Ten on Tuesday - The Ten Last Books You Have Read.

I've had a lot more time to read lately. Much of it is devoted to satisfying the demands of Miss M who loves a good story. This one is her current favorite. She brings it with her to preschool regularly so that she can share it with her friends. It's got a surprise ending that has the kids in stitches every time.

I've also been reading a lot for my own enjoyment lately. I usually prefer mysteries and thrillers but I've been branching out a bit lately. It's a direct result of my heavy use of Goodreads. I love that I can keep track of the books I want to read and those I already did. I also like seeing what my friends are reading. It gives me ideas and helps me develop my queue.

Here is a list of some books that I've read recently. I wish I could say that I loved them all. 

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Both of my teen girls read and loved this one. The morning after I finished it they expectantly asked how I liked it and "did I cry?". I did like it but I didn't cry. It's very good but I doubt that it'll stay with me in any lasting way. It was a good story well-told but not unique.
2. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - I love Michael Connelly. I've heard him speak and I always enjoy his stories.This is the second Mickey Haller book and it didn't disappoint at all. The characters are well crafted and interesting and the story comes together well. 
3. Criminal by Karin Slaughter - Ms Slaughter is another author I love. I owe all of the enjoyment I've gotten reading her books to the National Book Festival. Ever year I check the list of authors scheduled to appear and often I'll check out someone listed who is new to me before seeing them at the festival. She writes pretty intense thrillers with great characters that develop over the series but here's a little hint - don't get too attached. She really isn't kind to her characters. 
4. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby - Four people go up to the top of a building on New Years Eve to kill themselves and don't. Then they spend the rest of the book annoying each other while they try prevent each other from trying again. I didn't like any of them and I didn't really care if they jumped. 
5. two boys kissing, David Levithan - This was an amazingly affecting book. It was beautiful and lyrical and thought provoking. It tells the story of one day in the lives of  young, gay, men in a way that is hopeful and sad and angry and reverent.  This one will stay with me for a long time.
6. Six Years, Harlan Coben - This author is fairly new to me but I like him. It's about lost love, stuff that doesn't add up and a hero who just can't let go. It was a little implausible in places but it was highly entertaining and sometimes that's all you need.
7. Gone Missing, Linda Castillo - This is one in a series of books set in an Amish community. The Sheriff is former Amish and a woman which sent up a lot of interesting situations and relationships. I can't say how accurate these books are as a representation of the Amish but they feel true and it adds a welcome twist on the genre. 
8. Night Film, Marisha Pessl - I hated this book. A lot. I had heard good things and it sounded like my kind of book. It certainly sounded like a neat concept. Unfortunately it was not an enjoyable or interesting read at all. For me it was a slog and took up precious time that I could've spent reading something much better. 
9. Lost Light, Michael Connelly - No surprise that MC appears twice on my list. His books are always winners for me. 
10. The Woman Upstairs, Claire Messud - This was an odd book. It's about a woman who has sublimated her own desires and now she is living a life that is fine but unexciting. She has a nice job, nice friends, and a nice life but she feels insignificant and wonders what could have been. She gets involved with the family of a student and it changes her. The best way that I can describe my feeling about this book is uncomfortable.  

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Thoughts On This Year's Oscar Show

Do you love movies?  I do but I'm usually very picky about what I see. I read all the reviews and write ups and I try to pick good ones because when you're spending that much yo want it to count. Admittedly, I don't always pick winners. Some might even say that I have a knack for picking very odd movies. But during Oscar season none of that really matters because my movie going decision is simple - see all the Best Picture nominees. I've never accomplished it until this year. Sometimes having a little extra time on your hands is a good thing.

Having seen all of the nominated shows (and then some) made watching the Oscars this year even more fun. Possessing a semi-informed opinion, rather than I like actor X and hope he wins, is nice for a change. Overall I felt that most of the movies were pretty good. Philomena was probably my favorite followed closely by Dallas Buyers Club. They were both important and absorbing stories told very well, as was 12 Years a Slave. Her was an interesting story but there was something so soothing about it that I kept feeling myself drift off to sleep. Nebraska was just odd - the kind of movie that I usually pick because it got great reviews and was quirky.  Movies like that are the reason that I don't get to select what we see very often. To me, Gravity was your standard disaster movie but with amazing visuals. Captain Phillips was the last one I saw and the only one I didn't see in the theater and it was much better than I expected. The Wolf of Wall Street really needed a good editor to point out that it was not necessary to show every single over the top thing that Jordan Belfort did. Similarly American Hustle needed a little focus because it seemed like it was all over the place. All good movies and I'm glad I saw them. And then there was the Oscar Show...

