partly sunny day with wide-open pupils and having water run like a flood from my eyes while trying to navigate my way home. Not pleasant.

Anyhow, when the doctor came to do the tests he said that I cannot claim presbyopia because I am too young. That's reserved for 40 years and over. So what is it then? I need reading glasses and I got a prescription for bifocals. Hmmm. These are things associated with "old age" so perhaps I'm closer to being a crazy cat lady than I thought?

I am definitely more of a Shrone for my presbyopic eyes!

The reason I never wore my first pair of glasses at all is because they are only good when I read. If I look up then the world isn't right. I figure if I had bifocals then I'd be able to keep my glasses on and still do other things. Everything but drive. The doctor said that the glasses would actually make my distance vision worse and I should only wear them when reading, computing, and sitting in class, taking notes, that kind of thing.

In two to three weeks I'll be set with my new set of spectacles. I hope that the bifocal line is blended and not apparent. I got a basic black frame that is mostly rounded. I really wanted witchy cat-eye frames, but alas! the modern style is less feline.

Real Pizza

Sure, there's pizza here in the northwest, but it's not "real" pizza. What is real pizza? Real pizza is crust, sauce, and cheese, but done in that magical way that is unique to the east coast. Sorry, Chicago, what you call pizza is more like a casserole with it being deep dish (think of Bis-quik's magic crust pizza). And yes, California, a nod to you for showing the world that pizza can be topped with barbecue chicken, or with Thai peanut sauce and chicken, which is very delicious indeed.

Yet, real pizza to me shall always be the kind of simple pie found in the northeast. We stopped at Sunny's Pizza where we used to frequent about once a week. Sunny's is a typical pizza restaurant with more than just pizza on the menu: cheesesteaks, hoagies, pasta dinners, fried foods, calzones, and strombolis. Sunny knows the Jarvis family, being that most of the clan lives less than half a mile from the restaurant. Sunny recognized Pooky and welcomed him back home for a visit.

We enjoyed a second meal on our last day from Sunny's, this time eating some cheesesteaks, meatball sub, onion rings, deep fried pierogies, and more.

Cow Cloud

We stayed with Ann and Rich, Pooky's sister and BIL. Rich works for a restaurant and knows how to cook delicious food. Ann invited us to have dinner on Sunday night, saying Rich would be making filet mignon. I thought she meant steaks, and was undecided about having them, but as Pooky and I discussed it, we realized to turn down a steak dinner would be silly, plus we wanted to spend more time with family.

When we arrived for dinner after visiting family, Ann showed me the roast—the filet mignon roast—which is also known as chateaubriand, or tenderloin of beef. I about died because this cut of meat is the prime cut, better than prime rib roast, and it is melt-in-your-mouth tender delicious beefy meaty goodness! We ate chateaubriand for dinner on our wedding night and still rave about it.

I announced to Pooky that we were going to be served "cow cloud" our personal nickname for the tenderloin. Our eyes got big. Holy cow! (No pun intended) We were being treated royally and I then realized that I almost had considered not coming for dinner since Ann presented it as somewhat optional. Chateaubriand is never optional, at least according to my stomach.

Real Chinese Food

We have missed good Chinese food. It has long been a mystery to us why Chinese food in the northwest is of lesser quality and taste than in the northeast. Example: here if you order "fried wantons" you get a dozen for $.395 and all they are is a wanton wrapper deep fried. Back in PA you order 12 for $2.25 and they are stuffed with a savory meat and then deep fried. Also, the fried rice served around here has no meat in it and seems to be old and stale. The main dishes are served with a ton of bean sprouts or other cheap vegetable and have no savory sauce.

We went to our favorite eatery and we were pleasantly surprised to see that the menu and prices hadn't changed in four years! The boneless sparerib combo platter was only $6.50 and was loaded with meat and rice and enough to serve 4 people! I totally forgot how in the northeast you can order by the pint and quart. And I forgot what having real fried rice is like that has real pieces of meat in it!

Junk Food

On Monday we had a pleasant lunch at Granny McCarthy's Tea Room, located in the historic downtown Bethlehem. I had the pastie of the day and Pooky enjoyed a tasty serving of beef shepard's pie. We ended the meal with some goodies from the dessert case.

