Frugal Friday

CVS

Spent $6.73
Saved $8.12

Walgreens

Spent $14.21
Saved $9.12

Giant Eagle

Spent $75.86
Saved $13.26

#13 way to change the world

No, you're not going crazy. I've changed the #13 way to change the world. I had to when I saw this...(be careful about clicking the link if you have a weak stomach)...
IFAW Hunt Watch 2009: First stage closes - nearly 20,000 seals killed

The Canadian government has sanctioned the hunt of 280,000 seal pups...for pelts.

Seriously?!?! Seriously?!?! I can't type with enough force to express my disgust at this.

And then I found Marcelo Hoynowski's website and I just had to do...something.

Suggestions for making a difference...

1. Write a letter to save a seal or two!
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Send letters to the following persons and indicate how displeased you are with this slaughter:
Prime Minister's Office
Right Honorable Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington St. Ottawa
Ontario, Canada K1A OA2
1-613-992-4211
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

The Hon. Loyola Hearn.
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons
Suite 648-S, Centre Block
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
613-996-3085 or 613-992-3474
Fax: 613-996-6988
Email: HearnL@parl.gc.ca
Voice: 613-992-0927

2. Sign a Petition to the Canadian Prime Minister , Mr. Harper.
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Sign petitions urging the Canadian government to reconsider its stance on this senseless slaughter.

3. Make a donation to IFAW and help to "Spread The Word " about the Canadian Seal Hunt.
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Learn more about Seals and consider donating or joining organizations that are rallying to end the seal hunt.

To learn more about IFAW’s efforts to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt, visit www.stopthesealhunt.org .

Partylite party

If you'd like to order any Partylite candles, please let me know.

(blink blink)

Sam: Mom, when the dinosaurs all died, where did people come from?

Me: (sound of my brain exploding)



One thing I know for certain...I am completely and totally inadequate as a parent. And it's a very good thing we're going to the library this afternoon.

Remembering Nicolas

Wishing peace and love to Catherine today (and every day).

Baby sweater

For my niece who is due to be born very soon...

A hat to match is in the works.

She knows I know

When Myles was still tiny and needed to be carried to and from the van in the infant carrier, I would sometimes haul out the stroller for the short walk from the school parking lot into the school to pick Sam up in the afternoons. I saw the looks the other mothers gave as they clearly had forgotten how heavy those damn things can be, particularly when baby reaches the upper weight limit. I felt awkward and chalked it up as one of those things mothers do to one another when they have the luxury of a high horse to sit on.

The other day I passed a mother on my way out of the school. I don't know her, but from seeing her at pickup every day, I'd guess her baby is about six months old now. She's generally pretty friendly and smiles or says hello (as I do with her). On this particular day, her baby wasn't with her as she rushed into the school. In the back of my mind, I suppose I thought this was odd because her baby is always with her. Maybe I unconsciously knew something was off before I saw it...I can't be sure. But as I walked past her SUV to get to my van, I saw something move in the back seat. She had left her baby in the car alone. I turned around in shock, to see mom scurrying out the door with her older child in tow. Her eyes locked with mine for only a second before she looked to the ground and her cheeks blushed red. And suddenly there I was, sitting on that high horse of my own.

I know it was only a minute...two at most. I know we all know one another by sight (even if not enough to say hello) and we can identify each other's vehicles. I know we live in a small town where people are generally trustworthy (except for, ya know, the guy who chopped up another guy and is currently on trial for murder). But...

The truth is, I can't help but think how some days I would have loved to leave Myles strapped in the van rather than lugging him into the school...but never did. Tired and self-conscious...I just never did. I compare her to myself even though I know how unfair that can be.

She's always carrying that infant carrier when I see her now. But there is no eye contact or acknowledgment whatsoever. I suppose I can live with that.

Where do you park a high horse these days anyway?

World Water Week

March 22-28

$1 can provide a child clean drinking water for 40 days

What is the Tap Project?

In 2007, the Tap Project was born in New York City based on a simple concept: restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free, and all funds raised would support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

Growing from just 300 New York City restaurants in 2007 to over 2,300 across the country in 2008, the Tap Project has quickly grown into a national movement. Restaurants, corporations, volunteers, advertising agencies, community groups, local governments and everyday diners participated to save millions of children’s lives.