1. It was too long - Isn't the point of it to see who gets the awards?  If most people tune out or fall asleep before you get to most of the top awards then you've failed. Period.
2. Ellen is a great host - This may seem at odds with #1 but I really did enjoy watching her. The pizza thing and the twitter thing were funny.  Just pick up the pace a little.
3. The dresses were gorgeous - I adored the sculpted column dresses on Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence.
4. Where were the crazy and the hideous dresses - every year there are outrageous head-scratchers. The more outlandish and ugly they are, the more fun it is.  Did everyone suddenly get classy?
5. Pink was fab - I loved her during the Wizard of Oz tribute. She is awesome.
6. John Travolta - Read much? I don't think it's possible for him to have botched Idina Menzel's name an more than he did. Phonetically speaking it's not really that difficult to read. Unusual - yes. Difficult - no.
7. The men of Dallas Buyers Club - so happy that Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey won. They really were outstanding.
8. Jennifer Lawrence - she just makes me smile.
9. That epic selfie - It was so funny seeing all of those huge stars jamming together to try to get in the shot. It was just like something my kids would do. Or my siblings and I. Silliness is universal.
10. Based on a true story - it's interesting to me that 2/3rds of this years Best Picture nominees were based on true stories. Are there really no new ideas? Is the truth really stranger than fiction? Maybe history is just and endless treasure chest. So much the better.

Ten on Tuesday - I Feel...

It's kind of a roller coaster ride around here lately. There are warm days like we had over the weekend where I go around in flip flops and no jacket and they're followed by days like today where I wake up to snow and an urge to bundle up. I can have a day full of joy and laughter with my girls that is followed up with a reminder that my life is not all that it could or should be. So talking about how I feel is kind of a mixed bag.

Here it is, the good and the bad because these days the two are intertwined. These days I feel...

1. Excited - this weekend my daughter and I shopped for a prom dress and we found one. It was much easier than we expected and, most importantly, she is thrilled with her choice.
2. Joyful - when I watch Miss M learning and growing it fills me with joy. This is good because she is challenging me in ways my older daughters never did.  Crayons on the windows and walls - check. 
3. Frustrated - I'm still jobless and it's been much longer than I ever imagined. I never had trouble like this before but this economy is different. Then again, I'm also older than I was.
4. Old - I have aches and pains that are new and really unpleasant. But the clearest sign are the reading glasses that are my constant companion.
5. Hopeful - at my core I am an optimist and I feel like something better is just around the corner.  It has to be.
6. Accomplished - After a really long knitting drought I've finally picked up my needles again and it's so nice. Even better, I've finished a lot of projects - old and new - and they've turned out well.
7. Satisfied - I've read some really good books lately. There have been a few stinkers too but most of them I've enjoyed. It also feels good to be doing something that is occasionally thought provoking.
8. Lethargic - It would be more accurate to say that I feel out of shape. I know that I need to just get out there and raise my activity level and I've started a few times. It turns out that I'm better at stating than continuing.
9. Proud - My girls are surpassing all of my hopes and dreams and expectations and it's such a great thing.
10. Apprehensive - sometimes it feels like things are moving just a little bit too fast and I wish I could slow it all down a bit. 

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Thoughts on the 2014 Winter Olympics

Have you been watching the Olympics?  It's been a constant backdrop here and I've been knitting very productively through most of it. There is something about watching all of the athletes competing for their countries that is inspiring. It's especially so in the team sports and there is nothing better than hearing our anthem and seeing our flag waving as they stand atop the podium.

Anyway, I have a few thoughts on this year's games.

