I LOVE These, and Pupper Wows

Look at that pile of green and white towelly goodness. No, I didn't make these; M did. Two were a Christmas present and the other two were just because I loved the first two so much.


Call me old fashioned, but I love a towel I can hang on the drawer handle right next to the sink for all my hand drying needs. Besides, it's an old fashioned kitchen (being in a 150+-year-old farmhouse), so the towels kinda go.

Pattern: Lacy Kitchen Towel, June 26, 2006 (our wedding anniversary) pattern from the Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar.
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton #33713, Key Lime Pie -- one 12oz ball made all four towels with enough left over for half a dishcloth
Hook: Susan Bates Silvalume H
Mods: She added a base row of double crochet in the chain before starting the pattern

And, I promise, really, that I will get Baby Surprise #4 assembled, really I will. It's probably my favorite of all the BSs that I've made this year.

In other news, Pupper went back to the shelter where we got him for a visit and to drop off some cat toys our two angels are above. (Oh, and to see about fostering kittens this spring since I'm currently home most of the day and able to oversee and correct kittenish behavior.) They were thrilled to see him, and none of them recognized him until they were told who it was. Not surprising considering the train wreck he was when we adopted him: shaved all over due to a bad skin infection, infections in both eyes, a terrible limp due to untreated arthritis, etc. It's a wonder we even adopted him, but there was just something there. And now he looks like a proper and handsome dog.

Yeah, I'm on the sofa -- what's it to you?

Warsh This

So, I succumbed. I made a warshrag. In fact, I made two for reasons which I will explain. Peaches & Creme isn't anything new for us; M has crocheted towels, dishcloths and potholders from it, but I haven't gone there until now.



Pattern: Ball Band Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting or the ball band of Peaches & Creme
Yarn: Peaches & Creme, #1, white and #205, gumdrops.
Needles: WEBS 9" bamboo #7
Mods: The larger cloth was made exactly according to the pattern; the smaller is actually only 33 stitches. When I finished the first cloth I realized it was waaay to large for my tiny hands to use for dishwashing, so it'll become a washcloth. The smaller one is exactly the right size for dishwashing for me.

Again, a pattern I fell in love with immediately. So simple, and so beautiful. And for me, so useful. Buying sponges can get pricey, and they just feel like breeding grounds for all kinds of bad stuff in the kitchen. With dishcloths, I can start afresh everyday with a clean cloth to wash the dishes. That makes me feel much better about my kitchen.

Numbers 5 and 6

Yep, two more baby surprise jackets. These are actually numbers 5 and 6 in the last year (4 is on the blocking board and will be assembled and sent on its way this week -- I promise myself and the mother).



Pattern: Again, Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket, available from Schoolhouse Press
Yarn: Hmmm, the white is Lamb's Pride Superwash, the pink and purple are more of those random balls of Filatura di Crosa 501 from the stash.
Needles: Susanne Ebony 36" 4.00mm (#6)
Mods: None

The recipients of these sweaters are actually a pair of twin girls. The stripe patterns on the two sweaters are identical, I just switched the colors around (mostly based on how much of each yarn I had). Two balls of the white, two of the pink, and one of the purple did both sweaters. The package will also contain two of these:



Pattern: Baby Bib O'Love from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Some lavender cotton with flecks of color on a cone from the stash. Any DK/Light worsted cotton will do.
Needles: Susanne Ebony 36" 4.00mm (#6) -- the first time I've ever used this needle for anything other than a baby surprise
Mods: None, it's a very simple pattern, and we will probably be making a few more in the coming months.

Pupper Plays

Our neighbor's 2-year-old black cocker spaniel, Ty, and Pupper have become the best of friends. They're an odd pair -- a 15-lb champion black cocker spaniel near-puppy and a geriatric 50-lb chocolate brown cockapoo -- but they have the best time romping together.

[A digression on Pupper's size: Yes, he is bigger than you expect for a cockapoo, but he is not fat. Since he's a stray, his species makeup is all just guesswork anyway. For a while after we got him, we were sure it was Sussex and not Cocker spaniel that gave him his decidedly spaniel (if decidedly larger than expected) look and build. Now, we're not sure. Perhaps the poodle in him (for, indeed, poodle there must be -- this dog has very thick curly hair) is standard and that was enough to make him as big as he is. Perhaps he's just a few generations out from his purebred ancestors. We'll never know, but I'm sick of cocker spaniel people calling my dog fat.]