During World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009, the Tap Project will once again raise vital donations and awareness for UNICEF’s water and sanitation programs. For every dollar raised, a child will have clean drinking water for 40 days. All funds raised support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.
UNICEF’s Role

UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the goal of reaching zero preventable deaths. Currently, UNICEF provides access to safe water and sanitation facilities while promoting safe hygiene practices in more than 90 countries. By 2015, UNICEF's goal is to reduce the number of people without safe water and basic sanitation by 50 percent.

Miscellaneous thoughts

A cub scout mother approached Steve at this week's meeting to let him know that you can request teachers in Sam's elementary school and we should really request Mrs. Gray for second grade, "because Sam is very intelligent and needs challenged." While I'm grateful for the information, I'm wondering exactly what prompted this sharing. We don't really know her at all so she must be somehow otherwise aware of our current first grade nightmare...which makes me nervous.
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I found a "new loss blog" the other day and the author was talking about her latest visit to her OB. Trying to be reassuring, he apparently told her "lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice." I felt like I'd been doused with a bucket of ice water. I wanted to scream...I still want to scream.
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I haven't been to the cemetery in a very long time.
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Myles has new shoes and will be visiting the toddler room for the first time today.
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I was invited to join the Animal Protective League Board of Directors a couple months ago. I became a member on my birthday. Since then, there has been some drama. Old school versus new school kind of stuff...or so I was told. Some people resigned and one person was voted off (I abstained because I had no clue what was going on). Now it seems there are some organizational problems (you know, little things, like following the law)...and my appointment may not hold up.

This comes on the heels of last week's drama involving Sam's t-ball coach. There was a disagreement between coaches last year. It was quiet and did not disturb anyone. Then one coach lies about Sam's coach, saying there was cursing and screaming and yelling...and since he's a member of the Little League Board of Directors, he proposes not allowing Sam's coach to coach at all this year. Now, if it weren't for this guy, Sam would have lasted exactly one practice. So there were review forms to fill out and a meeting to attend...blah, blah, blah.

You know what I would like? For just one freaking thing to be EASY! This is why people get tired of other people and move to a compound in the woods to write their manifesto.
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Myles' first word, not quite properly enunciated...kitty-cat. He is also toying with...uh-oh and doggy (or Daisy...which is the name of one of the dogs...I can't tell which it will end up being).
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Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby Saturday. Please keep your fingers crossed that Sam has a good time and doesn't pitch a fit when he doesn't win. That boy has such unrealistic expectations sometimes...combined with my temper...it's a lethal combination.
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The Spring Interweave Crochet magazine is out! As is the new Crochet! Must get to the store to buy these ASAP!
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What should I plant in my garden this year? I want fresh veggies.
Tomatoes
Peppers
Peas
Lettuce
Pumpkin
Cucumbers?
Zucchini?
Is it too late to sow seeds indoors?
I've got to get moving!
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Ever see the 1984 Michael Crichton movie, Runaway, with Tom Selleck?

This creeps me out.
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I've read Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. I enjoyed them and I am anxious to read Breaking Dawn. OK...so it's not like I'm reading classics...but I'm READING again...so that's something. And there is still a part of me that wants to believe in fairy tales...true love...happily ever after...

Stop laughing!
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St. Patrick's Day recap

Rockin' the Irish shirts...



So what does a good Irish family eat for St. Patrick's Day?

Why, grapes, of course!

A cheeseburger named The Olde English (doesn't he just look thrilled?).

In an effort to be multicultural...the Chef prepared dinner for the boys...

And I, of the "deported from Ireland" heritage...had this deliciousness...

Hey, it's all about whatever fun you make!

I just want to celebrate

Happy last day of winter!

Let the garden planning commence!

My new theme song

It Happens (by Sugarland)

Missed my alarm clock ringing
Woke up, telephone screaming
Boss man singing his same old song

Rolled in late about an hour
No cup of coffee, no shower
Walk of shame with two different shoes on

Now it's poor me, why me, oh me, boring
The same old worn out blah, blah story
There's no good explanation for it at all

Ain't no rhyme or reason
No complicated meaning
Ain't no need to over think it
Let go, laughing
Life don't go quite like you planned it
We try so hard to understand it
The irrefutable, indisputable fact is
Pshhhhh, it happens

My trusty rusty had a flat
I borrowed my neighbors Cadillac
"I'll be right back," going down to Wally World
That yellow light turned red too quickly
Knew that truck the moment it hit me
Out stepped my ex and his new girl
("Sorry 'bout your neck baby")

