Windham OH Bicentennial Celebration

This year is the 200th Birthday of the town I grew up in.  I decided to go for a visit to spend time with family and to see old friends.  I really enjoyed myself!  I ran into some people I haven't even seen in 20 years.  God, am I that old, I  mean am I that young!  lol

Well I'll post some pictures later of the Bicentennial Parade!  Most of you will get a little laugh out of it and others of you growing up in small towns will get a little nostalgic from it!

For me the best time I had was going back down to the town Celebration with my Dad.  I got the biggest kick out of him enjoying himself running into old friends.  I told him that he needs to get out more often and spend time with his friends.  It was pretty evident how much his friends were really happy to see him!

There is nothing like growing up in a small town.  Everyone is family whether you want them to be or not!  I say that with a smile and with tears in my eyes.  I like where I live now but I also realize how much I miss some of the people that had to put up with me at least 16 years of my life!

Cheers to Windham!  Happy 200th Birtyhday!

Let me tell you what I did!

So this past weekend I had a very long weekend.  See my blog about the Midwest Craft Caucus on http://www.crazycraftnladies.blogspot.com/ for the full details of the weekend.  I left the Craft Caucus on Sunday to head to North Market for Artisan Sunday.  My Mom was there displaying our crafts with help from her BF Michael.  I was Michaels's relief so he could run home and run some errands so I just came in and I sat and talked to my Mom. 

We didn't sell anything while I was there.  My theory was that many people were at the Arts Festival and those that weren't were inside somewhere enjoying the air conditioning!  As soon as I stepped out of my car from the nice air conditioning I broke out in sweat (not that you realy wanted to know that!)  The reason I'm sharing that with you is because I'm always cold or chilly and it's a miracle when I actually sweat!

At the end of the North Market show, I helped Mom and Michael pack up the booth.  Michael came back to help us and to haul stuff home in his van.  My car won't hold all of our equipment and wares. 

I leave before they do and get home maybe 15 to 25 minutes before they arrive.  I settled in.  Unpacked the few things I had with me in my car and came in the house.  As I was unlocking the door I heard the thunder....I'm very afraid of storms that contain Lightning......[Maybe I'll tell you my lightning story some day].....Shortly after Mom and Michael come home they are wanting me to help them unload the van..................HELLO PEOPLE!  It is lightning outside.  I can hear the thunder in my house with the TV playing.  It's not "little" thunder, far away with a rumble that you're not sure if you heard it or not.  My Mom stood there with her hands on her hops looking at me like I was crazy so I decided to be brave.  Or at least be my version of brave.  So I literally ran outside grabbed what I could from the van, ran into the garage, peeked my head back out (not sure of what I was going to see or if I was going to get zapped) and ran back out to the van.  I did this probably 3 times, maybe 4, and then I just stood in the garage until I knew everything was unloaded.  Then I took my rear back in the house.

So after that traumatic event, I settled onto the couch.  Watched some shows.  I think I may have even dozed off for a minute or two.  Michael called that dinner was done........My doggie, Brandy, ran into the kitchen as soon as he said it.  I don't remember much after that.  I think maybe I did a load of laundry or two.  Then I went into my bedroom to start getting ready for bed and my friend, Susi called.  We chatted for about 15 mins and then I called it a night. 

Well Monday morning rolls around and  I wake up bright and early, even before my alarm went off.  As soon as I stirred Brandy wanted to go outside.  Yes, she waits to hear you breathe heavily, sigh or turn over and she starts whining to go out.  She's a pretty smart little girl!  When she used to jump up on my bed she would stand over me and look at me until I woke up.  If I didn't get up after a minute or two, she would then lie down on top of me.  Did I mention that Brandy at the time was pushing between 80 and 100 lbs....I got up and let her out.  It was still early so I decided to camp out on the couch because I don't like leaving her outside by herself anymore, another long story.  Around 6:30 a.m., my usual time to get ready for work, I get up call Brandy back in and start getting ready for work.

I arrive at work around 7:50.  Guess What?  I had the day scheduled off!

Books Galore!

I'm a big fan of books whether they are Audio books, regular books or E-Books.  I haven't been reading as much as I would like so I decided this year to give myself a goal.  I would like to read 20 books this year!  Yes, 20!  Three of the main books I would like to read, yes they are huge, are "Lord of the Rings," "The Holy Bible," and "Dracula" (which I'm currently reading).  I'm in the process of listening to a book and reading two other books.  It's going to be interesting for me to see if I actually read the three books I listed and to see if I do the November crunch where I try to get in the last few books of the year.  Well, I hope it's only a few.  Actually I hope I go over my goal because for once I won't be procrastinating!  I've posted a widget on my blog so follow along with me and keep me in check to make sure I reach my goal!

Gift of Light Expo - Columbus, OH

Went and hung out at the Gift of Light Expo yesterday and had a wonderful time.  I had been to the Universal Light Expo years ago (like around 10 yrs) and I really enjoyed it but at the time didn't really know what to expect when I went.  This time I knew that there would be Psychics, Astrologers, Tarot Card Readers, Palmist and Aura Readers there.  I went with my friend Debbie, who had been wanting to go but had never been.  We met some ladies that we really enjoyed.  I hope to go to the shop where the one lady gives readings to see how it goes.  I had really good vibes about her and if all goes well, I'll love to share her information!

http://www.giftoflightexpo.com/gift_of_light_9th_annual_003.htm

Quality Time With My Baby Girl

Today was a rare occasion for me.  My other family members went out for the day and I had the house all to myself.  It was nice because it was quiet and my doggy, Brandy, cuddled up with me and stayed by my side much of the day.  I wouldn't say she is a cuddly dog but every once in awhile she'll be really clingy.

