Spazzmanda

I have neglected the old blog, and I’m sorry. Mostly I’m sorry, but I’m also pretty happy and busy in a good way. I’m still doing my thing, but between the new job and the new lease on life (focusing on taking care  of myself, working out a lot, reading, etc.) I”m tapped out. I’m currently reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (an early b-day gift from Jeff) it is a hysterical melding of two of my favorite things- Jane Austen books and zombie lore. I’m a freak, I know it.

So, here are some highlights from the past month.

Early in May I took a mental health day and visited Babs, we rode our bikes at the Chattahoochee River Park, turtles were basking in the sun on river rocks and the honeysuckle was blooming and it smelled awesome. We ate Mexican food and had pedicures. In short, it was a perfect day.

I started another lace shawl (because I’m a masochist) and at this rate it will literally  take me a hundred years to finish it, but I like the challenge. I knit without life lines and with a ‘close enough’ approach to lace that would probably have most knitters cursing and ripping, ripping, ripping. I’d rather the product be flawed and my sanity intact rather than focus too much on perfection. Is that crazy? The pattern is Muir, and FREE on knitty. The yarn is pretty and I’m so scattered I can’t find the label, so I just call it “Wool Awesomeness Gifted to me by the Lovely Claudia“. (the colors are much deeper than in this crappy photo.)

I saw the new Star Trek Movie with these crazy people:

Even if you weren’t a huge fan, it was still an awesome movie. I’m not sure there is anything else coming out this summer that I am really stoked about…

I hung out a lot with this guy:

And last week I did a “favor” for Miss Foxy by posing for a wicked cool picture for her. Sure I had to bounce on a trampoline in my underwear  at night while Jeff blew bubbles at me, but what are friends for? It is such a CHORE having a mega-talented artist take your photo… (that was sarcasm, did you catch it?)

My summer is off with a bang. Hopefully there are more fun things that I’ll be able to write and I’ll have the time to post more frequently.

We went to Habersham for a big celebration for the 4th of July (I know, they’re early)- fireworks and live music- and saw these guys:

The King Daddy Polecats are very much fun. They opened for the Red River Band (? did I get that right?) which we skipped in lieu of Mexican food. Then on Saturday afternoon I knat with the ladies and brought a new potential member to our meeting and then, I got to see this girl:

Holly is very much fun too. We had wine and it was good.

Then I went to Knitch for the FIRST TIME EVER with the lovely and effervescent Shari on Sunday. I loooooove this store. I wasn’t really “needing” to purchase more yarn, but I found this stuff that just begged to go home with me. The brand is Araucania and the yarn is called “Ranco Multi”- a hand painted, wool blend sport weight. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

I think I’ll make the Gigi (from the new Knitty) out of it sometime soon when I don’t have four (or six) projects on the needles. I also purchased my Hedgie pattern (the last one in the shop- score!) so I’m ready to cast on with my SNB crew for our Hedge-Along this weekend.

Then Sunday night we went to see Wall-E with our local Red-Headed Street Gang and there was a box of stuff that Jeff gave to our favorite red-headed beastie (now he has more Star Wars stuff. The boy is doomed.)

Or are WE the doomed ones?

We had a hot date last night, in culmination of the never ending birthday festivities, my man, a.k.a. “this” guy:

–took me to see Eddie Izzard (in concert?) It isn’t a concert when it is a comedian is it? It is a theatrical performance, right? Well, anyhoo, we LOVE Eddie Izzard. He is the funniest mo’fo’ on the planet as far as I’m concerned, I laughed so hard I almost wet myself last night.

And he looked like this:

… but less blurry and stuff. Yeah.

We saw this performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (ooh, spelled with an “re” I wonder if things there are colourful too since we’re being all fancy pants and using Briticisms and all.) It is located on Cobb Galleria Parkway (not to be confused with Cobb Parkway, which is close, but not the same thing. Sheesh, you would think they could come up with a better road name, right? It is a really beautiful theater, new, big but not too big. There was a minor mishap with ushers sending us to the wrong side of the theater (odds and evens are on opposite ends.) Our seats were good but there didn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house. Eddie performed for like, 2 1/2 hours- just talking and being funny for over two hours! Amazing bloke that one is, talking about bollocks and being genuinely entertaining. (I wish I were British, to say things like bloke, bollocks and shag all the time, it would be sweet!) Anyways, blah, blah, great show, great new venue (but it was a tad chilly, my own fault for not bringing a wrap) good times!

