1.  If one is going to spend the afternoon driving around Red Rock Canyon in a convertible on a beautiful sunny day, it’s generally a good idea to wear sunscreen.

2.  I do, in fact, still tan like a lobster (as Kris put it).

3.  Red Rock Canyon is spectacularly beautiful, and was actually worth the sunburn.  Wait until you see Kris’s pictures.

4.  Only in Las Vegas could you get up on a Sunday morning and go to a bar for breakfast, and have a damn good breakfast for not much money.  Of course, we opted not to game while we were eating, which helps with keeping it cheaper.

Today, after the aforementioned breakfast, Dad and Kris went off with Tom for the photoshoot of Tom’s work.  Mom and I did a little shopping, and now we’re back home, waiting to hear from the boys.  It’s another gorgeous day here - I’m going to be completely spoiled by the time we head home to Maryland weather.

And thank you all for the sweet compliments on the new hair and the sweater.  I’m loving the more every day, and I’m getting to the point where I don’t startle myself when I look in a mirror.  It just looks so different - it was weirding me out a little bit.  :D  And I will get a better picture at some point where I don’t look so odd.  And if anyone is going to be here in Vegas and wants to go see Tom, let me know - I’ll tell you where to find him.  I’ll warn you, the salon’s not cheap, but the service is amazing.  The wash house is a separate room, dimly lit and with very soothing music, and they give you a fabulous neck and shoulder massage with your wash.  It’s awesome.  Plus, everyone who works with him is just fun.  It’s definitely a great way to pamper yourself.

Oh, and Miss Smartypants Kirsten?  Yes that is a skirt.  I do wear them on occasion.  Not on a daily basis, because it would be silly while sitting around the house, but when the situation warrants, I do wear them.  So there.  :P

OK, so only one of them was my work. The other one was my brother’s.

Presenting Something Pink, and my kickass new ‘do!

Please ignore the vaguely demonic facial expression.  Not quite sure what that’s all about…

So, I have BANGS!  I haven’t had bangs in forever.  And he took out the blue streaks but left one in on the top and made it yellow and green and mixed it into my bangs.  Isn’t it fun?  I really do love having a hairstylist for a brother.  I mean, Tom’s kick ass in general, as evidenced by the bag and jacket he did for Kris and I, but this is just cool.  Kris got a new cut, too, and I love it.  I think he looks totally hot.  (Picture to come later when Kris gets it off the camera for me)

We’re having a great time here in Vegas with my folks.  Their house is lovely (First time we’ve been here since they moved out), and we’ve had PERFECT weather.  I believe today’s plan is to head to the Red Rock Casino for breakfast and then out to Red Rock Canyon so Kris can take some pictures.  Tomorrow, he’s doing a photoshoot of a bunch of Tom’s stuff for the website.  I think Mom and I may do some shopping and running around while the boys are “working” on that.

An hour from the flight.  Yay!

I got the baby sweater thisclose to being done last night and this morning - I’ve got 1-1/2 stripes and the ribbing to do on one sleeve and that’s it.  So, I opted to leave it at home rather than wrestle DPN’s in a center seat (ugh).  Instead, this weekend will be all Jeanie, all the time  Hopefully, that means I’ll have some major progress by the time I get home.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Not just WIP Wednesday because…

Something Pink is done! But, I’m a big tease, because you don’t get pictures yet. It’s coming with me to Vegas, and I’ll have pictures of it and whatever new hair Tom does for me on Friday. :D

Instead, check out the fastest baby sweater EVER.

It’s the Rocketry Sweater - same designer as the Tulip Baby Sweater that has been everywhere of late. I’m making it for friends of ours, whose little one is due this June. It’s in Lion Cotton-Ease in (top to bottom) Terracotta, Maize, Violet, Lime, Taupe, and Lake. The edging will be in the Lime. Technically, it already is in the Lime. Since I took that picture this afternoon, I’ve finished that last stripe, done the edging, and finished the right sleeve. I’ve got one sleeve left to go. I just cast this on LAST NIGHT. It’s awesome!

And I thought it was time for an update on Jeanie. I’ve finished the first (of three) hanks of the SeaSilk. I think it’s going to be a great size.

Next time you hear from me, Vegas, baby!!!

Oh - and thank you for the commiseration/advice on the plumbing. It’s not critical right now, since it’s only affecting the kitchen sink and the washing machine, so we’re going to deal with it more when we get home. :)

Remember this little adventure?

Yeah… the plumbing issues are back. I was sitting here on the couch, having happily just bound off my Something Pink (Yay!). So, I tossed it in the washer (yay Cotton Ease) and set it on the handwash cycle, and then went back to my spot on the couch.

And then, I heard it.

That unmistakable sound of water falling onto linoleum.

Crap.

So, I run into the laundry room, where I see the pipe where the washer drains overflowing onto my floor. I stopped the washer, grabbed the old towels we keep in the laundry room (mostly for drying off dogs who get rained on), and start mopping it up. I decided that I might as well let the wash cycle finish, so I left the towels there, and started the washer again.

I’m not all that bright sometimes, I know.

A few minutes later, I hear a weird gurgling noise, and go into the kitchen (next to the laundry room) to see that the sink is bubbling up with water from the drain. Including some small bits that had gone down the disposal. Ick.

So, I did what any 1950’s housewife would do. I called my husband. (OK, technically, I text-messaged him). I’m not proud. He’s handy, and I’m not. At least, not as handy. Plus, I hadn’t showered yet, and I was not going to call a plumber while I was still here in my pj’s.