Anyhoo, today Ty came over to ask Pupper to play and meet his new little brother, Snoopy, a 3-month-old parti-colored (tan and white) cocker spaniel puppy. Snoopy is adorable if a little skittish. Pupper loves other dogs, so he went full-bore to introduce himself to little Snoopy who got a little scared and started howling like he was being tortured -- I believe he even nipped at Pupper's nose. Even after his dad had picked him up, the poor little thing still sounded like his toenails were being ripped out one-by-one.

It took a couple of encounters and a couple of rescues (and some more nips at Pupper's nose) before Snoopy realized he was in no danger. Meanwhile, Pupper and Ty were enjoying every square inch of our back fields, running, marking, chasing, and generally behaving like dogs. I love seeing our dear Pupper enjoying himself with other dogs -- and the vet says the exercise is good for his joints.

Good for his joints, perhaps, but maybe trying to keep up with a 2-year-old was just a bit too much work. He hasn't really moved much since we brought him inside. Guess he's feeling his age this evening.

Pupper Balks

So, after near balmy temps just a couple of weeks ago, today it was, well, frigid. So frigid, in fact, that Pupper (who has been reveling in the colder weather lately) balked at going outside this morning. He went out, pooped, and turned for home -- M nearly had to drag him to the end of the driveway to retrieve the papers. You know it's cold when even the dog with the thick, dark, curly hair doesn't want to be outside.

It was such a cold, miserable day, in fact, that I made this weekend's soup (chicken noodle with vegetables) a day early. Since last night's chicken, combined with the frozen turkey carcass from a couple months ago, made a lot of stock, I also decided to have a warm option for M's after school snack (the veggies and dip she's been having the rest of week feeling just a bit too chilly). So, for your after school, after work, after sledding, simply want something warm and comforting pleasure, The Pastor's Wife's Simple, Fast, Guaranteed-to-Warm-You-Up Soup of Love:

Ingredients:
1 quart chicken stock (homemade is best, but at the very least it MUST be low- or non-fat and low salt)
1/2-lb mild (or hot -- your choice) Italian sausage
1 can white beans, drained
3/4 cup frozen chopped kale (or green of your choice)

Bring chicken stock to a simmer in a sauce pan. Meanwhile, roll sausage (remove from casing if you buy links) into 1/2" balls. When stock is simmering, drop in sausage balls and simmer until cooked through (about 8-10 minutes). When sausage is cooked through, add beans and kale and simmer for five minutes, covered.

Serve to your chilled loved ones with crackers or even a nice loaf of bread.

Hoping it's warm where you are.

Your Tax Dollars

So, today our post office box was stuffed full. When I finally evacuated it and got the mail home, I discovered that I had received no fewer than 7 individual pieces of mail from the unemployment people. Seven! Each envelope contained one or two pieces of paper; all were mailed yesterday; and each came first class. Sheesh!

Also today I made a big boo boo. After M left for the gym and work today I went back to bed. I was tired (we've been up late the last few nights), and I probably needed the sleep, but whoa. Something happens to me when I do that going back to bed thing -- when I woke up for the second time I didn't want to get out of bed. Or, I should say, my body didn't want to get out of bed. No more of that. When I'm up, I'm up.

Baby surprise #1 for the twins is knit; #2 is well underway. Should have them done this weekend. Also have a plan for something else to tuck in the package (I cannot resist knitting baby things!).

Painless Process

So, yesterday I applied for unemployment. It was a relatively painless process -- you can do it over the phone now, and aside from the nearly 1/2-hour wait on hold (how many people in this state become unemployed every week?!) it was very easy. Lots of questions and it was done. No driving to an office and waiting in line. Now I wait for them to process the paperwork and for my former employer (who has promised not to fight unemployment) to complete their part of the paperwork.

Meanwhile, I am obligated now to make a minimum of 3 work search contacts every week and keep a log of such which is to be provided to them if they request it. Hmmm, from what the very nice woman I spoke to said, I make a minimum of 3 work search contacts (by their definition) a day, since they count checking job boards and the help wanted ads in the paper. I guess they can't expect some professionals who've been laid off to actually find 3 appropriate jobs to apply for in a week.