Being that Entennman's crumb topped donuts are unique to being only sold in the northeast, I bought three boxes of them, two of which came home with me, the first one being devoured during our stay. I also brought back some potato chips that aren't available here. It's the donuts that have me happier than a clam in muddy water!

More pictures of the food so that you might find yourself drooling:

From left to right: Muggins the Second, Foof, Static, and Binny (also known as "Nipper"). Some kitties and doggies were too shy to be photographed, so I shall provide an honorable mention to felines Ellie, and Precious, and the seven additional doggies whose names I forget, but may include Lily, Markus, Bo-Jangles, and others.

All beasties made my visit that much more enjoyable as I was able to have a little kitty love (and puppy love) easing the missing of Smee and gang so that I would not spend the entire trip lamenting about my ecru baby, Prince of Darkness, etc.

Thirteen Favorite Murphy's Laws I was young an impressionable in the 80s when the Murphy's Law craze came. As I got older more of the laws made sense to me. Here are 13 of my favorites. Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage. The Golden Rule of Arts and Sciences: Whoever has the gold makes the rules. First Law of Debate: Never argue with a fool—people might not know the difference. Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. The Aquinas Axiom: What the gods get away with, the cows don't. If you are given an open-book exam, you will forget your book. Corollary: If you are given a take home exam, you will forget where you live. Ginsberg's Theorem: 1. You can't win. 2. You can't break even. 3. You can't even quit the game. Paul's Law: You can't fall off the floor. Zymurgy's Law of Volunteer Labor: People are always available for work in the past tense. Segal's Law: A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure. First Law of Socio-Genetics: Celibacy is not hereditary. Steele's Plagiarism of Somebody's Philosophy: Everybody should believe in something—I believe I'll have another drink. The Fifth Rule: You have taken yourself too seriously.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

My Secret Pal made me this wonderful kitty doily! It was waiting for me upon my return home. I absolutely think it is the best doily ever! She said there is a mistake in it, but I haven't found it (honest). I am going to find the perfect place to display it (where the beasties can't lay on it) and proudly let it be seen by all who visit. I can't say enough how much I love it!

I hope that my secret pal will realize just how great of a thread crocheter she is and will continue to make doilies! Her stitches are uniform, even, and tension is exact. Her Virgo-ness comes through in her sense of perfection and detail. Outstanding work and craftsmanship, and I am honored and thrilled to have received this doily from her!

There were other gifts in the box of goodies as well, like two balls of lush purple Wool-Ease, some purple cotton thread, and lots and lots of candy, and some neat little autumn themed notepads.

She taunted me with a postcard showing a typical southern house with a wrap-around porch. *Sigh* I so very much want to slip away to the south and hang out on a porch, sipping tea and having dozens of cats swarm around me!

Pennsylvania, Here We Come!

With the disappointing outcome of the Puyallup Fair compounded by the Superintendent's reasoning that doilies are functional, I found myself too bitter to spend my birthday attending The Fair. Plus, we had already conquered Shrimp-Fest at Red Lobster so my grand plans for the day were crumbled.

We started brainstorming. I checked the major national park sites to see if we could spend a few days at the Old Faithful Inn. Openings were available after our time frame. All other parks were booked solid. No last-minute get-aways to be had there.

I had thought maybe we could slip quietly into the South, visit Atlanta or Savannah, gorge on barbecue and drawls, but we soon realized we had no real plan of what to see and do. Our time would not be best spend on such short notice.

Now for many years—I believe all four of them—I've pined to just fly back to Pennsylvania for a weekend and eat ourselves silly on good pizza, Chinese food, and horde those things from the grocery store that aren't sold out here. Pooky would always nix the idea saying "It's a lot of money for just eating," or something very discouraging and totally responsible.

So on Wednesday I hesitantly said, "I have an idea, but you won't think it's good." I shared my grand scheme of jetting to visit his family as a cover story for our weekend of caloric indulgence. Surprisingly, he thought the idea had merit.

Priceline Used to Be Good

Heaven only knows what is going on with the airlines anymore, but last night we spent way too much time on Priceline and hardly got a deal! It used to be I could swindle fabulous prices for a ticket, but we only saved about $5 from the published prices on other travel sites. In the end the "Name your own price" feature was a bust so we opted for one of their special offers.

We got a sweet deal of two non-stop flights from Seattle to Philly. We have to drive from Philly to where his family lives in the Lehighton area, but that's not bad. The non-stop flights are so divine!

