Contentment

I just had a wonderful evening...and now we all know what a mundane life I lead.
I fixed dirty rice for supper with all the fresh veggies to go on top. My dirty rice NEVER turns out well. It was perfect and we all ate until we were stuffed full of good food. For dessert I had a cup of Frangelico coffee with cream, mmmmm.
Already feeling mellow, Aaron popped in a movie, Scott immediately went to sleep, and I watched a very nice movie, no action, few laughs, just a gentle movie, while I watched I had a revelation about a knitting project and unraveled about 200 yards and started that part over. Usually unraveling is a despised act. Tonight it was right. I seldom knit from an established pattern anymore, and the "pattern" I was making up finally came together.
My dad called, he's made it a year as of the second and he is doing OK. We talk every day, I love the fact that we are closer than we've ever been. Thank you, Mother and God.
My 62 year old brother is starting a new business and running in the Music City Marathon Saturday. Can you imagine? Believe me, not if you knew him 4 years ago. Amazing.
Aaron is going to pick Lyn up tomorrow for a weekender at home before her big trip. Very little time at home this year, but that's OK, too. I'll make cheese cake tomorrow afternoon. That is a fun activity usually. Very soothing, almost like baking bread.
The dog is being funny. She goes into her room, brings out a piece of food, eats it in the hall, and runs back and forth between the window and the kitchen door watching the night life outside. Lather, rinse, repeat. I don't know what she sees, but a red fox family has returned to the cave on our property. The last fox was friendly with our last outdoor cat. She shared her food with the foxes, actually sitting a couple of feet away and watching them eat from her bowl. Our current cat sneaks dog food when he thinks no one is looking. Buth then, he also likes strawberries in his cream and used to eat banana chips.
Birds made a nest on the light fixture on the front porch. Wrens, I think. Four little beaks showed up earlier in the week. Mom and Pop are very busy and don't settle down until way past dark. Sounds like a typical family.
Work is hectic these last few weeks, but it is stressful in a way that makes me more productive and I think that is partially why I'm feeling so serene.
We've had three bomb threats this week. All hoaxes. Anyone out there remember the real bomb that went off outside my classroom in Bald Knob about 22 years ago this month? For some reason I want to find the newspaper article from that day. Can't do it. I wasn't as serene that week.
Bonus points for anyone figuring out why I feel so content. Be sure to tell me.

Teasing Beckie

Saw this on someone else's blog. The caption was "Breakfast of Champions."

News alert. My house is clean. Everyone come visit NOW.

Gettin' Knitty Wid It

I am such a knit-nerd. I just taught myself how to knit 2 different fabrics simultaneously. I am so psyched. I can now knit 2 socks at the same time like the grandma did to impress the kids in "War and Peace." I'd take a picture, but who'd high five their monitor when they saw the blue and red wings on my needle? Hmm?
Next travel question. Should we lock ourselves into reservations for hotels or play it by ear? Can we travel the way we do here and expect to find a bed? A bed is all we really want, well, besides toilet privileges. And a sink would be nice.
What about travel wardrobe? Are jeans ubiquitous in England? How about in a cathedral? Got to go look at "Pillars of Stone" inspirations.
Thinking I have Scott talked into this. Who is going to lie and pretend to be Scott if he backs out after I've bought tickets?

Questions for the panel

OK world travelers, ALERT! Scott has said to assume he is going for now. He did think we were going to Rome while Lyn was in her free travel period when he said that, but I am going to hold him to it now that it looks like we will be traveling in June/July and going to England/Scotland and not Italy.
Questions:
Weather/clothes in England in summer. I'm still cold natured, movies always depict rain; are the English offended by men in shorts and women in jeans? Do I need more than one skirt? Do I need a skirt? If we go into Westminster am I in a neck/knees/sleeves environment? Are my crocs suitable for anything other than the shower? Do I need some sort of rain attire?
Air travel: 2 big men. Why should I pay for 2 first class seats when I can buy an extra coach seat on the bulkhead or exit for the non person between them and give them even more space than they would have in 1st class? AND, that way we could all sit together and Scott wouldn't be wigging out. (However, if I fly non-res with my sister's ticket, he'll just have to get over not being on the same plane.) Is there a GOOD reason not to just buy an extra ticket for the guys?
Have you seen people knitting on planes with "porcupines" otherwise known as sock-needles? Usually about 5 knitting needles about 6" long and made of bamboo. The NTSB site says most of the time you are OK, but to travel with a self-addressed stamped mailer just in case. I don't want to lose my good needles, folks...this is a huge concern! ESPECIALLY if I buy neat needles and or yarn in Scotland!
Has anyone ever been to, heard of, Rushton Northampton? Rushton Hall is a triangular building from the 1500s. Might have to see that if it is possible and on the way from London to Liverpool via the train.
Speaking of trains - which I think may be my preference...One person says rent a car here to drive there. Others say buy train tickets there, don't buy Eurail. Another says Eurail tickets are still transferable so whatever we don't use we can give to Lyn and friends. Advice? Heckles from the audience?

Big News to the Third Power

A few days ago, Aaron shared that he had answered an ad for a writer for a new comic book company. Today, he announced pending negotiations, he has been asked to submit 2, that is TWO, MINI-SERIES, or for us uninformed folk, that is 6 - 12 issues per series. For MONEY. Currently, the company is looking for an artist to illustrate.
Lyn IM'd just an hour or so later with equally big news. After deciding not to go to Europe while her Pseudo-aunt Beckie was there to hold her hand, she has decided to go on the Cityscapes/Landscapes art tour to Paris, London, Scotland and Italy for the summer. AND, the art department will help defray some of her expenses since it looks like her sophomore review tomorrow will be a shoe-in, especially since she's decided to change her major from ArtEd to BFA.
SO...That means, I may finally go to Europe this summer. Aaron would probably come with, slight possibility of Scott coming if I can find a big enough tranquilizer gun and a motorcycle sitter.
Last bit o' news. I have systemic poison ivy. Went to the FNP today, not in my lungs yet, but I've been inside since I got it with no contact with the clothes I was wearing when I was pollinated (yes, I got it without touching it either) so I'm on the happy juice known as prednisone. I'm up way past my bedtime even after watching Bill O'Reilly talk about Rosie being a doofus, watching Deputy chase something in his sleep, listening to Scott talk in his sleep about something being "a fallacy, there is no sense in starting that argument...murmur, mumble, something else" while he is pointing at the ceiling and parts sundry. He uses real vocabulary when he talks in his sleep. A month or two ago, he said "biscuits and gravy" and just went back to snoring.
Lyn and Aaron have been preapproving their bits, and I've been scratching and typing. I have PI under my hair. You know the creepy crawly feeling you get when someone says "L-CE" in school? That is the way my scalp feels with poison ivy. Its in my ear. and between my toes. I look like two vampire bats couldn't quite get their act together on one side of my neck, too. The very picture of a lovely lady leper.
Off to eat a brownie and try to go to sleep again. Hope Magnum is on.