Word of the day: "interrobang". And, no, it is not an interrogation technique favored by the CIA, though that is a good guess. There is an interrobang in this post, if that helps. It's actually that nonstandard but oh-so-useful punctuation mark (?!) intended to convey the sense of both a question mark and an exclamation point. More on Wikipedia.

Another positive for this new state of my life: I can blog more regularly; of course, I can also write in general more regularly, and that can only be a good thing.

Back to work on the baby surprises for the twins. I LOVE this pattern!

"Letting You Go"

I hate euphemisms. I tend to agree with George Carlin that euphemisms usually only serve to remove us from problems so that we can ignore them from a safe distance. Take the USDA's recent decision to demote hunger (a term whose meaning is all too clear) to a mere state of "food insecurity" (where I presume you're a little apprehensive about the white sauce thickening properly). A better example of elimination by obfuscation I haven't seen in a long while.

This week, I was fired. Of course, no one actually said that. I was "let go". (Okay, *I* told some people I was fired because, you know, I don't like euphemisms).

In reality (and with a day away from there to lend perspective), I see "let go" in this case as exactly what happened. I have a definite feeling of having been let go. Let go like an animal who's been in a shelter cage for too long or a helium balloon that's been tied to a chair too heavy to lift (though I don't recommend letting helium balloons go -- they don't have feelings, but birds and other wildlife do, and balloons can be dangerous to them and the environment). Just let go -- allowed finally to run free, escaped from the shackles of a job I (let's be honest) hated and wasn't very good at.

M told me last night she heard glee in my voice for the first time in a long time. I slept like a baby last night. I got up this morning more refreshed and ready for the day than I have in at least a couple years. I think the complete and utter toxicity of my situation over the past couple of years will only become apparent as time and distance allow me to heal, but for now (mind you, it's been only a day):

• my carpal tunnel symptoms are gone
• my heartburn is gone
• I was humming for real earlier today
• despite spending the morning doing some rather aerobic housework, I had the best cardio workout I've had in a long time at the gym

Are we worried? Sure, financially, this makes things more than tight, but we know there's a lot of pork which has crept back into our spending, and we know that just having one of us home to cook and clean and do real grocery shopping will save us money. Besides, when we took the plunge and moved out here with the promise of nothing more than a part time church and no benefits, we put the finances in God's hands. The deal is that we will follow God's plan, and God is in charge of making ends meet. And that hasn't changed.

I've felt for a while that I should quit my job, but I was just too chicken to do it and lose the health insurance. Last weekend I read no fewer than 3 articles in 3 different journals about job stress and burnout and its costs to the individual, a marriage, and society. M's sermon this weekend (intended to get people thinking about their role in the Church, granted) pressed us all to look inside at what we love and what we're good at and put those gifts to work and stop just doing what we feel obligated or pressured to do.

Message received, and now it's up to me to use this time wisely and productively (aside from getting the house clean, which is my first order of business). What do I want to be when I "grow up"? How far do I think my weaving can take me? How does one break into freelance editing/proofreading/writing? Do I really want to work for someone else? Is being a housewife and part-time something-I-can-do-at-home really what I need?

Stay tuned....

Two More Surprises

'Tis the year, I guess. Here are number 2 and 3 (of at least 6) I will be making within the next year alone. Sorry, number 1 went away in June before I could photograph it.



The pink/purple one is for the new little baby girl of a former co-worker (and it has the most adorable ladybug buttons which my old camera just wouldn't photograph properly):



Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Suprise Jacket. Available in a couple of her books (The Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop that I know of, or available directly from Schoolhouse Press)
Yarn: Random balls of Filatura di Crosa 501 from the stash (sorry, no labels)
Needles: Susanne Ebony 36" circular 4.00mm (#6)
Mods: None, I love this pattern just the way it is

The second is for the new little baby boy of a current co-worker. It has adorable teddy bear with a baby bottle buttons (same problem photographing them):



Pattern/Needles/Mods: Same as above
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK 2 balls color 02 and 1 ball Filatura di Crosa 501 in a burgundy (see note above about random balls in the stash)

This one was specifically done in the school colors of the parents' alma mater. I didn't plan the stripe pattern to look like a smoking jacket, though I fear smoking or letter jacket is probably the look you're mostly likely to get when striping a dark color on a light background this way.

I have a couple of months now before I have to start on the next round of baby sweaters. Those, too, will probably be knit from random balls of stash yarn. I actually have a special section of the stash reserved for random balls of DK and light worsted washable wools for just such a purpose.