1. Tara Lipinski & Johnny Weir - I would never have chosen then to do commentary but they are brilliant. It's not just that I don't mind their commentary - I welcome it. They are definitely adding to my enjoyment of the skating. When they explain stuff it just makes sense and they do so in a way that's accessible and colorful. And then there are their coordinated outfits which are colorful too. I'd love to see more of them next time.
2. Ice Skating - it's such a treat to watch the skaters in their sparkly, feathery, and sometimes quite weird costumes skating. They are so graceful and they make it look so easy. I can almost forget for a minute what I look like on the ice which is the opposite of graceful.
3. Good Sportsmanship - as the parent of a child who plays competitive sports this is a big deal to me. It stinks when players on other teams are nasty or, even worse, their coaches are. We've seen great examples during these games of athletes being gracious in their defeat. Look at Shaun White who shocked us all when he didn't medal but he behaved in a way that still made us proud.
4. The Pageantry of the Opening Ceremonies - every 2 years the games are held someplace new and the host city/country gets to show off a bit and tell us a little about themselves. It's always interesting but this year it didn't quite do it for me.  It was grand but it was also a bit off.  You know what I mean - Right? 
5. The Parade of Countries - this is always my favorite part of the opening ceremonies. It's fun to see the athletes in their matching outfits. They always seem so energized and happy to be there.  This year you could see so many of them with their smart phones out taking pictures of the crowd and taking selfies. It all seems so innocent.
6. Sochi, Russia - Like most of the world, I knew nothing about this place before the Olympics. Sadly what I'm taking away from these games is that it was a really poor choice for the Winter games. The summer games might have been great there but holding the Winter games in a place where jackets aren't necessary and the ice and snow don't come naturally seems foolhardy and wasteful.
7. The Extremeness of the sports - I really don't know how else to put it.  When you see the acrobatics of the skiers and snowboarders doing those flips and twists as they race downhill it is amazing.
8. The US Team Sweaters - Ugh, just ugh. They just seem so corny, like the most obvious interpretation of the American spirit. Don't tell me that we couldn't do any better than that.
9. The Colorful, Patterned, Walls and Backgrounds at the Venues - I really like them. There is a patchwork quality to them that makes me smile.
10. USA Hockey - Go team.  Our men's and women's teams are killing it over there. I can't wait to watch them in the medal games.  It's strange because I'm not big on watching sports on TV usually but the Olympics are different.  

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Things that are Red

I'm sitting in my house writing this as I watch the figure skating and wondering why more skaters don't wear red.  An old friend of mine loved it and called it a power color and I'd have to agree. Red is not a color for the timid.  It says "Here I am!" There is nothing restful or boring about red. It's alive!

So where to start this list of fabulous things that are red? How about a little wool?

1. Red yarn - maybe a little something like this.



2. Barns - I love driving along rural roads and seeing a dilapidated barn out in the middle of a field. It's weirdly charming.

3. Strawberries - just the thought of strawberries makes me smile and think of summer.

4. Red skies at sunset - I really love when the red streaks color the evening sky.

5. Cars - I had a red car once and I loved it. Now my daughter has one but I hope it doesn't inspire her the way it inspired me... to go fast.

6. Crayons - as long as they're being used on paper - not my walls.

7. Apples - I especially love apple pie.

8. Nail polish - I love a nice deep red on my toes.

9.  Cranberries - I love cranberry sauce at the holidays but I love dried cranberries year round. Dried cranberries on a salad are my favorite.

10. My daughter's hair - Stinkerbelle's hair has been red since birth and I love it. This is a bit of a throwback shot and I think her hair is on fire in it.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Like About Winter

It is cold here today.  Really, really cold. We haven't had this many days in the teens and below in ages - if ever. But here's a little secret.  I kind of like the extreme cold.  In small doses it's refreshing and exhilarating. I can say this because I don't have to be out there in it much at all. It's only a few steps from my front door to my car and not much more to wherever I need to go. If I had to be outside waiting for a bus or walking long distances it'd be a different story.



But I'm not sure that I'd say the extreme cold would be one of my favorite things about the winter. I do like some things about the winter and here's a list.

1. Seeing handknits in use - My girls love to bundle themselves up in handknits.  I love seeing them wearing the hats, gloves, scarves, and cowls that I've made for them.
2. Inspiration for more hamdknits - cold weather makes me want to create more wonderful wooliness to keep my girls warm.
3. Snow - I know many people who hate snow but I love it. I love watching it fall. I love walking in it. I love just about everything about it.
4. Hot Chocolate - I don't do it often but there is nothing quite like a nice steaming mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
5. Snow Days - just not too many of them. Too much unscheduled time gets a little crazy.
6. Rosy cheeks - I just love seeing my girls with rosy cheeks. The glow of good health and all that.
7. The winter light - I can't really explain it but there is something about the light.  It's crisp and unfiltered.
8. Cooking hearty meals - chili, and all the hearty, meaty stuff that makes us feel nostalgic. It feels so good and it makes the house smell great too.
9. Blankets - I love curling up on the couch with one of my girls under piles of blankets to watch a show or read a book.
10. Reading - It's the perfect activity for a cold winter day.   

