After hitting HL 3 times this week, I went ahead and grabbed the pompom that I needed to finish the Penguin Tissue Box Cover. Here it is - all finished and already stored away in the attic awaiting its debut at Christmas. Another FO - yeehaw.

I do have an announcement: I officially throw myself out of the Stash-A-Long. I went g. saling on Saturday and couldn't pass up the huge box of bulky yarn for $2. Not only that but when DS, Grandmother and I hit HL, I purchased 4 skeins of Kool Wool and two LB fuzzy yarns --- all on clearance. Sorry that I must give up the ghost but the bargains overcame my sense of responsibility to my commitment. Bargains must be had and that comes above all. Yes, it was worth it.

What did I work on over the weekend? I tried coming up with a crochet pattern for one of the fuzzy yarns I picked up but I haven't found the "correct" pattern for the yarn. I may have to turn to a knitting pattern instead. I wanted to get another crochet project in the works but that is not going to work with this project. I may snoop around on the net today but if that fails, it'll be another knit scarf. I also worked on balling up the bulky $2 yarn. It was mostly in hanks but somewhat of a mess so I couldn't use the swift. I untangled and hand balled and then used the ball winder on most of it. There are quite a few awaiting the ball winder. That was such a sweet acquisition.

Did very little reading. I dropped into bed last night - parties wear me out.

Saturday night we went to DS's Mr. Trojan contest. It was the funniest thing that I'd been to in a while. Of course, I had tears running down my face being so proud of Baby Man. The program started out with all 23 contestants in their tuxes doing a chorographed routine on the stage. Then it went into the tux walk where the boys came out individually with their escort(s). DS's escorts were wearing fireman coats and they turned around and dropped the coats to their waists and danced showing off their shirts which read, "Will is Hot." Then came the talent competition and DS had three buddies up there with him and the buddies danced while DS crooned to the song You've Lost That Loving Feeling. At the end the boys picked up DS and carried him around on the stage like he was a winner. Up came the swimsuit contest and out comes DS in a red, plaid hunting vest and red swim trunks. He danced around for a while and then pulled off the vest and exposed his chest hair trimmed into the shape of an arrow pointing downward - the crowd went wild. After all the boys did their show, they knocked it down to 5 finalists which, DS was not one of them. When they were closing the curtain on the ones not chosen, DS has his head sticking out of the curtains yelling, "No, wait!" They did the "Interviews" with the 5 finalists and then they opened the curtains where all 23 boys were on the stage. They proceeded with the first runner up, etc. and they stopped the program to give out a special award for "Mr. Congeniality." It was none other than DS! He was shocked but ran up there to claim his flower and stand by a cute, little escort. DS's winning was almost as special as being crowned Mr. Trojan because of the way they announced and presented - proud Mama was I! He is such a great kid and deserved the special recognition. He was chosen by the five girls putting on the program - the school officers. I can't wait until the DVD comes in and I can share it with family. What a fun night.

Good news --- I got admitted to UT for grad courses. More good news - they waived the $60 admittance fee. Not sure why but I'm thankful. Maybe they looked at what I make and decided, "this poor girl could use a break." I am looking forward to taking some classes. I want to take at least one this summer - maybe 2nd half since the sibs and I have some plans the first half.

Sock news - I tried picking up the ol' sock Wednesday evening but I can't figure out where I am on the chart. I just need a few minutes of "thinking time" and then I'll be sailing through it. I am at the part where I'm picking up stitches for the gusset. It shouldn't be a big trick to getting these finished and off the needles. I hope to get back in the groove over the weekend. BUT, we are hosting a SuperBowl party so I'll be prepping for that. We Shall Shee. Wheeling Willy is moving along smoothly outside of the fact that I can't see to thread the needle. I kind of just aim for the eye and after about 20 or so tries, a little piece of thread goes through. I grab onto that and yank it through. Yeah, getting old really is a lot of fun. I need to just put my spectacles in the project bag and be done with it.

Have a lovely day after Groundhog day.

Wheeling Willy is about half way finished ---- I'm making great progress with him. If GB learns to ride his bike, including starting and stopping, he'll have Willy on his refrigerator.

Speaking of Willy - DS Will is going to be in the Mr. Trojan Beauty Pageant this Saturday. If you know him, you know this will be one hilarious show. I can't believe Mama's baby is all growed up. It just isn't right.

We have acceptance! DS was accepted into Texas A&M! Yes, he will be attending the rival school of his Mom's dear Alma Mater. He makes me laugh. I got the news yesterday. On the same day, I readmitted myself to UT so I can begin my journey to a masters degree. Yes, Virginia, there will be more studying ahead.