Cross your fingers for me that this is an easy fix, ok?

I hate plumbing…

Update:  Kris is home, and of course when he checked things, all seemed just fine.  He ran the water in the sink for a few minutes, and it eventually backed up.  So, we’re guessing the drain has a slow spot somewhere between the kitchen sink and the exit from the house.  At the moment, we’ve got some Drano soaking in there, which will hopefully open it up again.

OK, I know that a lot of you responded when I posted about Erin’s fundraising efforts (and thank you for that!!!), so I’m bringing another one to your attention.

Betsy is a dear, dear friend.  She and I met because our husbands went to Penn State together, and I feel so lucky that I’ve gotten to know her.  We have such a blast when she comes to visit (We’ve done Stitches East together the last two years, and she’s coming up for MDS&W this year!!).

Anyway, Betsy and her hubby are both doing the Team in Training program and are going to be running the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, AK in June.  For those of you who don’t know the Team in Training program, they run to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Betsy’s personal goal is $5,100.  Check out her blog and see the goodies she’s got up as prizes for those who donate.  It’ll be worth your while, I promise!!

I stole this one from Carmen. :D

The Recipe For Pamela

3 parts Compassion 2 parts Class 1 part Fun Splash of Instinct Finish off with an olive

What’s the Recipe for Your Personality?

Thank you all for your thoughts and encouragement on the whole existential Yarn Pr0n crisis. :) I promise the YPF posts WILL return, sometime post-Vegas. And I certainly didn’t mean to start a wave of Rav-bashing. I love that place. My general method is to avoid the main six forums and stick to the ones for the groups I am in. There seems to be much less idiocy that way, depending on your choice of groups, of course. ;)

Anyway, I hope everyone has a lovely Easter (or just Sunday, if Easter isn’t your thing). Now, do me a favor, and go wish Carrie a happy birthday. It’s today.  I’m not going to rat her out on the specific number, mostly because it’s still rather a good bit smaller than mine.  ;)

Erin’s post is here.

What Pamela Means

You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people.Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people’s problems.Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest.You are usually the best at everything … you strive for perfection.You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic “Type A” personality. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don’t have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you’ll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don’t get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

What’s Your Name’s Hidden Meaning?

Feel free to offer an opinion on the accuracy. :)

And I know that I haven’t posted any Yarn Pr0n in quite a while. My photographer has been less than inspired to do any yarn photoshoots, which means a dearth of pictures for me to post. I’m hoping that once we get back, I can tie him to his camera until I’ve got a good pile of pictures to post.

Happy weekend, everyone!

ETA:  OK, so Bezzie busted me a bit on my own ability to take perfectly reasonable photos.  I guess the other reason I haven’t really felt the YPF love is that there have been so many comments in various places (the Rav boards, other blogs, etc.) that YPF and Flash Your Stash and the Stash function on Ravelry are some sort of sanctioned bragging.  I know there are people who stopped doing YPF because they “didn’t want to feel they HAD to buy new yarn every week”.  Do people actually think that everything I’ve posted was purchased THAT week?  Heck, the Stitches-Rhinebeck-SAFF swag kept me going for QUITE a while this past fall.  And even before that, Kris used to dig into the stash and photograph stuff that I’ve had for ages.

Yes, I do know that I have a fairly sizeable stash.  And I have no intention of apologizing for it.  I like yarn - I love the color, the texture, the potential of it all.  A lot of it has plans (which may or may not be vaguely related to my lifespan and available free time), and a lot of it doesn’t.  Some of it may be posted this spring for sale here and on Ravelry (FYI, I’m aiming for April on that so that I can clear some physical and mental space before MDS&W), some of it might even just be gifted if I find the right person and the right reason.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m tired of posting pictures of things that make me happy and wondering how many people are looking at those pictures and thinking that I’m some kind of materialistic twit.  And yes, it’s possible that no one is thinking that, but until that little voice in my head shuts up, I may just skip YPF for a while yet.

“Something Pink” progresses well - at this rate, I might actually be able to have it done before we leave for Las Vegas next Thursday. I’m looking forward to the trip, and I’m hoping I can take this with me.

I’ve got another 2-3 inches of the ribbing to finish (oddly, 2×4 ribbing goes much faster for me than the 2×2 it started with), and then the sleeves and the button band. And, of course, finding the button.

Other than this, I’ve got no progress to show.  I’ve been quite loyal to single projects lately, and it actually feels pretty good.  I’ve picked up Jeanie once or twice while deciding what to cast on next (between the Palette Cardi and Dad’s hat, and between the hat and Something Pink), so it has progressed slightly, but not much.  I should probably get a picture of it at some point, though, just for record-keeping purposes.

And just to clarify my seemingly anti-Law & Order statement from last night, let the record show that I adore L&O and watch all three incarnations.  My only problem is that I can pretty much identify any original series episode before the opening credits, which takes a little of the fun out of watching sometimes.  And really, there just hasn’t been ANYTHING else on.  Other than my Saturday night date with my boyfriend.  Loves me some Torchwood!!  Thank heaven for BBCA running the new season episodes just 2-ish weeks after they air in the UK!

Oh, Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard, I’ve missed you so very, very much. It’s nice to see you back and in full-on comedic shape. I heart “The Big Bang Theory“. (Seriously -if you are a geek, love a geek, know a geek, have ever TALKED to a geek, watch it. It’s very, very accurate, funny as hell, and not at all condescending to the geeks. It’s awesome.)

Also, Dancing with the Stars! Yay! Television is fun again, without needing to be infinite reruns of Law & Order.