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Moments From 2013

I've got to be honest, 2013 wasn't a very good year for me. There were life changes that left me feeling a little lost and worried. But, even in a year with dramatic lows there are amazing highs that put it all in perspective. It was a year that so much went so right and my girls had much to be happy about. Here are a few high notes from 2013.

1. I got to spend one last amazing day with my grandfather.  Of course I didn't know it was the last one at the time, but it was amazing.
2. DQ finally earned her Gold award which is the highest award in Girl Scouts. It was a long and arduous undertaking but the end result was worth it. 
3. Our trip to Amish Country to spend time with my sister and brother and their families.  It was such fun and the countryside up there is beautiful. We got a gorgeous quilt. The only regret is that DQ couldn't come but that's just something that I've got to get used to.
4. Stinkette's softball team changed affiliation and she finally got to wear a Firebird uniform.  Not only that, the team started winning more often.  Let's hope that it's the start of something wonderful.
5. The fall trip that DQ and I took through New England to visit colleges.  The school tours were informative and, as an added bonus, we got to see Carole and Dale.  Yay!  We finished the trip in Rhinebeck with my sister. We had such a good time.
6. The Halloween party my girls had. We had never held one before but I had the time so... why not. I had so much fun making all of the treats for it like the Day of the Dead cookies below.
7. Then there was the cast party that we hosted after the run of Little Shop of Horrors ended. At it's peak there were about 70-80 drama kids in the house. The best moment was when they all crammed into my living room to sing "I'll Make a Man Out of You" while watching Mulan.  I was so happy to be able to help the kids celebrate a great show.
8. Thanksgiving in NY.  It was so nice to see family and friends. 
9. DQ's friends threw her a surprise party at our house to celebrate her 18th birthday.  She never saw it coming.  It was so good to see how much her friends love her.
10. Our first trip as a family of 5 - St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. The vacation that almost didn't happen was everything that I could've hoped for and more.  It was magical. 

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Burger Toppings

Last week Stinkerbelle was at camp at a museum here in the city. It was so much fun to commute to and from the city with her each day. Even better to see her enjoying herself and being a little more independent. But the best thing was that on Friday night we had a date. After work and camp we went for burgers and a movie. I hesitate to recommend the movie because This Is the End is one of the raunchiest movies that I’ve seen in a long time. I laughed really hard but be warned – it’s the kind of movie that an R rating was made for.

On the other hand, the burgers were pretty good. We went to Bobby’s Burger Palace and Stinky had a crunchified cheeseburger while I had the Napa Valley burger. We are big fans of the Sporkful podcast and recently listened to the episode on burgers so we sat and critiqued our burgers on the amounts and placement of the cheese, the burger to bun ratio, and how well the burgers were cooked. Boy did we enjoy ourselves. We really do like our burgers. Sadly I have no burger pictures so just imaging a nice, juicy burger cooking over this flame.



Here is a list of toppings that my girls and I enjoy on burgers.

1. Mozzarella and pizza sauce – OMG! As a kid we went to a certain restaurant that made the best pizza burgers ever. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
2. Swiss – If I’m getting a cheeseburger it’ll probably have Swiss cheese on it. I’ve never loved American cheese.
3. Onions – I prefer them caramelized but a nice ring of red onion is good too.
4. French fries – Stink likes fries on her burgers but I really don’t get it.
5. Potato Chips – the crunchified burger. Apparently Stink really enjoyed this but, again, I’m not sold.
6. Lettuce – I like the freshness and the crunch and, besides, it makes it feel more healthy.
7. Goat Cheese – Oooooh yessss! The burger I had the other night had a nice, generous scoop on there and it was so good.
8. Sweet Gherkins – I slice them in half and place the slivers side by side. Crunch!
9. Ketchup – Just because.
10. Bacon – This would be another nod to Stinkette.

Ten on Tuesday – 10 Things You Want To Do This Summer

School for my girls only ended last week so it’s only now that I’m finally feeling like it’s really summer. We started it off by finally getting to the pool. It was so nice and Miss M really loved it. Not only that, she kept intentionally putting her face in the water. This is good since she starts swimming lessons later this week. Finally it feels like summer is here.



As always, I have ideas about things I want to do.

