Son of Dish Rag Tag

I am participating in this year's Son of Dish Rag Tag.

Emily is running this great race for a third year. Thanks so much Emily!

Last year my team had some stumbling blocks, but we still had a lot of fun. And who can beat the anticipation of a small box being delivered with yarn and goodies inside?

I can't wait to get started! Our team will be going coast-to-coast. California to Connecticut, and several stops in between.

Get your needles ready!

On the home front, things have been pretty good. J now has an official diagnosis. While this doesn't make things better, it does make things better, if you know what I mean.

We have just one major test left and that is on Saturday. IQ testing. J has never had this done before, but it will be interesting to see in what range he is at. They did some testing on his vocabulary and understanding, and he tested at/above a college level. (He is entering 7th grade this year)

It's hard to know how to handle a kid that takes everything you say literally, all the time, whose vocab. understanding/use is at a college level, but who doesn't understand non-verbal communication, teasing, or emotions (his or others).

I love him dearly, but some days I can't stand to be around him. I am positive he feels the same way about me. Probably more so.

Knitting is going great! I am knitting up Holiday gifts right now, and they are flying off the needles.

In fact, I received my new Zephyr acrylic needles from KnitPicks.com and have already worn one out. It snapped in half while knitting last Tuesday. (A new set is on it's way - free of charge!)

I am still trying to figure out what to do for gifts this year. Money is way too tight, and the things kids want are WAY too expensive. They are just going to have to be happy with less. (Are there any kids like that out there?)

Performing my Civic Duty

I spent 4 days this week serving on a jury.

It was an interesting experience, to say the least. I knit in all of our breaks, and ended up with 6 dish/washcloths by the end. I figured at least the downtime, when we can't talk about the case, wouldn't be wasted, and I still could participate in other conversations.

You learn some of the strangest things about the other jury members when you are confined to a small room day after day. (What venues have cheap food, movies about juries, etc.)

I am glad that it was a short trial though. And that we were not sequestered.

I didn't do much of anything else this week, except for go to court, go home, and knit during the day.

I am digging out of the piles of e-mail that accumulated over 6 days. Better get back to it.

Camp, Round 2

K is now at camp. We dropped her off yesterday afternoon. She was bouncing off the walls, she was so excited.

I hope she has a great bunch of girls this year. Last year, there were some divas in her cabin that weren't very nice. But, hey, she survived, had fun and is back for year 2!



Here she is at last year's camp.

And how about a few more: (Can you find her?)

Sadly, homecoming was early

Well, my dread was not unwarranted. I got the call around 9:15 p.m. last night.

"Please come get your child as soon as possible. He punched another camper in the face."

Such warm, fuzzy mom moments.

He was very tired, and very upset. He truly hated camp this week. It's hard to enjoy camp when none of your cabinmates want to include you in the activities. Combine that with lack of sleep, and problems controlling impulses and anger, and what do you get? A complete meltdown.

He did say that he really liked his horse. Her name was Honey. She was much more cooperative than Cricket was last year. J said the only problem she had was she liked to eat too much.

I couldn't get mad at J for hitting the other kid, knowing that this had been brewing since the first day. I feel bad that he is so different from the kids his age that they don't want anything to do with him. I talked to him about it briefly on the ride home. Suggested that when they were breaking the rules, that he should have involved a counselor/adult.

I am upset that he hit the boy, don't get me wrong. I know it's wrong, and so does he. And there is no excuse for hitting another person.

The final straw last night was at the lake and the rope swing. The rules say that there is no saving spots in line. The boy(s) ahead of him were doing exactly that. So, of course, my son has to be insistent that they were breaking the rules and can't save spots in line. This obviously got way out of hand. One kid got hit and another sent home. So, while the counselors knew that there were major problems with this cabin of boys, I am wondering where they were while this argument was escalating. (Simple solution would have been to have an adult supervising the line, and enforcing the no saving spots/cutting in line.) I don't know, I wasn't there. Maybe I am just too simplistic.

Today is another day. Tomorrow will be a new day too.

Time for some Mac 'n Cheese, Diet Pepsi and some knitting.