But it's poor me, why me, oh me, boring
The same old worn out blah,blah story
There's no good explanation for it at all

Ain't no rhyme or reason
No complicated meaning
Ain't no need to over think it
Let go, laughing
Life don't go quite like you planned it
We try so hard to understand it
The irrefutable, indisputable fact is
It happens

Ain't no rhyme or reason
No complicated meaning
Ain't no need to over think it
Let go, laughing
Life don't go quite like you planned it
We try so hard to understand it
The irrefutable, indisputable fact is

Yeah, the irrefutable, indisputable, absoluteable, totally beautiful fact is
Pshhhhh, it happens

(It's peppy too! Makes me wanna dance!)

They're plotting to kill me...or drive me insane

It started off simply enough yesterday.

"Mom, what's that path over there?" Sam asked as we left the post office.

"That's the bike path."

"Can we ride our bikes there today?"

"Not today...how about tomorrow?"

"Great...right after school?"

"Sure thing."

This morning I asked my husband to load Sam's bike and his bike up in the van (I do not own a bike of my own). He seemed eager to help (I should have immediately suspected something sinister).

All day I had horrible daydreams about the myriad of ways I could kill myself on a bicycle. See, I haven't been ON a bicycle in...oh...14 years or so (except for the time I tried Steve's bike at my parents last year and discovered my "healed" ankle hurt immensely when pedaling...not to mention the pain-inducing seat up my butt). I imagined trees and sharp turns and falling down ravines into streams. My nerves were shot by the end of the day, but I soldiered on and resigned myself to life in a body cast beginning before sundown.

I unloaded the bikes and Sam was ready to go go go! I hopped on my bike and pedaled a good three or four times to try to get up some speed to catch up to him. And that is when the fun really began. I turned the handlebars just fine. Trouble was, they weren't tightened onto the front wheel and there was no steering resulting from my efforts. And while they didn't actually come off in my hands, the result was pretty much the same as if I were riding a bike with completely unattached handlebars in my hands. Except if I were riding a bike with completely unattached handlebars in my hands, I would be aware of their inability to steer. This was a complete surprise...and not a good one.

So I tried to stop. HA! The brakes didn't work!

So what does any fat mama who hasn't been on a bike in 14 years do in such a situation? Why...fall over as gracefully as possible. Hey...it worked. I stopped.

So...I call my husband and ask him if he had checked the bicycle before loading it in the van this morning. What do you think he said?

"Oh no! It must have come loose during the winter. But everything seemed ok this morning when I loaded it in the van."

"Did you actually sit on it and try it?"

(crickets chirping)

"You should only need a crescent wrench to tighten it down."

"And is there a crescent wrench in the van?"

"I don't think so." (There wasn't)

So we pack everything up and head home to find a crescent wrench.

This is a crescent wrench...

This is an allen wrench...

That's all I will say.

So after an hour of trying to find the right tool, deciding to add air to the tires, and fixing the brakes myself (heck yeah, I'm superwoman!), we discovered the air pump we have does not work (leaving the tire completely flat). So...we headed off to find an air pump.

The first and third place didn't have air pumps. The second place had one, but there was a quarter jammed in the machine and it wouldn't work. Upon making this discovery, Sam and I just started to laugh hysterically. The universe obviously did not want us to go for a bike ride. At the fourth place, clear across town, we finally found an air pump that worked! Fifty cents for two minutes of air...highway robbery...but we were desperate at that point. Three attempts and one dollar later (yeah, do the math and laugh...you try to get an auto air pump in between the spokes of a child's bike without giving yourself a blast of air in the face...and just as you have it situated the darn thing runs out of time...more than once), we had a decent amount of air in the tire and Sam had learned a whole new colorful vocabulary.

Next stop, the drivethru. Let me say this...chicken nuggets and green ice cream do a lot to soothe the irritated St. Patrick's Day bicycling soul.

Two and a half hours after initially setting out, we finally hit the trail.

Ever bicycled with a six year old?

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

We made it .7 miles one direction before I lost patience and made him turn back.

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

Pedal, pedal, pedal, stop.

I walked my bike most of the way because I couldn't take it.

We made it back to the van, loaded up the bikes, and Steve and Myles pulled into the parking lot.

You know how they say no good deed goes unpunished?

"I want to ride home with Daddy!"

A good cry later, I cranked the radio and decided to boycott cooking tonight, in favor of corned beef and cabbage from the local family restaurant.

