Update

Oh dear - I have not written in so long! I am starting a new job (still at KP) soon - that's my big news. I think it's going to be really great - I love the people I'm working with. It's in a totally new area though - union compensation - so I'm afraid I'll be struggling this first year. Oh well - it's nice to have a change.

Jeff is doing great - he gave us a bit of a scare last month with a brain hemorrhage. Luckily, it was a one-time freak occurrence. Now he is back to his normal, swimming in-the-bay self.

Erik is doing well at high school, playing tennis, and enjoying the football season. He told me the other day, when I tried to tell him that football isn't everything, that no, football is a way of life. Okay! Set me straight.

Rachel is also doing fine, playing the piano and singing with the SF Girls Chorus. Sometimes she wishes she had more down-time, but she is not willing to give anything up. Sixth grade is demanding, with all the homework. She takes it very seriously. I am trying to get her to knit, but so far have not had much luck. Maybe Aunt Aileen will do better!

I'm finishing up some socks for Uncle Stan - my first time with 2 colors. Other than that, I did finish a baby surprise jacket for my cousin's baby coming next month. That was a lot of fun!

Oh dear - I can't remember how to add a picture, and I've got to get dinner on the table. Next time!

Rachel Graduates

Rachel graduated from 5th grade yesterday - she looked so grown up! It's going to feel funny not going to Joaquin Miller Elementary School any more - it's a great school and a very nice community. The school put on a very nice slide show depicting all the 5th graders throughout the year, and they even made a DVD for each kid. It's nice since the kids will be splitting up now and going to different middle schools. Rachel did very well in the ceremony; we are very proud parents!

Afterwards a large group of us went to a pool to cool off - it has been so hot! We have no air conditioning (since we only get about 4 weeks of hot weather during the year), so right now it is 81 degrees in the house! Good thing we have plenty of ice cream in the freezer. I reached in to make myself a bowl, and I just stood there with the door open. Boy, did that feel good!

My knitting has not gotten very far, I'm afraid. It's slow going anyway, and a few rows on a sock does not amount to much! I'm taking a class tomorrow at Article Pract on knitting a tank top - that should go much faster. Have I prepared for this class? Do my cats clean up their fur balls? I should I try to run down there on my lunch hour tomorrow so I can at least have a swatch made before the class. Then I could actually knit on the project during the class. Wouldn't that be nice?

On the Web and Sharkfest

Hi! A big relief, I'm on the web and picture turned out decent. I am holding Stephanie's traveling sock - it goes with her on tour:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/06/09/this_is_a_bit_of_a_mess.html

And other big news! Jeff survived his "Sharkfest" swim! He swam this morning from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park with no wet suit in 37 minutes, 50 seconds! We are all very proud, and Jeff is very happy he made it. Not so Erik: Jeff promised him his iPod if he didn't survive. Let's see, Nano or Jeff? I'll take Jeff.

Last night was Rachel's concert with the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Rachel sang very well, in spite of Grandpa making funny faces at her. She graduates from elementary school this Tuesday - after that, things will start to slow down. Whew!

I've started knitting a new sock of my own, and bought yarn at the Knitterly for two more scarves and two more pairs of socks. I also bought a book on Christmas Stockings - they look like a lot of fun! But can I get at least two done by Christmas? Thankfully, they are on big needles! I wish I had more time to knit - I get in about an hour a day.

Tonight, last episode of the Sopranos. That is definitely not TV knitting!

Busy, busy, busy...

It's hard to knit, raise kids, entertain friends, play tennis and work all at the same time. I've decided to keep a blog to keep in touch, since I am unable to write letters even though I think about it all the time. I really want to keep in touch, so I'm going to give this a shot.

Yesterday was my birthday (47 years young). It was also the day the Yarn Harlot came to Petaluma - what a stroke of luck! Aileen (my sister) reserved us spaces at the bookstore and got us a room at a local hotel. We drove up with my mom, and had a very nice lunch in Sonoma at The Girl and the Fig - I highly recommend it! The best grilled cheese sandwich I ever had! Then we drove back to Petaluma, took a nice nap (maybe I am getting old) and headed out to Copperfields to wait. We got there an hour and a half early, but the place was already 3/4 full. I heard later that 275 people showed up - a record for Copperfields!


The Yarn Harlot was great! She is so funny and so engaging. There was such a long line after her talk that we did not get our books signed until 10:00 pm or so. It felt very late since we did not eat any dinner. Totally worth it though! Thank goodness my friend Wendy gave me a goody basket for the trip as a present. When we got back to our room we devoured most of the basket and had the rest for breakfast the next morning. (Our bed and breakfast, while very nice and very clean did not serve breakfast. Where is the truth in advertising law when you need it?)

Since it was my birthday, the Yarn Harlot will put a picture of me in her next blog posting - I'm very excited. Please let the picture be good! I hope I don't look like a chipmunk - it has happened before. Have you ever seen a 47 year old chipmunk? It isn't pretty! I gave her some Peets coffee as a present - I know she likes coffee, and it is very Bay Area. She got so excited when she saw the bags! I got her one bag of whole beans and one bag already ground in case her hotel rooms had coffee makers. She said she has been known to fashion coffee filters out of toilet paper when desperate! Her schedule is so hectic, I'm sure she will be in need of the brew for the entire trip.

This morning we went to the Knitterly, one of the prettiest yarn stores I have ever been in. It was huge, spacious and also very homey. It felt so comfortable and had a wonderful collection of yarn and books! It was making me wish we lived closer to Petaluma.

Then it was back home to catch Rachel's performance in the 5th grade talent show. She played piano while her friend Siena sang a song she wrote about graduation to middle school. It's a little sad since the kids split up a go to a lot of different schools. Rachel will be going to the public middle school next door, but many go to private schools, and one is even moving to Piedmont so he can be in a better school district. Yikes!

I'm still learning how to post pictures, and I forgot my camera over the weekend. Luckily Aileen had her's, so I will post those pictures later. Look for me in the YH's blog!