What to Eat!

I calculate we have about 8 meals to enjoy during our time in the commonwealth. Cracker Barrel is everywhere! So I know that I'll have at least one breakfast and one lunch or dinner there. Then there is pizza, the Irish tea room, Chinese food, and so much more...I hope that many of our favorite haunts and eateries are still in existance. Business can come and go in four years.

I'm hitting a grocery store, too, to buy a few things I miss. Like Entenmann's crumb donuts, Karo pancake syrup, and if they weren't perishable, real pierogies.

Departure & Arrival

We're taking off Saturday morning and returning Tuesday evening. I'm not risking having my crochet hooks confiscated by some misfit security goon thinking that they will save the world by denying me my crochet hooks, even though it is clearly stated on the official government website that crochet hooks are allowed as carry-ons!

My ostomy scissors are also listed as approved, but with that I have more of an arguing point that I medically need them. My scissors are less than four inches so regardless of their functionality I am allowed to have them.

The new rules about cosmetics and toiletries is freakin' insane! But get this, you aren't allowed hair gel, make-up, lotions, etc., but you are allowed up to four ounces of personal lubricant! On your carry-on no less! I suppose they want to insure that passengers can still have uncomfortable sex in the bathroom?

The Excitement Builds

I'll be spending the rest of the morning scurrying to pack, getting last minute business tended to, making sure the cats don't implode as they *know* when we are going somewhere—Mr. Doo knows what the luggage means and he gets weird. The fish are so much easier to leave for a couple of days. I have no idea how I am going to be able to part from Smee!

I just better put it out of my mind. Smee will be fine. He's got his brothers and Lord Doo. He may suffer without his daily love, but he is strong. I'm going to miss my little Ecru Wonder!

Enough said. I need to make check-lists and start packing!

Thirteen About My 34th Birthday My birthday is September 19th. I will be 34 years old. My plan is to run away to the forest and join the elves enjoy the day as much as possible before my life becomes consumed by my 2nd year of graduate study and my internship kicks into full speed. This list is more about my birthday in general and not so much about turning 34. My natural hair is about 40% gray. It started turning when I was 25. I color my hair as I think I'd look too freaky with it being gray. September 19 is Talk Like A Pirate Day. I only know how to "arrgh" like a pirate. My pirate vocabulary is limited to matey, avast, and blimey. I still bite my fingernails. I have no plan to discontinue this habit. Hermione Granger also shares September 19 as her birthday. Strangely, I think she and I have a lot of similar personality traits which is creepy because one of us is a fictional character. From the Secret Language of Birthdays, it is the Day of Fine Appearance. I have more acne now than I did as a teenager; however, my boobs are a lot lower on my chest than back then. I'd like to think I'm really only 31 since I've spent an estimated 3 years of my life in various hospitals. I consider myself a crazy cat lady in training. The self-appointed title I give myself is Dedicated Feline Maintenance Worker. Once I am over 40 the title shall change to something more fitting, with each decade of life bringing a new honorific title until I am 80 years old and finally reach the goal of being a Crazy Cat Lady. What this has to do with my birthday, I do not know. I'm not very fond of birthday cake. I'd much rather have a birthday cheesecake. I have never had anyone throw a surprise birthday party for me. Typically, peolpe don't remember my birthday. I'm not complaining, but there it is. If you'd like to give me a surprise gift, here's my Amazon.com wishlist. The best birthday gift I could receive would be from Pooky. He'd either paint his entire body blue, or he'd put Snake in a Bow and there would be a Day of Snake. He says the potential for either of these happening is very low, which means only one thing: not enough love! LOL! I never celebrated my 21st birthday by going out to a bar, which can mean only one thing: When I turn 40 I get to have one hell of a blow-out celebration!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I got an e-mail from my dad today saying that he attend the Puyallup Fair on opening day during the two hours of free admission. He was able to see my two doilies that I entered. I swore him to secrecy not to tell me the results, so he didn't at first. I confessed I had been agonizing over how I've done because this year I've wanted to take home a blue ribbon to much that I taste blue.

He decided to put me out of my misery, only now I feel worse than before. He didn't specify, but he said I had won a blue ribbon on one of my doilies. However, on the other I only received an honorable mention!