Tonight I go to bed with a butt cheeks, work roughened hands, sore thighs, and major abdominal gas pains. But Steve also now knows the difference between a crescent wrench and an allen wrench...and I can fix bicycle brakes.

And I'm still alive. HA! I win!

#11 way to change the world

In honor of Lucy and her amazing mama, Rachel...

Each day, the staff of Cincinnati Children’s brings hope and healing to sick and injured children. In every building, on every floor, miracles are happening.

You can make an impact in the life of a sick child simply by making a gift to Cincinnati Children’s. In these uncertain economic times, there is no greater investment you can make than in the health of our children.

Click here to explore ways to give.

$6.05

$16.65 saved.

Miscellaneous thoughts

Please don't get your hopes up. Even though I didn't get to Miscellaneous Thoughts last week, I don't have too much insight this week either.
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Happy Friday the 13th!
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I've fallen behind on my self portrait/photos and my Photo Fridays. I have to break out the camera and really get busy some time this weekend. I should be able to squeeze in a few shots between the APL mall grand-reopening, shopping and lunch with mom, my soon-to-be-sister-in-law's baby shower, and an APL meeting of the Board of Directors. The last time I had a weekend this busy planned, I got the flu. I hope that doesn't happen this time, since Steve's been sick this week with it.
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Myles need shoes in order to move up to the toddler room at daycare. There are so many things about this that I am just not ready for, not the least of which is the fact that I had no idea there were so many cute shoe choices for babies! Sam had one pair of shoes when he was that age...and only because I wanted him to wear them in a portrait (yes, I know, my motivations are all weird). We tried that pair on Myles since they are practically new...and they are already too small! So I must find him a new pair (or a decent pair on ebay). Not that I mind shopping, of course. And really...little baby shoes with dinosaurs on them...how freaking cute is that?!?!
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I wonder why people post things like, "We have to finish our conversation," or, "See you at 3pm," on Facebook. Is it a status thing? To let the rest of us know that you are a closer friend than we are? Are you establishing an internal ranking of friend status? Well...stop it. It annoys me.
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While I'm talking to people who annoy me...
Dear well-built man in a nice warm winter coat and boots getting out of a big Ford truck parked in the spot right near the grocery door...thank you for taking the last close parking space and insuring that I would have to hike...in my impractical heels...from halfway across the parking lot...in the freezing rain...carrying a wiggly toddler in my arms. You must be related to the other guy that does the same thing at my older son's elementary school every.single.day. Who says chivalry is dead?
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Telephone tree

Good news! Word is that Steve's mom's heart cath went well and she should be able to go home tomorrow.

Oh my!

On the heels of my last school post, I get this note today...

No...it's not a joke. This is the actual note (with the name blocked out to protect the not-so-innocent).

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

It's elementary

I thought I was nuts. Making a mountain out of a mole-hill, as my dad might say. But Sam brought home his report card yesterday and I'm just so confused that I think it's pointless to even worry about it anymore.

In the notes section, it says, "Thank you for attending parent conferences. There has been a marked improvement in Sam's behavior." In the columns specifically concerning behavior, where Sam received check marks last time (indicating "needs improvement"), he now received check minuses with "better" noted beside the check minuses. Huh? If a check mark indicates "needs improvement" what does a check minus indicate? and what does a check minus with a "better" next to it mean?

I swear...I never thought first grade would be so difficult...for me. lol!

Somebody please pass the secret decoder ring. Thanks!
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Along the same storyline...I have to tell you about a conversation I had the other day shortly after the parent conference that concerned me so much.

I was talking about my concerns with one of the secretaries in the criminal office (who I consider a friend) when one of the other secretaries who sits behind her said, "It's not Ms. C----, by any chance is it?"

I said, "Uh...(hesitating)...yes it is...why?"

This other secretary rolls her eyes as she says, "Oh, she's just a b****!"

"Why do you say that?" I asked (of COURSE I asked...unsolicited strong comments like this always make me ask!).

The other secretary starts with, "She should NOT be teaching little kids. She has absolutely no skills for dealing with them." But that wasn't all...she went on to tick off three additional points on the fingers of her right hand, "My three little cousins were in her class and learned next to nothing. She has no control over the class and she has no idea how to relate to little kids. She should be teaching fifth grade or older, for sure."

At least I know I'm not totally crazy.

news from the phone tree

Steve's mom had abdominal surgery two weeks ago and followed it up Tuesday night with a heart attack. She is now in the hospital for a heart catheterization, which will take place today at 3pm.

