Philosophical Sibling Discussion

I got off work last night at 10:30 and I decided to give my bro a call. Of course he called me back awhile later because that's what he does. Well, we had a big long talk about our philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Two hours later we could have still been talking about them. I think it boiled down to me thinking that I may believe in predetermination. I believe that things happen for a reason. Fate, karma, whatever it is, there is a driving force. I don't know what it is. If I fall and break my neck it happened for a reason unbeknownst to me until such a time when it will make sense. He believes that everything is random. If something happens, it happens because it happens. Not because it's supposed to, but because it does. Atoms collide at random, so he thinks that life happens that way as well. Who knows? Nobody knows. It's just a thought. And for all we know, maybe that's not random. Maybe atoms don't collide at random. Maybe they have a pattern and we're too simple to figure it out. Or maybe there are too many for us to even figure out a pattern. Infinite possibilities. Needless to say, it was a cool conversation. I haven't had a really rockin' conversation like that for a long time. I was starting to feel stupid. I don't think I'm that smart to begin with,but I was starting to feel less smart than I already thought I wasn't. ;) Now if only I could figure out what Maven believes. Then we'd be on to something.

Funny thing about the discussion though is the religion part of it. He was saying how he doesn't really believe in organized religion. Going to churches, how there are disputes within religions and in the churches of those religions on what to believe. But my point is such. These people, and not all, because you can generalize, but that can never include everybody, are not the nicest people. I find them to be the exact opposite. When, upon helping a customer at the bookstore, these people have questions about the Bibles or Christian books, they're the meanest, rudest, and most inconsiderate customers. There it is! Dispute me if you want, but I have not found it to be any different. That section always looks the worst and those customers never say "thank you". So how does that even make one believe in going to church to listen to God if they can't even get basic manners right? I mean, does God or the church believe that it's not "Christian" to do those things? I don't know. It's all Greek to me. If anyone has started reading my blog, feel free to comment. I"m curious to know what you think.

Eyeball Pop

Ever feel like your eye lids are trying to seal themselves together? I was walking so much and so fast tonight that I think my eyeballs dried out. This could be prevented, but I would have to quit working retail during the holiday season. For those of you in "retail hell", you understand my pain. Well, you understand my pain if you're a hard worker. My favorite question tonight started out like this, " I had my wallet stolen. It had my gift card in it. Can you replace it?" Um....that make sense to anyone else? My band director always used to say there were no stupid questions, only ones that you don't ask. I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with that one entirely, especially since I started working retail full-time. I think people ask a lot of stupid questions or lead up to stupid questions with stupid stories or comments. My favorite line is "I'm looking for a book." DUH! You're in a bookstore people! It's obvious you're looking for a book if you're in a bookstore.

So my next step in the world of retail is to be assertive. I'm in charge of the peons and I don't always assert myself. Okay, they're not all peons. I'm not even in a lofty position to be able to really call them that. I say it to be pompous. But, seriously, I need to confront people. I'm great at delegation. I guess I'm not good with following through to make sure it's done. I'll go back and check it myself though, which kind of defeats that whole delegation thing.

I think all that bookstore dust has dried my eyes out. I might be able to successfully sleep now and I might not. Unfortunatley, my brain wil keep thinking even when I really want to sleep. It's the pits sometimes. I blog so I can channel my thoughts in other directions. It doesn't always work. Well, it never does actually. Okay, here's to hoping that it works.

Finally, for those of you who have never had real maple syrup, I think you're very sick people. You realize that that Aunt Jamima or Log Cabin stuff that's in most grocery stores, is just corn syrup. That tastes NOTHING like real maple syrup. Real maple syrup is made in Vermont and is Grade B Dark Amber. If you don't have that, then you're not even tasting the real stuff. If you go to

Cold Hollow

then you can purchase some syrup along with the BEST apple cider. Seriously, I love their apple cider. I grew up drinking that. If your'e feeling really punchy, order some of the donuts and make them yourself. They won't taste as good as when they actually make them, but unless you're planning on going to Vermont to take a visit, they'll be just fine. Seriously!