1. Go to the pool a lot – I equate pool with relaxation. I read, paddle around, and generally chill out there. I’d like to think that there will be lots of this in my summer.
2. Take Miss M to the park – we have a great one in our neighborhood so ideally I’d be walking down there with her so that I can get exercise and she can play and we can both meet families with little kids.
3. Knit – I have fallen off the wagon again and I must fix that. The yarn keeps coming but the needles are quiet.
4. Plan college tours – so exciting and so scary at the same time.
5. Read – I’ve read so much already this year but there is still so much that I want to read. I guess that maybe there are just a bunch of good books out there lately or I just found them.
6. Make lunches – I’m trying to spend less (haha) and eat better and both of these would be accomplished easier if I bring lunches more often.
7. Finish a few home projects – putting up curtains, painting a mural, hanging pictures.
8. Ride my bicycle – I really want to ride a little and one of my girls would like to join me. Yes exercise! But first the kid needs to learn to ride. Parental fail!
9. Enjoy some family time – sadly these days this requires quite a bit of coordination between all of our schedules.
10. Plan our winter vacation – cuz that’s what’s next.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Times You Felt Grateful Last Week

I just had one amazingly exhausting but wonderful weekend.  What better time for a list like this?

I am thankful for...

1. Stinkerbelle's crazy sense of style - Friday night was the 8th grade dance and although I offered to get her something shiny and new she opted for a simple cotton sundress... and matching Converse hightops.

2. That my crazy girl has friends to join her funky plan. It always makes me feel so happy to watch my girls with their friends.  Their laughter is infectious.



3. Getting Stinkette's grade from her Civics SOL.  She rocked it!

4.  Finding the time to read a little.  I've been on a tear lately and some of the books have been really good.

5. Getting to see Third Eye Blind at the Fair with DQ!  They were a last minute replacement for the B52's who cancelled Thursday due to illness.  You've got to love a band that flies across country at the drop of a hat to fill in and does a kick-ass show. DQ is great company too.


6. Getting to take Miss M to the Fair for the first time.  It was so much fun to see her seeing new things (like the dragon she's petting in this picture) and getting to jump in a moonbounce for the first time.



7. The  big win by Stinkette's softball team on Sunday.  I was sad that I missed it but so happy to hear about it.  The girls have been playing so hard with very little reward. A win is a very good thing.

8. DQ's big hit!  It turns out that she was a huge part of wh the team won.  My girl got a triple with bases loaded. She gave that ball a ride!

9. Finally finding the time to squeeze in a trip to the grocery store.  Sometimes it's the little things.

10. The cast and crew (that includes DQ) of Robinson's production of Hairspray that won 8 awards Sunday night.  Including Best Musical! Way to go!

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Favorite Ice Cream Toppings

It's Tuesday again and today it's all about ice cream.  Yum!  I love ice cream.  Not only that but it has all kinds of wonderful memories and associations for me.  So this is a topic I can really get into.  The trick is to write the post without running for my freezer.  I think I can do it.  Can you read it without needing to grab a bowl?

Here are my favorite toppings for ice cream.

1. Fudge
2. M &M's
3. Chocolate Chips
4. Strawberry topping
5. Heath Bar bits
6. Caramel
7. Whipped Cream
8. Sprinkles - rainbow please!
9. A Cherry on top
10. More ice cream

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Did This Weekend

It's been such a nice long weekend. I did not hang curtains or tackle any of the other projects around the house.  Here is what I did do.

1. Softball - Lots.  Spring and summer in our house means softball weekends.  Don't ask how our team did.  It wasn't pretty.
2. Shopped - when its too windy and cold to enjoy the softball... smart girls go shopping.  Especially when they have a child whose summer plans are more business than casual.
3. Had a good laugh. Miss M loves to dance to the music and sometimes she gets a little too excited and nearly falls over. I dare you to keep a straight face when that happens.
4. Went to a fair - after hearing about Viva Vienna from friends for years we decided to go.  Fun!
5. Tried a fried Oreo - I would never buy them because I can feel the pounds land on my hips and my arteries clog just thinking of them but I ate half of one and it was just as ridiculous as you'd think.  Which is to say obscenely yummy but sooo sweet.
6. Watched a movie - we rented Seven Psychos on demand and it was weird but enjoyable.
7. Went to sleep early - funny how this seems like such a good thing when we get older.  Would've been better paired with a nap.
8. Got my car serviced - ouch!  It was an expensive one.  At least this time when the light went on I had a coupon. Small yay.
9. Washed a wee bit of laundry - not much but I gotta keep up or I'm sunk.
10. Enjoyed some really nice family time.

Ten on Tuesday – Ten Reasons Why You Knit

Its birthday season around here so last weekend my siblings and I got together with our respective families. I can share more about our mini-getaway later this week. For now, here’s a picture of our birthday kids. From left to right they are Stinkerbelle, my brother Micah, and my sister Jessica.