Thank you Catherine!

You are awesome! And I will gladly be your dysfunctional yarn codependent!

Seriously...thank you! I will let you know how I do with the hook.

Welcome to the world Baby Eli!

At 9:07am, Choofy Mama posted the sweetest words...

Eli

Safe and sound

Congratulations to the entire family!

Yay Lucy!

I know a bunch of us were waiting for the news...and it came...Lucy did great!

I know Rachel is waiting to breathe her sigh of relief for when the rough part of recovery is over. She has always been an awesome mama to Lucy and I know she will get through this part with her typical Rachel style and grace. But if you could please keep her in your thoughts and prayers...I know it would mean a lot.

Yay Lucy!

Identity crisis

After seeing myself tagged as "the grumpy one" on a facebook wall photo, I'm having a bit of an identity crisis. Is that how people see me? grumpy?

I'll be the first to admit I'm no Mary Sunshine. And I do have my grandmother's and mother's quick Polish temper. But for some reason I hate the idea that I'm considered grumpy. And so I've been finding it hard to write here.

I know I often share online when there is (or I perceive there is) no other outlet. So this place has become my mental dumping ground. I am most prolific here when I have something I need to work out...some emotion I need to process. When I'm quiet, it means things are going well and I'm happy. I guess that doesn't do much for my image, does it?

I promise...I smile and laugh...and I'm reasonably loveable.

I swear. :o) <---do cheesy emotes help my image?

***Totally editing this to TRY to fix my obvious failings at communication (and quite possibly friendship).***
I am not, nor was I offended by the tagging. I love this person dearly (as much as you can love someone you've never actually met in person). And I do not think she is rude or wrong or anything nasty. It was intended in jest and I took it that way. But for some reason, I just started to think about it (you know what they say...every joke has a nugget of truth to it). This was an honest thought-provoking moment for me. My brain took the train of thought and ran with it. I don't want any hurt feelings over this. Mine certainly weren't hurt...I actually came up with a pretty good smart-a$$ retort that I was oddly proud of (I usually think of good comebacks way too late to be effective). But I digress...

I am resetting the comments here now because I obviously gave the wrong impression with my original post.

And I know why I don't want people to characterize me as grumpy. Daddy issues. Don't need expensive therapy to figure that out. Sadly, I just needed a little reassurance from strangers (since so few people I actually know in real life seem to read here). Yeah...I know...I've got more than just Daddy issues. blah!

Remembering Thomas

I can not wish a happy birthday to a little boy today who should be four years old.

Instead, I can only look at his picture and just keep wishing, "Just breathe...just move...just cry. Your mama is so amazing and I know it would make her so happy."

But I know the ending to this story was already written four years ago. "Once upon a time" and "the end" tied together in a knot that can not be untied by any force in this life.

So I hope there is peace wherever he is. Because his absence (and the absence of so many others) leaves little peace for us...

...mothers who look at photos and long for the impossible.

#10 way to change the world

This week I was involved in the pre-construction meeting for the development of a bike trail between two nice park areas along the Lake Erie shore. It will be a very nice project when completed that I will personally use. So along those lines, this week's charity is the Trust for Public Land.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.

Click here to explore ways to support TPL.

just...wow

Want to know just how much less women make than men?

Today's revelation

It has taken me four years to figure out why I always feel depressed after my birthday. At first I thought it was just seasonal...lack of sun...too much cold...etc. But today it hit me that my birthday is the end of our family's very long holiday season. I make it all the way through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and then my birthday in a relatively good mood. But after my birthday, the only thing looming on the calendar to "look forward to" is May 8th. And then May 11th (I'm not so much about Easter because the whole re-birth theme just makes me queasy and irritable.).

Maybe I'd do better if I made more out of St. Patrick's Day in March and then Earth Day in April?

I just don't know.

ANOTHER favor

This one is EASY.

Help Joe Frazz win his dream photographic assignment and help the animals at the same time!

CLICK HERE (Edit: Revised Easier Link)

Sign up

Log in

Click the Pic It box to the left of the description/entry by Joe.

This is the most important step, other than registering:

If you don't click the: Pic It box, it will not register & be counted.

Malley's Easter chocolates

Sam is selling Malley's Easter chocolates for a school fundraiser. If you would like to look at his personal webpage (and possibly order so he can meet his $150 goal to earn a ticket to Cedar Point Amusement Park), drop me an email. Provided I know who you are, I will send you the link.