Almost Needled to Death

This past week has been a truely horrendous week. Maven swallowed a needle. As it happens I left a sewing needle out on our side table in the living room. She eats everything and this needle just slid right down her throat. Jake and I weren't sure she actually swallowed it. We had her x-rayed and low and behold it was just sitting there. Then the Vet's tried endoscope (the procedure using a camera inserted through the mouth to look inside the body) to retrieve the needle and that didn't work. They did, however, find earplugs, leaves, and some tissue in her intestines. God my heart went into my throat when they said they would have to do surgery to get it out. I mean, she's my little puppy girl. So stayed overnight in the hospital. We picked her up the next day and she was so stiff. The poor dog wouldn't leave the car she was so nervous. Then she threw up for the next two days. We couldn't get her to keep any food down. So back to the Vet's she went. She was there for two more nights, hooked up to an IV. She is more recovered than she was earlier in the week. She's trying to run around and be active, but we can't let her do that or it'll hurt her. She's currently sleeping happily. Her toes are twitching because she's dreaming.

For those of you who aren't animal lovers, you may not understand. It broke my heart to see in pain. Both my husband and I were beside ourselves when he had to come back from the Vet's office without her. She really is like a child to us. What really got me was that she was in the hospital all by herself without Mom or Dad. When we went to visit her she was so happy. You could just see the relief in her face and in her body. I tell you it's good to have her back home. I wouldn't wish that on anyone's pet. And who would have thought that all that would cost as much as it did. That means we're getting pet insurance.


Maven just arrived home and is still trying to recover from the anesthesia.


She did not want to move from this position because her little belly hurt her so much. Every time we walked in the room she wouldn't even lift her head to see us. She just laid there.


This is her scar up close. All those staples keeping it closed. I had no idea they really were staples. I guess I always assumed that they wouldn't really be staples.


She was a little undecided about getting off the couch. She stood there for about 15 minutes until she dicided to get on the couch.


Maven finally made it back up on the sofa. Sleepy little puppy.


Well aside from Maven, I've gotten a lot of knitting projects done this week. I finished the purse for my friend heather. I felted it using Manos del Uraguay. I needle felted some stars on it for her too. I just hope she likes it. If not, then I get to make something else. I also finished two hats and another small project for my sister-in-law. Although, I finished the project for my sister-in-law, I'm not satisfied with it. It kind of looks crappy. I'm going to have to felt it again. If you haven't tried knitting the little monsters from Knitty's winter issue, it's a must. They knit up really quickly. Plus, why not keep your hands warm with something cute!

I hope everyone has a good beginning to their week.

Hell yeah I'm a knitting fiend.

This is my cute dog Maven(a.k.a Bat Ears or Little Miss Maven Tush). She's a pest and eats anything in sight. Paper products are by far her favorite things to eat. Who doesn't love when receipts, checks made out to you and your husband in the sum of $500, important bills and the like, are all gobbled up and slobbered on?

I swear I have a point. I am the obsessed knitter I claim to be. I'm just a poor obsessed knitter. I buy yarn whenever I can and whatever feels right. BUT I should clarify that I'm not a fearless when it comes to trying new patterns. I fear that if I knit something that I could actually wear, other than a scarf, that I'll mess it up too badly for me to enjoy it (knitting that is). Silly, I know! Who could not enjoy knitting?
On that subject, I'm trying to convert people to becoming knitters. It's a slow process, but I will try my damndest to bring these people to The Fiber. A daunting task, you might say, but I will bravely surge forward into this haunting realm of mortals who have not yet found The Way. It wil happen.....oh, yes...it will. :)
I'd show you my latest project(s), but, in all honesty, I'm sitting on the sofa with Maven and I refuse to get up to take pictures of everything. I especially won't attempt to take pictures because she likes to eat things that are even remotely close to chewing distance (anything within a 5-foot radius). I can show you another project of mine that I completed though. I'm quite proud of it.


I took a class to learn how to needle felt. I have to say, that it was a waste of my money to take the class. I could have asked someone how to do it and been fine. Oh, well, I have a beautiful purse now. If you haven't needled felted yet, then get on the bandwagon. It really releases any tense feelings you might have. Good outlet.

Now enjoy the rest of the night and get ready for Monday.