Ow!

That sound you hear....that's my ovary crying out.
Who doesn't love babies!

Airplane reading

On the flight from Charlotte to Austin I read a couple of magazines but on the way back I read The Art of Racing in the Rain. If you have not read this book, I recommend it. However, let me caution you that if you are the sensitive sort that perhaps it's not the best to read it in public. I spent the entire flight fighting back tears.

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

Knitting obsessed

It's true. I have a knitting obsession. Once again, it's nearly midnight and I find myself surfing Ravelry looking for patterns to knit. Never mind that I've not yet knit anything more complicated than a hat.

Last week I stopped in at Anthropologie, to check out their Christmas ornaments, and I fell in love with a scarf. It's not a particularly expensive scarf so really it would be cheaper (and easier, no doubt) for me to just buy it for myself. But no, I think I should try to knit it myself. I found a very similar pattern on Ravelry and I'm certain I could find a suitable yarn. But then I wonder, really, just how many scarves does a girl need?

Home again

That's right, I'm calling North Carolina home.
Home is where you're headed.
That's what I've decided.

Anyway, I wish I had some of these leftovers right about now.

Mostly accurate

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Because Lulu is a long haired, I also get a fair amount of "what is that?". Once I did get asked if she was a miniature Irish setter. That was pretty funny.

Snuggalicious

My Texas Tech snuggie finally arrived in the mail today.
Lulu digs it.



And yes, it's basically a big rectangle with sleeves.

Joy!

Last night I went to Wal-Mart, a place I rarely visit due to PTSD from working there in college (you don't work Back To School and Black Friday to come out unscathed), and was so very excited to find these frozen dinners. Way more excited than I should have been.

Since I'm getting real Mexican food next week (Chuy's here I come!) I exercised some constraint and only bought two. But they are sooooo cheap! $1.80 And quite tasty really.

Confession

The other day I bought a container of dark chocolate covered canberries (like raisinets, only not the fruit of Satan, yo) at Trader Joe's.

I. Can. Not. Stop. Eating. Them

But there is fruit under all that chocolate and dark chocolate is good for you. Right? Rationalization. I'm all over that.

So cool

Reason # 833 of things I miss about Texas...

photo by pvsbond


Taco Cabana.
Where you can get a bean burrito any damn time you want.

2 am after a night of drinking?
Still open.
Eggs Mexicana hits the spot every time.

10 am after a workout at the gym.
Open.

Hot, fresh tortillas and a coke as big as your head. Perfection. And the best part...cheap...oh so very cheap!

I would have killed (okay that is hyperbole) for a bean burrito after working out this morning. Taco Bell, which I hesitate to call their food Mexican but in a pinch it will work, is not open that early.

So now I'm about to gnaw my arm off if I don't get some Mexican food. Because you know cravings just grow, right? I made the mistake of going to Trader Joe's and ended up buying salad fixin's (see, healthy food!) and forty-eleven boxes of cookies (oops, not healthy).

ps...I just looked to see how close I am to a TC (yeah, we're on a nickname basis). Atlanta, 341 miles away! I'll be back in Texas for Thanksgiving but there is just not enough time for me to eat at all my favorite places. Also, I might not fit on the plane if I ate that much.

I Heart Etsy

Seeing as I'm no longer broke, I am having a lot of fun with my Christmas shopping. I have to be careful and not do too much of the "one for you one for me" thing, which can be really difficult, specially when I'm browsing on Etsy.

This morning I ran across this seller, 1canoe2, and she has these really cute state prints. I'm thinking that it would be very cool to have the Texas and the North Carolina prints matted together, side by side, in the same frame.

At the dog park

Lulu met an 8 week old boxer puppy at the dog park yesterday. The puppy was adorable. Lulu was her typical self and let the puppy beat her up.

In the mood...

for Christmas! I've already started a couple of gifts and today I bought this yarn. The woman at the shop asked what I was going to make. No idea. No idea who it's for either but the yarn was calling out to me so I had to buy it.

It only took me a year

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So I've been living in North Carolina for a year now and because I am the lazy it wasn't until today that I finally went to get an NC driver's license. That, my friends, was an exercise in frustration. Finally, after three hours of sitting around in a space that was no doubt full of swirling hamthrax germs (seriously, typhoid Mary was hacking up a lung next to me) I left the office with a piece of paper giving me a temporary license. Big whoopty doo.

In a couple of weeks I'm going to do it all over again when I finally make my car legal and register it in this state. Because they can't make it easy and let you do both at the same time in the same place. Oh no.

You know, I really better live here a long time because if I have to move back to Texas and do this all over again my head might explode.

Searching for a picture to put with this post led me to find this story, which totally cracks me up. A couple of weeks ago I saw a plate that said "KTHXBAI"