Sale goes until April 6th.

Shipping is probably not available out of the USA, but I don't know for sure.

Entertainment Tonight

Him: "You know what's so great about the octo-mom story?"

Me: "Uh...(do I really want to ask?)...no...(ok...I just have to know)...what?"

Him: "At least now Entertainment Tonight isn't harping on fat people anymore."

Need your help

I need help coming up with a catchy/funny/semi-interesting team name for my fantasy baseball team.

Yes...it is true...I participate in fantasy baseball. Though, honestly, "participate" is a word used very loosely...since my team generally ends up somewhere in the neighborhood of last place.

Did you see it?

Texas NILMDTS Photographer, Amber Augustin, was featured on the 3/1/09 episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

I missed it so hopefully I can watch it online sometime this week.

Miscellaneous thoughts

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I'm a little late with Miscellaneous Thoughts for last week for all kinds of crazy reasons, not the least of which is the 24+ hour flu bug I caught...just in time for my Pampered Chef party Friday night. I hostessed from the next room so as not to infect any of my guests. Hey...I'm just THAT classy.
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I appreciate all your kind comments to my vent about Sam's teacher. I promise I'm not going to hurt her or anything.

I guess I'm feeling particularly fragile as signs of spring start to show up and I know what's around the corner emotionally for me. I guess I'm just not equipped to deal particularly well with stress right now.

The teacher found the form for day 2 of the great communication experiment. Yay her!

Sam did well on Day 2. Yay Sam!

When I picked Sam up on Day 3, he took one look at me and burst into tears. This is NOT what I was going for. And no, I don't give a rat's ass how good it may be for Sam's future Ivy League education.

I hugged him and just asked, "Not a good day, huh?" Between the sobs, I was able to decipher the story...the math pages were so hard he was only able to get one half done...and he didn't even get to start his other worksheets. But he was not put out into the hall for talking. So I assume (which he confirms) that he tried his best but just had a hard time with the lesson that day.

The thing that bothers me is that he came home with the half-completed math page and one un-started math page and two un-started english/writing pages. If the teacher is teaching to the middle of the road...if she is teaching to the LOW side of the road...why was my kid left floundering on the first page? and what is going on in that class that multiple lessons (in different subjects) pile up while my kid is floundering on the first page? Should he have finally qualified for her attention when it was clear he was stumped? These are just some questions I have.
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My husband heard a noise "dragging under his car." He drove to McDonald's anyway (and back home). His right rear tire was flat. Luckily, no bent rims...and he needed new tires on the back anyway.
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When Steve and I were briefly considering international adoption, we were strangely attracted to European Adoption Consultants. Then we ran into their Memorial Weekend at the zoo while there for Sam's birthday...two years running. It's as if...I just can't say it because it makes me laugh anymore...but you know...the universe was sending us a sign or something. (insert hysterical laughter here) But anyway, we've always been attracted to this particular agency for some reason. If we were ever to adopt internationally, I'm sure this is who we would go through.

Imagine my surprise Sunday morning to find this article on the front page of our local paper. And then checking out the website and seeing the hope themed video.

I KNOW! Please tell the universe I'm listening...I'm just not sure exactly what the message is supposed to be other than odd coincidence. Adoption? Crafting like Margaret Cole's mother? Donating for the babies in the New Hope orphanage?

But I do know that at this point I want to highlight that I will be using EAC as one of my causes this year. So many adoption agencies closed up shop in Guatemala when it became impossible to operate there. But not Margaret Cole and EAC. I am so impressed by her committment to the children that I want to help in any way I can. And hey...she's a hometown gal too! Keep an eye out for more information on this worthy cause probably as the #10 way to change the world.
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My hand healed after I finished the afghan project. Definitely need to find non-metal crochet hooks now. *sigh* This getting old business is weird.

So hookers...what kind of hooks do you like that aren't metal (or plastic...I hate plastic)...that won't put me in the poorhouse?
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Gotta go do some work so I don't have to take a full sick day off!
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Thank you Meg!

The lovely Meg revealed herself as my Secret Pal for the SP13 swap with this fabulous package! I can not wait to try my hand at some crocheted socks (I dare not even attempt knitted socks...can you just imagine?)!



Thank you so much Meg! You were an awesome pal and I can't thank you enough for all the delicious goodies!