Speaking of studying - I have begun a program of self-teaching myself conversational Spanish. I have started listening to Spanish radio in the mornings so that I can learn to recognize words and eventually conversations. I was proud of myself - today I recognized that they were talking about American politics. It is amazing the amount of words that I still know. The ones that I should know are the ones I write down and look up when I get to work. I think it'll be like typing - one day it just hits you and you're speeding along like it is second nature. If I end up with any electives needed for my masters, I think I'll try and find a Spanish class to suit my needs. I don't know because undergrad classes vs. grad classes ---- uh, may not work. In the meantime, I need to get signed up for some classes that will help me improve my knowledge for my job. I desperately want to know more about the budget and I am in need of some classes. Studygirl will soon be my name. Not to worry, fatgirl still lives and breathes.

The picture? This is a fellow Austinite who hosts Knitty Gritty and recently published a book. I have an e-mail out to her about a show idea that I have. Now wouldn't that be the coolest - me with a show? I'm living with high hopes but like I always say, dream big because you can always stop midway, if necessary. I have started taping Knitty Gritty during the week so that I can watch it in the evenings. I watched Monday's show last night. I was surprised that I got so much out of it --- I learned different edgings by Melissa Leapman. Pretty cool stuff that I had a chance to pause and write down. I hope to tape a repeat of Annie Modesitt's visit to the show. She showed a needleless cable technique that I haven't quite figured out from the two times I watched the show. It may be simpler than I'm making it but I still haven't mastered the technique. Oh well, that is why I stock the cable needles.

Speaking of HL - it is pretty sad when you stop by the needle/accessory dept and you can't think of or see anything that you need.

Starting a new book - Nero Wolfe Three Men Out by Rex Stout. I have never read a Nero Wolfe book and I'm branching out a little. I inherited this from a coworker and since it is a quick read, it'll be gobbled up. A few months ago, I drastically reduced the amount of reading material in my personal library. I had to since I was giving up the huge entertainment center in exchange for the tiny one owned by DD. I got rid of things I'd already read and things that I was just forcing myself to read since I wanted them off the shelf. Life is too short for what I put myself through. Out they went to a freecycler. Yes, I still kept a list of them in case guilt sat on my shoulders. Some were eliminated from the list via library audio books. I have a few books I need to read that came from middle daughter. She wants them back so I need to get with the program.

I did just a tiny bit on the Wheeling Willy so nothing to show for it yet. I'm going to have that as my work project and the socks as my home project. That was the goal of knocking out the list of progress bars. I'm there and bored. Maybe once I get these finished, it'll be worth the punishment. Yeah, I'm pretty hard on myself.

I'm back to working on Wheeling Willy for DGB. I still have quite a ways to go on it but it is a pretty small project. I'll try and keep the status bar updated as I move along. Perhaps a picture of it at some point this week.

Health update: finished the mega antibiotic last night and taking the decongestant. The ear is still causing the same amount of discomfort - I'm hoping it'll ease up today.

I started the next library book: Night by Elie Wiesel. As I mentioned before, I've read one of his other books. This'll be a quick one since there are only approx 120 pages and I think I'm in the 30s. Pretty good for only an evening.

And here is the quote from Ireland that tells of my true personality:

Had to go back to the doctor today ---- thought it might be an ear infection. Awww, no, I guess this body shall never feel an ear infection. If this is even close to the pain, I'll pass and let others have those. The doc gave me a decongestant/expectorant for fluid in the right ear (no pain there) and a blocked eustacian tube on the left. Yes, the dregs of strep are still trying to hold onto me. And for those of you wondering, I did head to work after the appointment.

I finished the book! If you have a few days to spare, RUN and get that book. Borrow it from the library, buy it at a half-price store - whatever it takes, read it. This book is being added to my very short list of books I love most. DB Don must add this to his list to read. My next posting (if I remember) will quote a line of the book that pertains to how I view life.

I've hit the middle of the book and I still wholeheartedly endorse you taking the time to read.

Today is a wonderful day - we're heading to see a house this afternoon. A house for DD! It is a little, fixer-upper but hey, we all have to start somewhere. I'm hoping it is rough but not rough enough to where we have to walk away. There are some slightly rough neighborhoods in our town but nothing I would ever be scared to live in or walk through. The posse keeps the hoodlums held down pretty tight. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Looking forward to the weekend - the house is already cleaned up so I should be able to knock out that list of "extra" cleaning that always needs attention. Yeah, like dusting. I don't know why I hate dusting. I just need to grab the goods and as DB Don says, "do it." GB has baseball try outs tomorrow and Angela (from Curves where fatgirl works out) has a CD release party. Two things that I should attend. I also hope to hit some g. sales. Yeah, I need a little g. sale love.

Do the Psoriasis ads in the coupon inserts bother anyone besides me? The ads show these gory pictures of before and after. Yeah, I sympathize but I don't really care to see it. Would they like me to post pics of before and after my bout with strep? I could scare them into not stopping the ads - twust me.