If it feels good, it's worth it.

After the recent success of the Budgie toy, I wanted to make another. An octopus seemed the only logical next step. I knew I could crochet potholders and just went from there. All crocheted out of Lamb's Pride bulky with no pattern. Freeform if you will. Turned out ok I think.

Things have been going really well as of late. My mother signed the car she gave me over to me, I got a hefty bonus check at work and I played hooky and got paid for it.

It seems that I started this blog to archive knitting projects and such and have yet to post about anything I've been working on.

Here's the toy Budgie about at about 1/3rd completed. Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Brown and White. Needles: Size 6. Doll eyes from fabric store. Polyfiber fill for stuffing. Pattern: Modified from Jess Hutch's Free Bunny Pattern.

I have since added ears, arms and legs. I'm thinking about applying small streaks of bleach across the brown to simulate Budgie's brindle markings. With the ears added, it really looks a lot like her.

I remembered the chewing. Puppies chew.
I bought toys for that.

I remembered the frequent walks. Puppies pee.
I walk her often. No reason not to.

What I somehow forgot was something you'd think would stay fresh in your mind forever.

Dog Farts.

They're oily. They're sneaky. They're disturbing.

And they're all mine. Oh the bliss.

This past week has really taken it outta me.
I haven't cleaned.
I haven't dared cooking.
Nothing.
Just work, pot, knit/embroider, sleep. Eating sometimes.

But then came Saturday. A perfectly relaxing Saturday with Mike and the dog. Took her for a walk. Got gelatto (Budgie really liked the Green Apple I chose) and had a beer. She was a little lady all day, very rare. She didn't jump on people, didn't chase anything. Perfect. I was very happy. Now if we could just get her to act this way at home. She's really good, don't get me wrong. She sits when told to, lets us know when she needs to potty, plays nicely with the kitties, amuses herself with toys and bimples, sleeps a lot, etc... She just gets so damned excited when people come over. After a few jumps and a few minutes of showing off she usually just accepts that they're there. She's still a puppy, I know. She WILL grow out of it, but only if we are consistent with her training. She's learning her "lifetime" behaviors right now. No biting, jumping or chasing. Wait at the curb and sit until it's time to go. No eating the cat food. No chewing on things other than treats, toys and chewies.

All good doggy behaviors.

Oh, and she's getting her big girl teeth. She has all of her incisors on the bottom and the two middle incisors on top. No big girl canines yet, but we can see her molars in the back cutting through. And you'll have to excuse the poor quality of photography in the toothy shot, as it is very hard to take a picture of a 4 1/2 month old puppy's underbite without the shot being out of focus. She's embarassed of her underbite I think.

I bought myself another cheesy cross stitch kit. My house is going to be so granny chic. Just you wait.

* the last three days of work have been 12 hour days.
* the new girl at work, we'll call her baby mama drama, BMD for short, couldn't work today.
* yesterday BMD:
1. was late getting to work. her "bus broke down."
2. left for lunch before I did, which isn't the way it works. I get there at 7,
I go to lunch at 12. She is scheduled in at 8 and she was supposed to go to lunch at 1.
3. had to leave at 4 (supposed to work until 5)to "prepare for her case." Bitch please,
I worked Monday BY MYSELF. FOR 12 HOURS. If you leave at 4 today, that means I'll have to
be here until close. AGAIN. BMD said: "Oh, I hope my schedule isn't interferring with yours.
To which I responded: "Actually it is. I leave at 4. Your leaving early is forcing me to stay
and close. That's a 12 hour shift." To which BMD responds: "Oh, and I won't be here tomorrow
either. I have a child support hearing tomorrow." Great. That means...

Three 12 hour days in a row. I don't get a day off until Sunday. I will probably have to work 12 hour days the rest of this week. Dr. N (the awesome one) told me today that I need to sit down with BMD and figure our schedules out. I told her mine is already figured out, 7-4 Mon-Fri with occasional Saturdays resulting in a half day during the week of said Saturday to prevent overtime. She totally agreed with me and understands how taxing these past few days have been on me and told me that she, BMD, should be the one working around my schedule and that it's her new job, not mine, and she needs to work accordingly. I love Dr. N. She is an awesome woman. (She's married to a band teacher! Loves it.)

I found a dead bat in my back yard. I hope the neighbor cat didn't chew on it. They can carry rabies, you know.

I'm super stoned, super exhausted, over-worked and dead-dog tired. (excuse the pun)

*above, pictured: yours truly at 19 years of age. Providence, RI.

A lot has happened recently and I've neglected to update. Budgie is still getting bigger by the day. She's learning the rules nicely and I can't wait until she's all big-girl and grown up. (Pictured to the right, Lucy our friend's daughter and Budgie).

I've also started embroidering and cross stitching. Below, my first attempt at X-stitching. It's tiny and simple, but fun and a cute birthday present.