Nice Break From Reality

My husband and I went to our friends' wedding on Sanibel Island over Memorial Day weekend. I love destination weddings--every time I go to one I want to get married all over again. The event was absolutely beautiful...we watched our friends get married on the beach, and then we had a sunset dinner and drinks under the palm trees. I left my camera at home (actually I just couldn't find it) so I had to buy a disposable--which only gave me a few pics I was happy with. Here is a photo of their steel drum band. It really accented the location well.

Another great thing about destination weddings is that due to the typical smaller number of travelers, the bride and groom often include their guests in all of their activities. We were invited to attend a welcome party, the rehearsal dinner, wedding, and a "leftover cake and beer" party. And because you are attending so many events with a smaller group, you get a chance to visit with people and get to know the couple's families.

The bride is a graphic artist--and I really enjoy her work. The wedding was a masterpiece-she designed everything from the usual invitations and programs along with any other item on paper: guest book, table cards, napkins--even the wrapping paper they put family and attendants' gifts in. You can see pictures of everything that give more detail on her blog.

So, if they happen upon it, this is my "thank you" post for a most enjoyable getaway. I wish nothing but the best for the happy couple.

Cute Things Make Me Swear

I have this thing that my friends call "Cute-tetts" which basically describes my need to swear whenever I see a cute puppy or kitten. When I walked in to the pet store and first met our current dog, Felix, I dropped the F-bomb, loudly...and in front of a daycare field trip.

I think the reason for this is that the degree of cuteness of some furry creatures is too much for my rational mind to handle, and I cannot come up with a word to fully describe the cuteness--so I swear, like a sailor.

This picture of our new puppy, Jenna, was sent to me today. She is six and a half weeks old and we pick her up from the breeder on Sunday.

F***!

Fainting Goat Syndrome

Hello to all my faithful (or accidental) readers. I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted. I really admire those people who just are so diligent with their blogging. It seems as though I go through these phases where absolutely nothing gets done. This current one has been lasting a while.

Where I work, we call this the "fainting goat syndrome". Basically, this occurs when you have so much to do that you just think about everything you have to do and where to start--and you get so overwhelmed that you just freeze (or fall over). I am not sure of the accuracy of this comparison, but it always makes me laugh. So that is where I have been with everything--work, knitting, keeping in touch. I just need to flip on over and get my groove on!

Here is an example of how silly this gets. Last July I went to visit my friend Maria who had just moved to Columbus, Ohio. I ordered her this cute little water carafe thing from Tiffany's (which is my fave housewarming gift because it is cheap enough to go in on with friends and still comes in the coveted blue box). Well, it didn't arrive in time to bring with me on the trip, and now, nine months later it still sits in my dining room waiting to be mailed. And it has been so long now that I feel dumb mailing it to her-but I know I have to. I think I am more of a comatose goat versus a fainting one in this example...

So, in the next week or so, I plan to get in a groove with my blog too. I especially need to post some knitting pictures (since this was the point of the blog to begin with and I don't want to be a poser). We'll see how it goes.

OK, enough of explaining myself. Off I go to mail my cousin's graduation card. He graduated in December, so I'm not too far off on this one...

Another Person's Junk...

So, now that my brother and sister and I have been out of the house for a number of years, my parents are finally going through and clearing out all of our stuff. HOWEVER, since they refuse to believe anything is junk--they want to give us one last chance to claim anything before they throw it away. My dad had the idea that he would take pictures of everything, and send it to us via a photo share program. So, every once in a while, I open up my email and see a photo album (the most recent containing 107 photos) of things that look like this:

Hmm...somehow the idea of using that dust encrusted coffee pot doesn't excite me. And I don't think it has automatic grind...

I seem to remember my little sister's high school boyfriend winning her this bear...thank god she didn't stay with him.

And really Mom and Dad...do you really think any of us would want this? Why don't we hang it up in my five year old niece's room? Did someone in my family actually like this movie so much as to buy the poster?Hmmm...what other dark family secrets will be revealed as my parents go room by room? Stay tuned...

Compliment?

"I am so tired today, I feel like I got hit by a truck"

"It's not that bad, you only look like you got hit by a VW"

Meet the Pets

This is Felix. He is a ten-month-old Boston Terrier and is the light of my life. I never thought I wanted a dog. During lunch, my co-worker and I often visit a pet store by the office and would look at the cute little kittens and puppies (cheap therapy). Well, I walked in one day and saw this guy (3 pounds at the time, like in the top photo) and it was love at first sight. I had to have him. My DH and I call him our "Oops Puppy" because we weren't planning to have a puppy, but we did. He was part of a rescue litter-which makes me feel better about getting him at a pet store. I wanted him to stay little and cute--and almost considered feeding him coffee and cigarettes to stunt his growth (don't think I wouldn't). But since he is such a good little puppy, he decided to top out at about 12 pounds--which is perfect.
Hovering above Felix is one of the cats, Nina ("Beans"). Beans is a crabby old lady--very vocal. She has impressed me with her acceptance of Felix--she puts up a tough front but the two of them often end up cuddling on my lap (although she'd never admit it...)
And last, we have Abbie. She's also ten and quiet as a mouse. She hides out during the day, but will always spend the night sleeping on DH's chest. She pretty much agrees to disagree with Felix and Nina--which is why I think the two of them are so tolerant of each other. Abbie will get herself in the action once in a while--usually when she is pushed over the edge or feels like being aggressive.

I do sometimes feel guilty knowing that the Abbie and Nina don't get as much attention with Felix around. Every once in a while though, all three of them will come into the bed with my husband and I for a cuddle-fest (we call this the Full Family Cuddle). Those are the moments when I truly understand the expression of "having a warm heart..."

Hello to me

You appear to be a Knitting Apprentice. You've got the basics down pat and you might just be falling in love with this hobby. Big needles, funky yarns and simple shapes are the name of the game, but it doesn't mean you don't experiment a bit, here and there. As an apprentice, you probably fall back on other people to get you through those rough spots, and if you don't know anyone who knits, you probably have a few books or online sources to tap. http://marniemaclean.com/

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I thought this quiz result would be a good way to introduce myself to knitting Blogland. At first, I won't be posting any jaw-dropping photos of fancy knitting projects--but I hope that in a year or so (with your help) we will all be talking about how "little Mel has become quite the knitter". My decision to start a blog was inspired by all the knitting bloggers out there whose finished objects blow my socks off (however, these socks are not ones knit by my own hands, because I haven't attempted to knit any yet).

Throughout the next week or so, I will be posting some FO's already for 2007-and also some knitting and personal goals for myself--and other things to give you some insight into the "Mel behind the blog".