I'm a Lady (at least someone thinks so)

You Are 100% Lady

No doubt about it, you are a lady with impeccable etiquette You know how to put others at ease, even if their manners aren't the greatest.

Are You A Lady?

Christmas Present #1 - check!

Okay, it's a small thing, but sometimes you need little victories. And it is a Christmas gift ready for the giving.



Pattern: One skein toddler socks free with purchase from Plymouth
Yarn: Plymouth Yarns Jelli Beenz #217
Needles: US5 Bamboo (probably Crystal Palace)

Now, to get to work on the penguin sweater to go with.

Doesn't Everyone Freeze Their Yarn?

So, after "purchasing" for my favorite price (FREE) a green and brass baker's rack for the workroom (You gotta love small town D*U*M*Ps and their swap sheds -- the perfect bentwood rocker in my workshop was $5.00 in our previous town.) I set about reorganizing some yarn, and what should escape one of the tubs of wool but a moth. Ugh!

So, in a week, when we have the Sunday School over here for the annual picnic, and it gets hot and someone goes into the chest freezer anyone who knows us knows is where they will find the popsicles, they might get a bit of a surprise. Doesn't everyone keep their yarn in the freezer. I know at least one knitter who does. Alas, I do not believe that the damage is all that serious since this yarn was all stored in the same place in our old house and the same tub since being packed to move here, and not long before we moved I knit a felted stuffed hedgehog (yes, one of those) for my niece from some of that yarn and encountered no problems.

Of course, the rest of the workroom had to be sprayed down once again with lavender spray, so it's a little smelly in here. Good thing I like the smell of lavender.

So does Mr. K. And speaking of the beast, this is what happened when I tried to take a picture of the ribbing on my niece's penguin sweater:


All yarn and yarn accessories belong to the K-man. There are no exceptions, even for my dear (and irreplaceable) Brittany walnuts (yes, I realized I messed up the ribbing and will have to frog -- oh bother!):


Oh, well. We love him, and at least he isn't out on the streets doing 'nip and chasing the lady cats.

Rachel and Tibor are FAMOUS!

Okay, so they're as famous as an appearance on a PBS Kids show (Fetch! to be exact) can make one. Probably not as famous as they are in the ballroom dancing community.

But it was still really cool to see them and the studio on TV. Of course, it made us realize how much we miss the studio, the dancers, and so many parts of our life in metro Boston.

Reason #4722 Why the Religious Right Has It All Wrong

<rare rant mode on>

So, scientists at Merck have come up with a safe, effective vaccine against HPV (human papilloma virus) -- the (sometimes) sexually-transmissible virus which causes a majority of cervical cancer cases in this country. Good thing, no? Think of the lives which could be saved, the suffering which could be alleviated.

Enter the Family Research Council (FRC -- not that I want you to go to their website, but better the enemy you know, right?) which in a stunning display of ideology trumping reason, intelligence, sanity and even compassion has fought vigorously against the vaccine's approval by the FDA.

Why, you (my sane, rational, compassionate, and above all intelligent readers) might ask, would anyone calling themselves Christian wage such a battle against something so positive? Let's get it from the horse's mouth:

"Our concern has been that this vaccine not be presented as a shot that makes it safer to have sex," said Peter Sprigg, vice president for policy at the Family Research Council.

It appears that FRC and other "Christians" are concerned that teenagers, free of the fear that sex could lead to cancer, will start having sex. A similar argument, it turns out, to the one they used against approval of Plan B for over-the-counter sale.

Now, I don't know about the teens in your life, but the teens in my life aren't really all that concerned about cancer -- it's certainly not a motivating factor keeping them from having sex, and I'm betting they don't even know that most cervical cancer is caused by a sexually-transmitted virus. Can you say fear-mongering?

<rant mode off>

<begin saner mode>

Okay, so after some meetings with folks from Merck, they have given up their fight against approval of the vaccine, though they are still 100% committed to fighting the vaccination of teenagers and children.

Small steps; infinitesimally small, baby steps.

Published!

I'm going to be published! Just got the word that Storey accepted a little pouch bag I designed for a one skein patterns book they're publishing this fall. AND I retain all rights to the pattern itself! The whole thing came about because we realized we didn't have a sample swatch for Katia Jamaica in the store, and since the skeins are so large someone suggested a simple little pouch bag. So, here it is.