Honorable mention?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

This has my mind reeling with what possibly could have gone wrong and which doily was bestowed this honor. More than ever I want to find out which doily was deemed unworthy, and just what kind of competition was it up against?

I am in extreme confusion and denial. My first thought to explain this is perhaps the ribbons were placed in a confusing manner, like they were last year so it is difficult to discern what ribbon may have actually been given. My mind is also plotting that I need to go see what disaster took place much sooner than the 19th when we planned to attend because I need to see this for myself to accept why honorable mention was given.

Yes, while I should be skipping for complete joy and making a happy dance over that blue ribbon, right now I am unable to spring with glee until I know about that honorable mention and which doily got that.

A little voice inside of my head is quietly repeating: Please let dad be mistaken. Let him be mistaken.

Thirteen Favorite Villains I often find myself smitten with the classic "bad guy" or "gal" in a movie, TV show or book. It could be because of the power they possess, or the fact that they are clever and seductive and I've fallen under the spell of their awesome mind powers...I know that Mr. Doo has turned me into his willing thrall and that his certified evil rating is 99.99%. Be sure to share your favorite villain in the comments! Emperor Palpatine, from Star Wars, leader of the Dark Side Dr. Evil, from Austin Powers Cigarette Smoking Man, from the X-Files Servus Snape, from the Harry Potter series Babie Stewie, from Family Guy Gollum (Sméagol), from Lord of the Rings Freddie Krueger, from the Nightmare on Elm Street series Maleficent, from Disney's Sleeping Beauty The Wicked Witch of the West, from Wizard of Oz Hannibal Lecter, from Silence of the Lambs Norman Bates, from Psycho The White Witch, from Narnia Q, from Star Trek: The Next Generation Additional favorite villains: Mr. Smith from The Matrix movies, V from V for Vendetta, and I am developing a fondness for Sauron in LOTR—only because he's just one big burning eyeball

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Fun with Photoshop
A composite picture of my house with extra celestial entities added.

Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you about the My First Day in Kindergarten? I thought I'd break from the Roadtrip memories to share a memory more appropriate to the Back to School season. I vividly recall my very first day of kindergarten. From the time I understood what it meant to go to school I was jealous of my two older siblings who got to go every day and learn how to read and write. I wanted to go to school more than anything, and I could not understand the anxiety my mom had about how I'd handle being away from home and going to school. It was discussed how some children would cry when they would have to get on the bus and that this may continue throughout the day. Why cry? I would wonder. It is school and this is a great thing! I was signed up for afternoon kindergarten since it was a half-day. My stop was one of the first on the route so I would get to watch the bus fill up. My mom got me all ready to go for this important occasion, and when I was suitable we went out to the bus stop. She had a camera, one of those Kodak 110s and posed me in front of the neighbor's yard display. The neighbor's had this old-time plough in their yard all decorated for autumn. I smiled and was beaming. School excited me. When the bus came I think my mom was more nervous and anxious than I was, as if I'd snap and start crying last minute or something. No, not me! I wanted to meet my teacher, I wanted to start learning how to write and read! It didn't happen at first; most of the next couple of kids picked up were with their moms but no one was crying. Then I saw my first extremely upset child, a boy. He was beside himself! This I could not relate to. Surely he didn't understand the great things that awaited at the school! Then more children were picked up that cried and blubbered. Finally we made it to the school and everything moved so slowly. I was disappointed in that all we'd do is paint and color and that no real learning of writing and reading was going to take place! That would be in first grade—a whole year away! Links to other Monday Memories

Click here for the Monday Memories code
View More Monday Memories Participants

For awhile now I've had this idea that Bruges lace would be the perfect way to make Celtic knots. Only my ambition to test my theory was not highly motivated. Then Sammimag at Crochetville posted about Bruges lace and my motivational level jumped as I had forgotten just how fun making the lace can be.

I started with a simply Celtic-esque knotwork and saw that it is just a group of loops woven together. I thought it wouldn't prove too difficult to make. But there are some knotworks I would like to translate into Bruges lace that will require a lot of head scratching and figuring since they are one continuous line that twists and turns. If my patience doesn't run out, I shall be tackling some more intricate knots soon!

Here's a doily I made from a back issue of Magic Crochet called the Single Rose doily. I don't know the issue of the magazine, nor the designer. It's made with size 20 thread on a 1.00mm hook. It measures about 11 inches in diameter at its widest point.