Two of them are celebrating birthdays today. My sister, Jessica is celebrating a BIG one and Stinkerbelle is turning 14 but for her, every birthday is a BIG one. My brother will celebrate on Friday.
 
Coincidently, they would all love to be receiving handknits from me, today or any day which gives me a nice segue into today’s Ten on Tuesday. They are a few of the reasons why I knit. My brother recently wore through a pair of gloves I made for him a number of years ago, my sister gifted me with yarn and spinnables at Rhineback a while back with a request that I turn them into socks, and Stinkette has a list of stuff she’d like me to make for her. At the top of that list are socks and fingerless gloves.

1. So my family is the first reason why I knit. I like making stuff for them and they love to wear it.
2. I like knitting – just that
3. Knitting relaxes me. When I was a brand new knitter I read a book called Zen and the Art of Knitting or something similar. It spoke to me.
4. I like stuff the way I like it. I often see a sweater that I’d like to have but… I’d rather have it in another color, or a less scratchy wool, or a bigger size, or if it was longer, shorter, yadda, yadda, yadda… If I knit it myself I can make it just right.
5. Knitting satisfies my creative side. I used to paint and sculpt. Now I knit.
6. Knitting help me turn TV time into productive time. I feel less guilty about time spent on the couch if I’ve made progress with some knitting.
7. I really love wearing knitted socks. I’m wearing some right now. They are warm and fun and make me smile.
8. I love the knitting community. Being a knitter has opened doors for me that I never even knew were there. I go places I never imagined and I experience things that I never expected.
9. Knitty friends – this is slightly different. It’s not just the stuff I’ve learned but the people I’ve met. I really, really, love the friends that knitting has given me.
10. The connection to the past. I began knitting as a tribute to my grandmother. Since then I’ve lost many more and I have knitting memories for many of them – how my dad loved that I was using his mother’s needles, the chemo cap I made for my mother in law, the sock I made for my grandfather that he told me he loved over and over again.

So Happy Birthday to Stinkette, and Jess, and  Micah.  I love you all and I will knit for you all again soon. Because I really love it!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Always Bring on Vacation

This is the time of year when I'm busy planning ahead for summer and fall vacations but it's so hard to think about that stuff when winter just won't go.  This past weekend is seems that we turned a corner.



The weather warmed up just in time for Stinkerbelle's team to debut their new uniforms.  Not only did they look sharp, they played well too.

1. My camera - gotta take lot's of pictures
2. A swimsuit - especially if I'm going to the beach
3. A bunch of ziplock bags - they are handy for so many things
4. A good book - actually I'd bring a few.  Reading relaxes me - what better for a vacation?
5. A knitting project or seven - Heaven forbid I should run out of knitting to do although I rarely even make a dent.  It's truly pathetic.
6. An old pillow case for my laundry.
7. A tour book or other guide - I love seeing new things
8. Maps - so I can find my way around without technology.  I'm a little old school.
9. My ipod and ipad - one is for surfing and the other for chilling but both are absolutely essential.
10. Way too many clothes - I tend to pack for all the what if's.  You never know!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Random Things On Your Mind

Random things on my mind.  OMG!  The way things have been going lately I've got nothing but. Eye drops and ear drops for my toddler. Credit cards getting hacked. Snow falling as I freeze my ass of on the bleachers at the forst softball double header of the season.  Toddlers who can dress themselves - and insist on doing so.  And much, much, more.

1. This is what I saw on my way to work yesterday.  What gives?  I love snow.  Love, love, love.  But not in March.  This is just wrong.



2. Why can't people drive sanely in bad weather.  Seriously!  Are you really that excited for work?
3. And stop texting! You freak me out enough when you repeatedly speed up and then stop short of hitting the cars in front of you - IN. THE. SNOW.  Adding the texting to the mix is just sadistic.
4. I have done my Passover shopping but I'm still far from ready for the holiday.  Everyone else is trying out recipes and planning menus.  I am still shaking off my cloak of denial.
5. Pink is awesome.  The girls and I saw her last Thursday night and it was phenomenal!



6. It got me thinking about the difference between a concert and a show.  At a concert they get up there and sing their songs and play their instruments (I'm looking at you Bon Jovi).  They hopefully do a good job.  A show takes the singing and adds artistic content.  Lots of artistic content!  This was a show.  An awesome one.
7.  I cannot believe that spring break is next week.  The school year is just flying by and it's giving me whiplash.
8.  DQ says hello to everyone out there reading the blog.  She is reading over my shoulder.
9.  Snow should not be coating the buds on the trees.  Poor little buds.



