Graduation

Our friend graduated today. We spent the good majority of the day at his ceremony. I did not view it, unfortunately, since the venue was packed, crowded, and hot, and no amount of anti-anxiety medications could ward off a panic attack of that proportion. So I stayed outside, and chatted with a military member. It was, enlightening, to say the least. My banana bread was a big hit, as was the apron I had made.

Our neighbors, with the absurdly good garden, gave us green french onions, and we made onion and potato soup last night. I got only one bowl, but it was good. We shared it with friends and the neighbors who gave the onions originally....I guess my cooking skills are as good as the happy grad's. Here he is with his mother.

I also got photos of the stray he took in, Tom, to get the Humane Society adoption process started. Also, a photo of the happy grad and his dog, Jake.

The crafting has been going well. I crocheted around one of the cheapy waffle-weave dish towels we'd gotten at wal-mart using cross stitch cotton thread from an old kit I had purchased thrifting. Others are still to come, it was a pack of seven. I purchased a small rug to use as a yoga mat, and it's much preferable to our uneven, hardwooden floors. I want to "special it up" a bit, but don't know how just yet.

The socks are coming along. I frogged it, because I misunderstood the directions, but they're going well so far on try number 2. I've also started planning again. One of the things sent from my grandmother's effects was a big pile of patterns - including all of the afghans she'd made for the family. My cousin Dave and his fiance, Holly, are getting married in October. I hope to have an afghan for them, as well as projects for using up my odds and ends. I really want to reduce my crafting supplies since I've got two big tubs of yarn and a whole dresser full of supplies of various sorts. Wish me luck on that! I want to re-fashion some of my wardrobe, or at least mend more, since a lot of it is too small, too large, too awful shape or just not "me". I'm planning hot pink shorts. Hot pink. Bear with me on this, since I think it will look good.

It's been a long day. A very long day. I've got anxiety over the car (Tuesday is when we should get the new alternator and install it. Hopefully that solves the problem). Our dear friends are moving a while away, and they need to find a home for their cat, Django, an orange tabby, but don't have the time to be able to foster him to go through the Humane Society process. Molly, one half of the couple, is really broken up about it. It's sad, and we'll miss them, and their house.

I've got anxiety over finding a place for us to live, and am heartsick over having to try and find a place. I wish I could move back to Pennsylvania, but the odds are looking slimmer and slimmer. Purdue has been giving me such a run-around about applying to their distance learning vet tech. Columbus State seems more inaccessable. College of San Juan looks good, and they seem to have a low application fee and high acceptance rate for their vet tech distance learning program. Cross your fingers!

I'm also going to find some time for Molly and I to go horseback riding before she leaves, as well as some time to invite her and her signifigant other, Amanda, over for dinner one night. This week has been very unproductive as far as work, since the family laptop has been out of commission due to a broken cord, and David usually uses the desktop for work for his client's websites. I wish we could find steady income, but this is as good as it gets. In the meantime, I've been trying to clean, organize, create, re-use, craft, make, and re-make. I've been listening to more podcasts. U sually when I craft, I stick on a television feed from the 'net for background noise, but I've been listening to one podcast specifically lately. Well, two, I guess.

Cast on, by Brenda Dyne, is the best knitting podcast I've heard thus far. It's NPR, but with knitting. And audiobook reviews (she's sponsored by Audible.com, and really making me lust for an account!). Her voice is soothing, her music choices are superb (my collection has grown by leaps and bounds since starting to listen) and she's well spoken and eloquent about a variety of subjects. And fun. She's very fun. Give her a listen, and you will not regret it. Check out the blog, as well as maybe access the podcast from the site, Cast On. As I said, it's very NPR style...and I like that. The interviews and audio blurbs from everything she has is just wonderful. I am in love. And she's from Wales! Bonus points.

The other, BarknKnit, is put out more sparingly. But it's dogs and knitting, so how could I resist? Check out their whole fuzzy family at BarknKnit, also here on blogger. Dogs, knitting, and a wonderful hostess. Her voice is more upbeat than Ms. Dyne's, and even when speaking about a bad day, the hostess manages to cheer me up, make me laugh, snort so hard that milk comes out of my nose, and maybe tear up a little all at the same time.

And that's pretty much that. More tomorrow!