If she had the proper words to say,

I am so blessed. Can I just tell you how blessed I am?

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... the new LeAnn Rimes CD
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... a stainless steel, 1.5-quart pot with glass lid that strains itself.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Titanic on DVD.

I've been looking and looking for another small pot. I wanted one like the smallest one I had, for there are lots of times when I just need something little to heat up a single can of veggies. I've not had luck finding just that size, however; usually the perfect small pot only comes in a set with eleventy billion other pots and sizes. What a surprise for Philip to gift me with such a spiffy small pot today! And he went ahead and gave me tomorrow's gift as well, since he was afraid he might not be able to get out for shopping tomorrow - sweet. We've had Titanic on VHS for years (we bought it the night it came out, in fact!), but the tapes are old and worn (um... I've played them a LOT!). It is so nice to replace them with DVDs. And I *love* LeAnn Rimes and have most of her stuff. I swear, I sing "Nothing Better to Do" all the time lately!

And I forgot to include it before, but he also gifted me with two big, juicy pomegranates on one of the other days. Mmmmm!

While opening the packages of Christmas gifts from his parents to put under the tree, we found an unwrapped pair of snazzy Santa socks. I'm sure they're for me - socks!

And then this morning, a box was delivered while I was making pie. It came directly from PartyLite®, and it contained a selection of yummy candles:

- one dozen tealights in Cinnamon & Bayberry
- one dozen tealights in Holiday Spices
- one box of ScentPlus™ Square votives in French Vanilla
- Aroma Melts™/Tealight sampler, including six different scents (one melt and four tealights each)

We dumped out all the packing peanuts but found no note or slip in the box anywhere. Nothing was on the front tag, either. I've got an idea that happysmiles01 might be my secret Santa in this one... *wink*

We also received four Christmas cards today, including ones from 1grl_revolution, devi_pavarti, and posthaste. Thank you all!

ashen_butterfly -

Jack was helping me tape up our holiday cards just now for hanging on the 'Card Wall,' and he took special interest in both your card and your newsletter. After gazing at all the pictures in the newsletter, he said, "Mom, how come we never go see our friend Gret?" I explained that you lived in Texas now, to which he replied, "But we can go there! Remember that time she brought you flowers? She said we could come to her house one day!"

So Jack's completely ready to go for an impromptu trip to TX to see the "Gret" he remembers. Hope you're ready to have him! :-)

Been thinkin' about my flist a lot today. Lots of random thoughts about random things, concerning the random among you.

I love my friends.

*warm fuzzies*

beanpop had requested an exchange piece earlier in the week, and her only requirements were that it be "pink and black." Well, I had pink variegated thread in a great size, but I'd not been able to locate ANY black thread of the same measurement. And I had black thread from making my choker, but the only pink I could find in the same range was a pale, pale pink - baby's pink.

I hoped it would do. As I started working it up, I fell in LOVE with the results.

Not only that, but about 2/3 of the way through the pattern last night, I happened upon a new term in tatting: "SS." I panicked until I figured out from looking through a few copies of patterns here that I was saving for another time that "SS" meant "switch shuttles" - and then I panicked even more. I don't know *how* to use multiple shuttles! That's the technique I was most hoping to ask for help on at the Shuttlebugs meeting, and I didn't get to go!

To make matters even worse, Cox went down here in our area last night. From around 10:30pm until at least 3:30am (that's when I went to bed, it could have been even later), we had no phone, cable or internet service at all. The modem couldn't find any server, the television didn't work, and the phone read a constant state of "No Line." So I was unable to Google or browse for help among tatting sources, and I was stuck.

I stared at the piece for a while, and then I stared at the pattern. I decided to attempt adding a shuttle at a particular spot, took a deep breath, and I hoped for the best. I worked VERY slowly for the remainder of the two-shuttle section, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I returned to the regular, normal rest of the pattern... but I DID IT. I successfully completed a double-shuttle pattern, and I figured it out ALL BY MYSELF.

I finished the piece around 2am, and I stayed up to pin it and starch it overnight. I've already taken pictures of the finished piece, and I will share them here. I absolutely adore it, and I will always remember that beanpop inspired me to attempt a double-shuttle without even knowing it - she's truly one of my biggest tatting supporters, so it's no surprise! *hugs her*

( And here's the piece. )

And while I was finishing up a movie, I worked up some bits of leftover thread into twisted chains. I felt my pinky going numb, but I just kept working until the thread was used up (a few more minutes, nothing long). When I finished, I stopped to look, and I was surprised to see my pinky had a distinct indention in it - I guess my tension was even tighter than I had thought!