10. I can't wait for the Cherry Blossoms to bloom.  The snow had better not ruin them.

Ten on Tuesday - Reasons You're Happy it's March

What a difference a week makes.  Last week at this time I was putting together a list of all the reasons I wanted winter to be over now while admitting that was really ok with it sticking around long enough for one more good snow.  Of course I didn't actually think we'd get any snow but you can always dream.

Now I really am ready for winter to be over.  Funny how yet one more bout of sniffles, sore throat, aches etc will change a person's outlook! And just as I'm thinking about how badly I'd love to put flu weather behind me we are finally expecting a snow storm that they are cautiously declaring "could be major." Seriously?



But it is March and that's a step in the right direction.  Today they came out with the prediction for the peak of this years Cherry Blossoms (March 28-30th).  So that would be a great place to start my list of reasons I'm happy it's March.

1. Cherry Blossoms - the parade, the festival, the flowers... I melt!  I swoon!
2. All that green - I really love green and they bring it all out for St Patricks Day.
3. Doubliner Cheddar Cheese - Yum!  They bring out the really good stuff this time of year.

Ack!  I posted too early.  Let's continue because we've got some great stuff planned.  March is a super full month for us!

     4.  P!NK - the big girls and I are seeing her later this month.  Can you say girls night?  Hmmm... I'm thinking of Mexican food before the show.  Now we're talking!
     5.  Rocking the RED - we have tickets to a Caps game this month.  Our first one with Miss M.  I wonder how she'll like it.
     6.  Passover - Ok, I know that sounds a little perverse and it's not entirely accurate.  I don't really love Passover but I do love the Seders.  Cook up a storm, set a beautiful table and fill the house with great people to celebrate with.  Love that!
     7.  Announcements - they'll announce the performers for the Fairfax Fair AKA Celebrate Fairfax sometime this month.  I can't wait to see who it'll be.
     8.   Spring Break - It won't be as stress free this year as usual because DQ will be using the break to get ahead on work she'll miss during her upcoming trip but it's still nice to see the girls chill out and have a little fun.
     9.  Spring knits - March is a great time to start some warm weather knitting.  Perhaps a sweater for a sweet young thing.
     10.  Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms. - and also daffodils and crocus and the reddish blur that is the appearance of buds on the trees.

But first we need to get through the snow storm that is a bit late to the party.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons Why You Are Ready for Winter To Be OVER

The ToT topic this week makes me laugh because it's really not me.  I know a few people who are really ready for Winter to be over even before it starts (and they know who they are) but I'm not one of them.  Truthfully, I'd really like one more good snow.  Please don't hate me for saying that.



That doesn't mean that I'm hoping for an endless Winter.  I do look forward to seeing the buds on the trees and the grass turning green. So here, a little less emphatically, is my list of 10 reasons why I am (mostly) ready for Winter to be over. 

1. I'm sooooo not a fan of Winter coats
2. All the salt from the roads looks nasty on my dark blue car
3. I can't wait to see my bulbs start to push up through the soil.
4. I really want to take Miss M to the park and watch her play on the swings.
5. Softball!!!
6. Flip flops - they go much better with pretty toes than sneakers do.
7. Open up that sunroof!
8. I'll be less nervous about my teen driver without icy roads.
9. No more sniffles - I'm so tired of runny noses
10. Cherry blossoms!

What are you looking forward to?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Miss From Your Childhood

It snowed off and on all weekend and through most of it I played inside with Miss M.  We rough-housed, we played with toys, we played hide and seek, and we read books.  At the end of the weekend the snow had totally disappeared and my sweet girl and I were worn out. It feels a little like I'm experiencing a second childhood through her and it makes me a little wistful sometimes.



To be clear, I am a reasonably happy adult and I have no desire to go back.  However, I do miss some things. Here are a few of them.

