One down, one to go!

I'm not sure what it was, but yesterday I got hit with a dose of crafting adrenaline! I sat and finished the first in a pair of mittens (which I had previously halfway completed, but realized it was too small, so I ripped it out, then re-knit it with a size larger needle that made it monstrous and frogged that, and re-did it with the original size but with much looser tension), and I really wanted to start the second one, but I made myself finish the Super Secret crochet project first, instead. So Super Secret Project one is COMPLETE!!!

Now I can start on Super Secret Project two, as one is finished! I feel very good about the fact that I got the first one done well before my deadline and can do the second one without rushing myself. :D I can also finish the second mitten, now, and then move along to the hooded scarf. I think that when I finish the mittens and second secret project, though, I might allow myself to cast on for the WestKnits Mystery KAL (Knit-A-Long). :) I like Mystery KALs!

I'd best get back to my housecleaning (it's laundry day...yippee...lol) so I can get back to my knitting! Have a great weekend!!!

Quite Possibly Mad

I'm talking crazy-mad, not angry-mad (although that applies today, as well).

I've got 2 super-secret projects that I'm working on, that has a fast-approaching deadline. (To be honest, though, the second one is really not top priority right now...it's one of those "if I get to it, it'd be awesome, but I'm not going to stress over it" situations.) I've got a pair of gloves and a hooded scarf that a friend is paying me to make....and I still went and joined a mystery KAL! Silly, silly me! (And this isn't even counting the baby stuff for two different babies that I haven't yet finished and a blanket for charity that I've not yet completed...) Even worse than that...I really want to work on all of them! I'm excited about them all, and can't knit fast enough. I would say that this is one of those instances where I need multiple pairs of hands so I could knit on all of them at once! LOL

As to the angry-mad aspect of things....the older child (who shall from henceforth be known as Superman or Bizarro, as situation dictates...and the younger one will be Batman/Owlman.) is being the villain lately. Last week, he deliberately got into air freshener and water and made a mess of my bathroom not once, not twice, but THREE times! (Twice with air freshener, once with water.) And he just did it again this morning. With the air freshener. And this is not something that is in his reach. He is deliberately climbing like a monkey (thanks oh, so much, Instigator, for teaching him that..../end sarcasm) to get to it with the evident goal of emptying the entire can. I have had to air out my house multiple times. I'm getting headaches from this. And yet, he continues to do it. I have tried every approach I can think of with him over punishment and forgiveness of this. But he continues to push that button, and I am about to lose it with him. In fact, I did lose it a little. He is confined to his Fortress of Solitude (bedroom) for the entire day this time. I can't even be in the same room as him without getting angry again. What is so hard about not getting into things he knows are off-limits?! WHY does he keep doing this?! He is six years old. There is no reason for this!!! It's not that he's not getting positive attention when he behaves, because he does. A lot of it. I do not understand this.

School cannot start back up soon enough.

But I really should get back to cleaning Headquarters for this collection of superheroes/super-villains. It's one of this Super Mommy's least favorite things to do, as the little ones tend to make messes of epic proportions, but someone's got to do it....and then that someone needs to get back to crafting!

Wondering....

So I've been meaning to call the doctor's office since Monday to find out the results of my blood work, and have forgotten every day. LOL Hopefully I'll remember tomorrow, but as it's Thursday (which means it's my day to have the car and go to the library), we'll see if I get too busy to remember again...However, as I have not received a call from them, I'm not expecting anything abnormal. It's a good thing, I guess, but in a way I was kind of hoping that they would find something so that they could give me a "little magic pill" to solve my issues. If only, right?

Unfortunately, whatever the solution, I'm not getting it tonight. Once again, I'm finding myself with my mind racing and not being able to fall asleep or even relax enough to try to fall asleep. Which will lead to staying up late and making it hard for me to get up in the morning, not to mention my predisposition to crankiness when tired. Maybe we won't be making it to the library after all...

I am loving the library summer reading program that they've got going on at the base library. It's themed as "A Midsummer Knight's Read," and thus far, the boys have made knight's shields, goblets, and "quills." They've really enjoyed getting out and about and picking out books and movies to bring home to enjoy. And I'm not complaining about not being house-bound, myself!

In other news...I am getting very frustrated in trying to lose weight. I know there's the time of "plateau," but this is getting to be ridiculous. I've not seen any change in inches or a decrease in pounds in over a month. I know I've lost some since I first started, but it's like I'm running into a brick wall now. And it's not like I'm pigging out on junk food, either. At this point, though, I am not thinking it's realistic to lose what I want before Torie's wedding. And that is very disappointing to me.