My babysitter backed out this morning for tonight. Tonight was to be my first meeting with the Shuttlebugs. I called for about an hour this afternoon, trying to find a substitute, and then I called for another 45 minutes later. I couldn't find anyone. I called the contact person for the group, but she said, "Absolutely not - no children allowed." She was very nice in saying it, and I understand her reasons, but I was so very disappointed to miss the meeting.

I had to get off the phone suddenly with her because my doorbell rang, and it's just as well - I had started to tear up, and I really didn't want my voice to betray me. It's so silly, really, but I don't guess I had realized how much I'd been looking forward to meeting this group for the past few weeks until I was faced with knowing I couldn't make the meeting. I'm happy with what I've made so far - I really am - but by the same token, I also feel very stifled, and I so anxiously want to learn more. This group only meets once a month, and the next meeting is the night before school starts up again, and I'm already afraid I won't be able to make it to that one, either. So in not making tonight's meeting, I really feel as if I'm putting a halt on progress for at least another two months. :-( And so I sniffled a little bit for a minute or two, wiped my eyes, and picked up the phone to call Heather.

And she was just the ticket. We talked for almost two hours, and by the time I got off the phone, I felt much better about everything in general.

I walked out to the mailbox and received a much-needed pick-me-up there, too. After a slow weekend, I had a box chock full of goodies:

- sample of Monistat® Chafing gel
- Eat Better™ ring
- sample of Goody's® Cool Orange™ headache powder
- Whiskas® Purrfectly Fish + bonus cat treats
- my Slytherin earrings (which arrived in a cute, gold drawstring bag)

But the very best thing was a bright yellow envelope addressed to me from Brian. He drew a little cartoon across the front of the envelope, and I giggled when I saw that he wrote 'Sealed with Awesomeness!' across the lick-and-seal in the back. Inside was a very cute Hallmark card (he cares enough to send the very best) of a turtle and a snail, and it was a "Hope you're back on your feet again soon" kind of card. He wrote a funny, sweet message inside as well, and he continued with more cartoons on the outside of the card, as well as adding "speaking bubbles" to each character. It made me laugh, smile and then smile more - the special smile of knowing that someone cared enough to go to such trouble.

And it arrived at the perfect time. As I've said before, I love the Bri. :-)

(Speaking of which, do you remember when that pic was taken, Brian? I have it in 'random' in my images, and not sorted by date as per the usual. And I can't find where I posted it in your journal, either...)

This evening was a fun time. treehuggies and her hubby came over to meet us, and we grilled out. I made cookies, and stories were shared. They are very, very nice people, and I look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday night!

I want to catch up on everyone, but I'm working on a deadline for my choker, and it's calling to me from the other room. I *think* I've got the hang of beading now - at least for this piece, that is - but it still requires a fair bit more concentration than my usual tatting.

I just left donnajean2277 one of the more ridiculous comments in my time. Even so, I left it because it was exactly my first thought as I read the entry.

LJ supports stream-of-consciousness, doesn't it?

*falls in a cloud*

It was snowing this morning when I took both boys to school. Absolutely crazy, and so WRONG. It's April, for crying out loud.

Jack had a fun playdate at Caleb's house this afternoon while I was at work. He's got playdates scheduled for these two weeks while his regular caregiver is away on vacation. It's nice that folks are willing to help us out like this, too.

I need to call someone about the lawn. I intended to do that yesterday afternoon, but it was raining all day long (a nice, soft rain, but still - all day long), and it drained me of my motivation. And then the snow today. Who knows what the ground/grass is really going to be like after all this?

I had a very vivid, strange-but-good dream about posthaste and her baby Soph today. I was repeating the dream to myself while I took a shower this morning so that I wouldn't forget the details. I'll have to tell Jess about it - hopefully she'll get a kick out of my REMs. ;-)

I'm hungry. Oh, and it's time to go pick up A.J. from school soon. Afterwards, I'm taking both boys to the base clinic to update their immunizations. Jack is already in tears of the prospect of new shots, but it's an evil that must be done. :-/

Big, warm hugs going out to you today, girl. You are in my thoughts a lot.

*squeeze*

A cute Valentine's Day card just arrived in the mail from taryns_mom. With pics of ALL the kids - adorable!

Thanks, girl!