Thanks honey! Nobody do a birthday like you do! Now birthday month 2008 is officially closed.

UPDATE:

Just for you, Margaret:

This was me on night of said date. And actually this was Jeff:

You can tell that it is him by the telephone surgically attached to his ear lobe. The photo at the top of the post was taken of him in his funny, magic man clothes. He has the BEST tshirt collection ever!

Some would say that I am not good at keeping secrets. And naturally, some would be right. I just get so EXCITED about stuff, you know? I love to share in people’s joys so much, I take it into me and enjoy a friend’s triumph as if it is my own, so naturally, if you have something you really don’t want the world to know, be aware of “secret face.” I don’t blab secrets outright or anything (that would just be cruel) I just have a “I know something you don’t know” face, and I flush clear out to the tips of my ears.

Which brings me to the point of this post. In addition to Jeff’s birthday party this Sunday, I have something so fun planned for us on Saturday. Now, I haven’t ever tried to surprise Jeff, I can’t, I have secret face and he is a pretty smart guy, but I think he will be surprised. Of course he knows we are doing something, his schedule is so crazy I had to make sure he would block out the time for me so I could buy tickets… (I LOVE tickets!!!) And this thing is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait to spend the day with him on Saturday in celebration of his actual birthday- just the two of us. AND I got him an ultracool present, I’m just a titter with happy secret birthdayness.

Yay.

Oh, AND I’m going to try and make this this week, or at least my own version of it for the par-tay.

Ok, it was yesterday. And because I went out last night I didn’t finish my socks that are oh so damn close to being done I can practically taste it them (?)  I did, however, finish the DAR scrapbook (thank you oh merciful lord) AND my ginormous square (photos to follow.) I’m officially off the hook for two “free-time”-sucking obligations for the moment- until I sign my sorry ass up for something else (I can’t seem to say no.) I must admit that I agreed to both many months ago and the fact that they were both due in March and that I thoroughly enjoy some modest procrastination, it is my own damn fault that I let myself get even an ounce stressed over either.

Well, I suppose I should blog about my St. Patrick’s evening since that is the title of my post. A whole group of us went to Wild Wings here in Gainesvegas, along with everyone else in the city apparently, to enjoy some dinner and entertainment. We ordered lots of chicken wings, some were the burn-your-nose-hairs-right-out-of-your-nostrils kind, the others were more ’safe’ but still tasty. There were two comedians performing, both pretty crass, the second fellow much funnier than the first. (I’m all for gutter humor, but sometimes it is funnier if you DON’T say it, you know?)

After the funny men wrapped up around 10, a local band played. Ever hear of the King Daddy Polecats? Well, I had never seen them (gasp!) but Jeff knows these dudes (of course he does, he grew up in this town and we can’t go anywhere without seeing someone he knows.) Anyhoo, on one number they managed to successfully merge an Ozzy Osbourne guitar riff with Hunka-Hunka Burning Love (by one Mr. Elvis Aaron Presley) and in doing so have won my undying devotion. It was beyond awesome. Not to mention the freakish awesomeness of running into a multitude of friends last night- all you have to do is leave the house once in a while and go to a public place where other young folks tend to gather to come to the realization that “Wow! Gainesville is a FUN place to live and NEAT! We know lots and lots of fun people in this here borough.”

Also, much,much more fun in the horizon, Rachel approached me with the BEST idea of the year (so far.) A birthday party in honor of my zany man and hers next month (apparently April birthdays are more fun when combined.) It gets better, her idea of a theme is “Poker with a HotDog Party.” Although the much-sniggering boys want to replace the word “Hot Dog” with “Wiener” because, well, they are boys, I am pleased with both a man-worthy and hilariously funny theme, and it is a bonus to get to spend a great day with them. And even though I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly,  I am totally inspired to whip out another wunderbar birthday cake, I think I’ll use this one as my inspiration and go a little bit nutty.

Life is good people, I shall be crafting ginormous wieners out of cake and icing soon.