We watched some TV.  Well, I watched some TV and she snoozed!  I knitted some, she snoozed some more and I read some.  I did do laundry and every single time I got up to switch out the loads Brandy would get up and come to the top of the stairs! 

I love my quality time with my Baby Girl! 

Feeling Tuckered Out Today

I spent a great portion of the day yesterday hanging out with my friend, Andrea, and her two daughters Allisa and Elise.  Allisa had a class on the OSU campus so I rode with Andrea to help her find the place and also to offer her company.  Waiting for Allisa we hung out at the Panera on campus. That was a treat!  I hadn't been to that location before and it offered us the opportunity to see a little bit of campus.  It was weird seeing the college students.  I thought that most of them looked like kids which was so funny to me considering when I was in college I felt so grown up.  Leaving campus we headed downtown to peruse the Main Library.  That was an event.  Lots and Lots of people downtown!  We cruised High Street of course!  I couldn't fingure out why it was so busy.  We were literally sitting though traffic lights.  There were people everywhere not only in cars but walking up and down High Street.  After passing the Convention Center, it dawned on me that the Arnold Classic was in town this week.  No wonder why there were so many guys with "Guns!"  

We made it to the Main Library after I couldn't remember exactly how to get there.  I have only been twice and I've never driven there.  Anyway, Andrea happened to turn down the right street!  Whew!  We went in and looked around.  I went to the little kids section with her and Elise.  Elise is 5 and super energetic.  She wanted to see the Tree House and ran for it first!  I was so impressed with the kids section.  I would love to go and sit and hang out for a day.  The kids had so much fun.  But the one thing about the Main Library that impresses me is that they display a lot of artwork.  This is something that all the Art and Crafty people around the area should look into.

After leaving the library.  We headed over to Grandview to Noodles and Company.  I had never been before but had always heard that their food was Delish!  Andrea treated me to lunch for hanging out with her all day and I must say for myself, the food was Delicious!  I didn't know what to expect but the flavors were fabulous!

Andrea dropped me off at home and I then came in and waited for my Mom to eat and get cleaned up so that we could go to Andrea's house and hang out for a little while.  We wanted to share with her our treasures from Knit Camp this year.  We showed her our favors, our gifts from the welcoming committee as well as the projects we either started at camp or want to do as a result of getting patterns from camp.  So all was well and we had a great time!

With all that said, I'm a bit tuckered out from hanging out all day yesterday.  However, I am in need of doing some cleaning today because we might have a Senior Knitting Guest coming to visit us next weekend!  I won't mention her name because she is so Elusive she only does guest star appearances once or twice a year!

MY BUCKET LIST

I've recently been talking to my Mom and some of my friends about things I want to do.  What could be a better time than for me to start a Bucket List.  After all, I'm not getting any younger...just wiser!

These are all the things that I can think of right now that I want to do but not necessarily in any order:

1.) Meet my Pen Pal, Trish, in person.  (Yes, I have a pen pal!  We became Pen Pals in the 5th grade and have been in touch ever since.  Now we mostly correspond via e-mail)
2.) Meet Jon Bon Jovi!  ( I say that with an exclamation point because I've been to enough of his concerts, read enough articles on him and have seen almost every show that has featured him to feel like I know him.)
3.) Go to New Orleans.  I've always known my Paternal Grandmother was born in Louisiana but I didn't know that she was actually born in New Orleans and that she had other brothers and sisters.  I would like to research if not meet my family.
4.) Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras!  Yeah, did you think that I could go to New Orleans and not go their for Mardi Gras!
5.) Go to Rio De Janiero for Carnival.
6.) There are a whole bunch of cities/towns (pueblos) in Mexico and South America I would like to visit.  I would list them but I don't even know that I could spell them correctly right now.
7.) Go to Spain.
8.) Go to Italy.
9.) Go to Greece.
10.) Go to France.
11.) Go to the UK to hit all the yarn shops!
12.) Go to Australia.  Since I know a little more about it now from watching Oprah's adventures there, sad but true, I've been thinking about going.
13.) Write a book.  Preferrably more than one but I'll start with one.
14.) Open my own Book/Yarn/Coffee/Pastry shop. 
15.) Use up all of my current yarn stash (I know, like that will ever happen!)
16.) Tour the Egyptian Pyramids.
17.) Eat at the Lady and Son's Restaurant.

That's all that I can think of for now.  Let's see how long it takes me to do any of the things I have on my list!

Starting the New Year Off Right

I have decided that I want to do more reading.  I do read but not as much as I would like.  I think I got away from it with knitting.  Most of my spare time is spent on Knitting or crocheting or any other Artistic hobby that I have.  Its not that I like those hobbies better I think it is just that I feel more productive when I have an object at the end of my "session".  I want to get back into reading as I also want to get back into writing. 

Whatever I'm into at the time I seem to have ideas flow like there is no tomorrow.  When I was reading a lot of Shakespeare and watching a lot of Shakespeare I would get story ideas and hear Shakespearian voices in my head.  Yes, I'm a nerd...........Anyway, when I read novels I get ideas based on the "voice" of the characters I am reading. 

I want to finally sit down and put my ideas to paper.  They may be great or they may just be good but I know that I won't be satisfied until I finally write my story. 

PS I know they won't be bad........Now how is that for positive thinking!