The surprise project I've been working on, however, has been coming along nicely! At this rate, I will most definitely finish that one in time for the deadline. :) In fact, I would be surprised if I don't have it blocking within a week. And then I can move on to the other super surprise project! :D

Well, as it's almost 1 a.m. here, so I suppose I should log off and try going to sleep again. Maybe I should grab a book and read myself to sleep. Good night, everyone!

Plodding Along

I don't know why, but lately I've been tired and just plain worn out. (And before anyone can ask, no, I am NOT pregnant!) I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but as I was able to get an appointment for my yearly check-up (which was this morning), my doctor went ahead and put in an order for me at the lab, so hopefully in about 5 days, I'll know if my issues are medical or not.

It actually really sucks that I've been bogged down by this exhaustion, considering all the things I have going on and have to look forward to!

I was able to give Misha her Elphaba sweater, and I was right when I knew it would be perfect for her! Doesn't she wear it well?!

I went school supply shopping with the boys, and got everything (except fat pencils, since none of the BX's over here carry them...you would think that if it's a required item for school, they would make it available!) and I already have it all labeled, packed up and ready for the first day of school! I love school shopping and I am sooooooooooo excited for the school year to start up! C starts Kindergarten this fall, and I'll have the house to myself all day during the weekdays! I can't wait!

On top of that to look forward to, I will be making a trip back to the States in the fall!!! My BFF, Torie, is getting married, and I'm her matron of honor. :D I can't wait!!! I get to see my friends and family (I'll be taking a detour after the Big Day down to see the in-laws while I'm in the country)!!! I'm excited to visit them and to travel without the boys and have some kid-free time! I'm so excited about it that I have been having dreams nearly every night about being there.

In other crafting news, now that I'm done with the Elphaba sweater (which feels kind of weird, to be honest...I keep going to reach for it to knit on it! LOL), I'm moved on to a super secret project that I can't wait to reveal (also this fall)! I guess I'd better get to it, as my deadline is ticking closer, and I need to get it done on time!

Elphaba

Madame Morrible:  You must be Nessarose, what a tragically beautiful face. And where is- [Turns to Elphaba and screams]

Elphaba: I'm the other daughter, Elphaba. I'm beautifully tragic.

For those of you that don't know, Elphaba is the main character in the book (and Broadway musical that was based on the book) Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. It is the telling of the life of the one most people know as the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.

 Glinda: [pointing to Elphaba's broom] You're not still carrying that old thing around?!
Elphaba: Well, we can't all come and go by bubble!

I love that it's a captivating tale from a perspective that others wouldn't have even thought to tell and of what she endured in life and the friendships she made along the way.

Elphaba: What is it? What-do I have something in my teeth? Okay, lets just get this over with: No I'm not seasick, Yes I've always been green, and no I didn't chew grass as a child.

I don't want to spoil the story for anyone that's not seen/read it, but let me say that it is well worth it! There are quite a few people, though, that don't like the book. Granted, there are some parts in there that are....odd. But I tend to look past those parts and actually take the story for it's underlying messages. And the musical...I fell in love with it from the first note I heard of the soundtrack in Torie's car that one day, so long ago...(Note: you cannot aptly compare the book and musical! They're apples and oranges.) What I wouldn't give to see Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the original roles of Elphaba and Galinda...

Elphaba: [in response to Dorothy's crying] Oh, for Oz's sake, stop crying! I can't listen to it anymore! You want to see your Aunt Em and your Uncle what's his name again? Get those shoes off your feet, Little brat! Who takes a dead woman's shoes, must have been raised in a barn!

I raved about the musical so much (and highly recommended the book...I actually really liked it), that I got Misha addicted to both. As in, she liked it so much, that when we went and saw it in London, if we would have had the money, we'd have gone and seen the show a second time that same night!

So between the fact that I got Misha hooked on Wicked and the fact that her favorite character is Elphaba and the fact that her favorite color is green (which just so happens to be Elphaba's skin tone!), not to mention that she tends to run cold in the arena of body temperature, Misha was the first person that popped into my head when I saw a certain shrug kit pop up on Knit Picks! It was too perfect to pass up, so I bought it with the intent to make it her birthday present this year. I was so excited when it came in, that as soon as I finished the items that I was being paid to do, it was the next thing I started. It was done in just over a month. And because of my excitement over this (this is my first knitted adult garment, after all!), I can't wait until October to give it to her. So this weekend, when I'm in her area, I'll be saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY...3 months early!" lol

I am quite in love with how well it came out and I can't wait for her to try it on! :D

In other news...look out for Halloween...we're planning on Misha dressing up as Elphaba and myself as Galinda!!!