A Week of Horses

J is off to Ranch Camp at Camp Kitaki (near South Bend, NE). I am both elated and full of trepidation. I love having J enjoy time out of the house, riding horses, spending time with other kids his age. But... I also dread having J out of the house spending time with other kids his age, or those that are not familiar with his subtle signs of impending doom. (These are pictures of 2008)


I am hoping for a great week (weather permitting) for him with his horse and new friends. I think that he will keep it together. I just wish I could know for sure.


I haven't even had a chance to knit more that about 4 rows on anything for the last week. This is beginning to get on my nerves. I miss knitting every evening.

On another completely different note: "One Book, One Lincoln" announced the 5 finalists for this year's reading. They seem a bit more probable than last year's titles, but still a bit dark in theme. (racism, poverty, Sudan "Lost Boys", and civil wars). I will have to try to get one of these and see how they go.

I am starting to get K ready for her tour at camp. She goes in about 3 weeks. She's excited and ready to go.

Typical Government/University Thinking...

I have done a stupid thing. I lost my university ID card. This wouldn't be such a horrible thing, except that it is how I unlock the doors in the building.

Now, for the brilliant thinking/policy making, that can only be attributed to government and university minds. Ready? To report your card lost/stolen you must give them your name and (wait for it) the ID number that is only found on the front of your ID card.

Hello! Anyone paying attention? This number is not located anywhere else that you can access.

So, I was told that it would be best to not show up at the Ncard office for the next 6 weeks, unless it was absolutely necessary, as they are processing several hundred new students, and I would have to wait for each group to go through. (The ave. group size, you ask? 50 people)

Oh well. I will just have to stalk their office in the morning, and beat the influx of new students.

On the home front: Last Friday was the 1st day off for the summer for my kids. We went to the psychologist (we may have some new answers that make much more sense soon), then we went to the YMCA to bask in the sun in the new outdoor pool.

Saturday we went to the park, then the pool (let me tell you the water is very cold). After the pool, we went to Panera for a Lincoln Knitter's session. (only 3 of us showed up).

Sunday was the best though. We spent the entire day at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. We got there, drove around the parking lot for like 45 minutes, trying to find a parking spot (no luck). Finally got a spot across the street, then proceeded to walk around, ride the train, and ride the tram until almost 5 p.m.

Sorry, no pictures. But I will tell you that both kids were thrilled with the peacocks that roam free. And J wanted to get up close and personal with the prairie dogs that also roam free. K loved watching the sea lions. She made us get off the tram so she could watch them. (so much like me, anything about the water creatures)

The second best thing? the aquarium. We actually sat down in the shark tube for almost 10 minutes. We were all mesmerized and fascinated with the sharks, rays, puffer fish and sea turtle. I could stay in there all day and not get bored, but not the kids. I thought 10 minutes was about as long as I could make J stay in there.

Behavior has been pretty darn good from J over the weekend. But then again, he was being kept very active and busy with things that are not the same. This will wear off (i.e. the outdoor pool), but I will bask in the minimal fighting/arguing that occurred.

Knitting is going about the same, I didn't get much time over the weekend because of how busy and on the road we were, so I am in about the same spot I was the last time I checked in. I did cast on a new pair of shorty socks for J. He likes the way they feel better than store bought socks.

Well, have a great day!

(p.s. Jess, I got your postcard. Love it! Now, if you would have put your new address on there, we could send one back. PM me in Ravelry some time with your address)

Luvin' 'Amigurumi Knits'

I can't get over how much I LUV this book: Amigurumi Knits

I have made the Garden Snail, and started Nessie and the Octopus.

These are about as close to instant gratification as you can get for knitting projects. They are even more fun than socks.

I love Hansi Singh's designs. I have dreamed about her designs even before her book. I would drool over her Etsy.com site. (She has her shop closed this week, but I am sure she will be back in all her cryptozoological glory soon)

I am using the yarn that Jess gifted me. (Remember that tangled mess you were going to throw away? It has gone on to become some fun creatures!)

I need to finish up so many projects. I will work on that, bit by bit, and throw in some quick ami's to make sure I don't get too bored. Some of them are just too big and hot to work on in the summer, so go into hibernation until October or later.

Happy Knitting!