Aside from being a cute little summer carry bag, it would also make a great small project bag (if you chose to line it with fabric).


Pattern: My own
Yarn: Katia Jamaica #4010 (100% Cotton, 100grams, 219 yards), one skein

Finished Measurements
Bottom diameter – 6.5”
Height from purl row to cast off edge – 7.5”

Materials
One ball Katia Jamaica #4010 (100% Cotton, 100grams, 219 yards)
8” or longer size 6 double point needles (or size required to get gauge)
12-18” circular in same size (optional)
crochet hook size F

Gauge – over circular spiral stitch 28 sts=4”

Abbreviations
K=knit
P=purl
K2tog=knit 2 together
KFB=knit into the front and back of the stitch
YO=yarn over

Circular Spiral Stitch
Every round – *K2, YO, K2, K2tog*, repeat between *

Directions
Over 3 double point needles, cast on tightly 6 stitches, place marker, join

Round 1 *KFB*, repeat between * (12 stitches)
Round 2 *K1, KFB*, repeat between * (18 stitches)
Round 3 *K2, KFB*, repeat between * (24 stitches)
Round 4 *K3, KFB*, repeat between * (30 stitches)
Round 5 *K4, KFB*, repeat between * (36 stitches)
Round 6 *K5, KFB*, repeat between * (42 stitches)
Round 7 *K6, KFB*, repeat between * (48 stitches)
continue in this manner, adding one knit stitch between increases each round until
Round 20 *K19, KFB*, repeat between * (126 stitches on needles)
Next round: knit
Next round: purl

Begin Circular Spiral Stitch – work for 6.5” from Purl row

Next round: knit
Next round: *K2, YO, K1*, repeat between *
Knit next 4 round
Bind off loosely

Assembly
Crochet 2 20-28” chains (depending on desired length of drawstrings), and thread drawstrings through YO holes in row above spiral, tie on opposite sides.

Line with fabric if desired.

Phew!

Well, Mother's Day weekend is over. All permanent residents of our home are utterly exhausted. Though it's nice finally to be able to host the parental units in our own house, it is very tiring to have that many people in the house for any length of time.

Our sweet little boy spent the weekend keeping track of six adults, and it like to have killed him. He crashed when they left, though just like a child who doesn't want to miss anything, he tried to keep an eye on us, but they just wouldn't stay open.

Sometime around 7-ish our buddy MS (that would be the man who forgot to move us until it was almost too late) showed up -- big black truck pulls into the driveway and honks. Out tumble MS, his two sons, his dog, and his mother. "I just wanted to show my mom your house -- especially the attic." Poor Mom, who has never met us, was a little embarrassed -- alas, it's MS and we're used to this behavior. I love this man. He's raising his two sons alone after his wife left, and he's doing a bang-up job. They're smart, well-adjusted, honestly good kids who work just as hard as their dad (how many 16-year-old boys can you say that about?).

We missed early-to-bed, and we've made the wimpy decision that there's no going to the gym in the morning.

And we don't get a weekend next weekend, either.

And, I also realize I haven't yet waxed poetic about the attic -- perhaps tomorrow.

Some People!

Disgusting (not gross, just disgusting human behavior) thing I saw today:

There is some kind of metal working shop that shares our
road/alley/parking lot area, and they have a huge construction
dumpster. Last night as I was leaving work (at 4:30pm, so it was still
very much daylight outside) I saw two trucks pull up and a man get out
of one and throw an old lawn mower into the dumpster. Argh!

In a positive(?) development, tonight we learned that our little man,
Mr. K, is capable of defending himself, his home, and his family from
intruder kitties. Our two little ones were on the screen porch, and
the neighbor cat (who had previously hissed and growled at both of
ours) was outside looking in. We heard a commotion and turned around
in time to see Mr. K -- tail fluffed to three times normal size, hair
standing up all along his backbone -- trying to get at NC through the
screen. He actually hissed and growled himself. We'd never heard it.
Our mild-mannered linebacker kitty standing up for himself. It was a
proud moment. Of course, little man spent the next hour running from
window to window -- tail a-flickin' -- watching NC make his way around
the yard.