1. The carefree way that we used to roam on weekends and afternoons.  - We'd tell our parents that we were going out to a friends house and they wouldn't see or hear from us for hours...without worrying much.
2. The ice cream man - they're still around but it's not quite the same somehow.  You could hear the Mr. Softee music from blocks away and all the kids would come running.  It was a big thing for my grandfather and I. 
3. Kickball - I was the queen of the kickball diamond in elementary school. Not anymore.
4. Saturday morning cartoons - we would sneak downstairs and watch for hours while our parents slept.
5. Making forts - we would do it in the den with blankets and overturned chairs and whatever else we could find.
6. Climbing trees - I lived in the trees as a kid.  Really!  I would go up there and read or get into mischief or just chill. Awesomeness!
7. Big family gatherings - we would have all kinds of relatives around the table for holidays.  I've tried to recreate this for my girls but it was different as a kid and different with relatives rather than close friends.
8. Summer - it was so awesome that last day of school. There was that amazing feeling of freedom as you walked out of the school and knew that there was no homework to be done, no tests to study for, no teacher to answer to. Just fun and relaxation for the foreseeable future
9. Family vacations at the lake - for many years my family, my grandparents, and my uncles family would rent cabins at a place in upstate NY. They were so rustic and you could hear the rain on the roof. You could swim out to the dock in the lake. There were bats in the rafters in the game room where we'd play nok hockey. In a word - fabulous!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blahs

We've had so darn much rain lately.  It's depressing.  And when it rains on a Monday it's even worse.  You just want to crawl back in bed.  So what do you do?

1. See a good movie - the last one I saw was Django Unchained.  So totally Tarantino.
2. Knit something you really love.  I just made myself a new hat with a pattern I adore and a yarn that rock.  Stay tuned for the results.
3. Read a good book - or 3.  I am on a serious reading kick right now and I'm plowing through books that have been on my to-read list for ages.
4. Go to the nursery - I went recently to ask a few questions about yard maintenance that I'd postponed.  It turns out that it was a perfect time to fertilize etc so I came home and spent a few minutes with my clippers and fertilizer. Looking forward to the spring.
5. Play with a cute baby - admittedly, not everyone has one available but when you do it's a perfect antidote.
6. Tackle a project that you've been putting off.  You have no idea how restorative it can be to clean a closet. So weird!
7. Take out your shiny new camera and look for pretty things to photograph - If you don't have a new one, the old one would do I suppose.
8. Bake, or cook something delicious - really anything in the kitchen is good.  The other day I found happiness at the bottom of a bowl of tomato soup. 
9. Buy some awesome yarn - I went to one (ok 2) of my favorites stores this month and helped the bottom line at each of them greatly.  That is all I will say.  We'll not speak of the assorted online purchases.  Trust me though - some of the stuff that folloewed me home totally rocks and would make me smile on the darkest winter day.
10. Take a vacation - this one is just wishful thinking but wouldn't it be great?

Then again, when the temps bounce between 30 and 70 degrees from day to day it's hard to feel the winter blahs for long.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things You Always Have in Your Car

I often feel like I live in my car.  You'd think that it would be less so now that DQ has her license.  That having one less child in need of taxi service would help.  It doesn't.  Not really.  I still spend lots of time in my car but now I spend more of it on errands.  It's the curse of suburbia.

I suspect that I'm not alone in this.  It's the sheer amount of time I spend in my car that causes the mess found within. That and the children.  When I bought my current car a few years ago I had every intention of keeping it immaculate and for a while it was.  I was very strict about what could and could not be brought into my car.  I insisted that the girls leave their spots as they found them. 

Then Miss M arrived.



From the moment I became pregnant I knew the days of having a clean vehicle were numbered.  I could sense the Cheerios staking their claim. It was inevitable. 

So this ToT topic is a little bit of an issue for me.  I wish I found it harder to come up with a list.  I wish it didn't have quite so much kid stuff on it.  I wish that I could still offer a ride to someone without first calculating how I could shift the mess within.

1. A Soccer Mom Chair - for watching softball games or Miss M on a playground.  My old back demands it.
2. Umbrellas of all sizes - I have ginormous golf umbrellas and smaller ones I can toss in a bag.  You never know when you'll need one.
3. Towels - I really can't explain these.  I think they multiply in my trunk like bunnies.  They are handy from time to time.
4. Shopping bags - I am green and take them with me.  I just don't always remember to take them into the store but I'm working on that.
5. Chap stick - I always like to have one handy.
6. My firewire cord - I love to hook up my iPod in the car so I keep one in my center console.
7. Tic tacs - I have a very large pack of these.  I pop a few most days when I get in my car after work.  I don't know why.
8. Windex and paper towels - I keep these in my trunk so that I can clean my windows whenever the spirit moves me.  If I have to go find them in the house then the moment will pass without action.
9. Window Scraper Widget - Not the one for icy weather - this is like a blade for removing old, gnarly stickers from my windows.  Why?  See #8.
10. Napkins - always handy.  Remember, there are kids in my car.

What's in your car?