Warning: Knitting Content

The Lorna's Laces socks are done. I have to say the yarn was very easy to work with and quite soft both in the working and in the wearing. I am, however, not thrilled with the way the color works out. These socks were knit with the color "Rainbow" and while the yarn certainly looks like a rainbow, the finished project is nothing like (save a small portion at the turn of the heel which is entirely an accident). The colors didn't pool for the most part, though I did notice a strange doppler-like effect on both the leg and foot.



Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, color "Rainbow"
Pattern: Basic top-down sock, 72 stitches, 3x3 rib, slip-stitch heel
Gauge: 9 stitches/inch on a US1

A Day of Adrenaline

Got up and forwent(?) the gym this morning to help with the last minute packing, then headed off to work for a couple of hours before THE MEETING.

Before I could get to the meeting, however, all heck broke loose back at the homestead. (This would be the all-packed-in-boxes-and-we're-ready-to-get-the-*bleep*-out-of-there homestead.) M called me at 9:15 to inform me that the mover (who was supposed to show at 8:30) wasn't there yet. I figured he was getting a truck or rounding up his troops and told her not to worry, but to call him.

10:00, no mover; 10:15, no mover; 10:30, I have to get my behind out of the office for the meeting. On the way up the highway cell phone rings -- still no mover, but a good luck wish.

Make it to the meeting with mere milliseconds to spare; apologize to the editor, explaining that our mover is MIA. He shared an amusing-in-retrospect story about their last move home to New England from Texas, and I relaxed -- somehow everything will be okay.

After the meeting (and the Wonderlic -- more below), I called home to find that our dear, dear MS had, indeed, forgotten us. He was having a nervous breakdown and on his way to the house with some hired day help (all of his men were on the job he forgot us for) and his trailer to get us moved.

And move us he did. Less than 5 hours after they showed at the old house, they were pulling out of the driveway at the new one. Record time, I say. And nothing was broken, no woodwork or floors in either house gouged, and everyone in a fairly good mood.

Cats, not so. They didn't like one bit being dumped at a stranger's house, and our poor little Mr. K hid under the bathtub when we went to pick them up. When we got them to the (very disarrayed) house, Lady B was a little disgruntled but soon realized that this was all her stuff. She marked a few things and spent the rest of the night wandering about making a mental map of the place. Mr. K was less accepting. Poor little traumatized thing: he hid, wanted nothing to do with any of it, discovered a quiet bedroom upstairs and has pretty much stayed there since.

Yeah, the Wonderlic. Not so bad, really. Most people don't finish, and neither did I (got through 48, though). Pretty confident that I at least did well enough that I

Breathe Deep(ly)

And tell us, how did you spend your Easter? At the new soon-to-be parsonage, we spent the day tearing down curtains and letting the sun (and fresh air) shine in!

Between sunrise service and 10am, we began the process of un-sealing our new rental property which we discovered had been hermetically sealed for a very long time. In fact, when we opened (after much effort) the front door, we found insulation wrapped in newspaper from October 24, 1997! We also discovered that at some point the front step had heaved so that the storm door scraped badly when opening. Guess everyone will be a backdoor guest.

Since our "landlady" had discovered the secret hiding place for the window and door screens, we got to work taking out the storms (yes, these are those old "afterthought" storm/screen frames which require the removal of storms to put the screens in) and putting in screens. Someone (late husband, most likely) had kindly numbered all the storms and screens, making matching up much easier.

I swear, when we finally got about 1/3 of the screens in and opened the windows wide to the fresh air, I could hear the house breathing deeply. I certainly was. Fresh air, even cold, Easter-morning fresh air, is such a relief after closed-up-and-recycled-for-nearly-a-decade air.

The curtains were a project and a half. Each window had (at least) two drapes and a half-curtain (oh, every window also has a roller shade). When we finally got them all down -- not a quick or easy task considering the sheer number of curtains, the multiple rods per window, and the height of the windows -- they made a pile about 3-1/2 feet deep across the laundry room. I kid you not.

We would have gone home and packed after all of that, but ... the packing is DONE! Okay, there are still those few things we need tonight and tomorrow morning, but that's it. We are so ready to move -- no, I take that back -- we are so ready to be in the new house.

Did do some research on the Wonderlic Personnel Test. It doesn't look all that scary -- just some basic SAT-type questions: a bit of logic, and bit of simple algebra, some reading comprehension. Nothing I can't handle. Actually looking forward to it (I'm one of those sickos whose only real nightmare about the GRE involved sitting still for an entire morning).