Every time I make a resolution to update this blog more frequently I end up breaking it. Life has been busy around here. The Jewish Holidays combined with some extra hours at work conspired to keep me silent here. Sorry.

Yesterday DH went to visit DS. I didn't go because I had to work. DS has outgrown most if not all of his pants so DH took him to the store to buy new ones. Don't know why they let this go so long we would have bought him stuff weeks ago if we'd known he was in need. DS himself wouldn't necessarily say anything about it. That's something I have to talk to him about. One of the numerous things you take for granted from so-called normal kids that we cannot take for granted with DS.

DD went to an anime convention yesterday and today. The first time she has been on the railroad without us. She went with some friends and since she is nearly 16 we figured that it was OK and she'd be safe. She had a great time and I think it was made even better because she knew we trusted her. She went in costume dressed as a character from a favorite anime. Cost her a fortune to get the costume and she spent all her art periods this past week making a prop for it (a large cleaver made out of cardboard. Don't ask). But she thought it was worth it and others must have too because lots of people asked her if they could take her picture.

DH and I have decided to go away for a long weekend in October. DD has a Girl Scout trip that weekend and we thought we'd take advantage of her being away to catch some time alone. We'll be staying in a Bed and Breakfast in upstate NY. We plan to do some antiquing, hike and enjoy seeing the leaves turn color. We used to do this all the time before we had kids but don't get as much of a chance nowadays. Bed and Breakfasts are fun to stay at. The food is usually excellent and it's nice to sit at the breakfast table with the other guests and trade stories.

On the knitting front, I am up to the sleeves on the February Lady Sweater and am putting it on hold till I can get to the LYS. My LYSO told me I should bring it in and she'll show me how to do the sleeves on two circulars rather than with double points. I've tried this technique and like it all I need is for her to give me a refresher (and sell me a second #7 circ). She also suggested that I finish off the button bands with some single crochet. I think I will follow her advice it should make it look more finished.

I finally sewed together the aran sweater. It was supposed to be over sized but it's a bit too big even for that. I am not happy, I worked hard on it but I suppose I can wear it anyway. I will post a picture as soon as I can get DD to take one of me wearing it. I also bought the yarn for a very nice shrug that I saw at the LYS. I am doing it in black Noro so I can wear it for work (we have to dress in mostly black ie. black pants any color shirt as long as you wear a black jacket over it). Like the February Lady Sweater this is knitted in once piece with no seams. I don't mind sewing pieces together but this is a nice technique that I have come to like doing the FLS. Still not ready to go whole hog and start making steeks, but I can see myself making a sweater in one piece from time to time.

Well must go and put up the Turkey Roast we are having for dinner. I hope to be back here on the blog sometime this week (fingers crossed)

Finally I have the time to write a post. DS has gone back to school in Pennsylvania and DD has started school as well. My life is once again my own :).

Our vacation was a good one. We didn't do all that much in contrast to most vacations we go on but that was the entire point. This was meant to be an opportunity to kick back and relax. We went to the beach (and all four of us got sunburned), walked the boardwalk, and played some miniature golf on what were some fairly inventive courses. (I even enjoyed it and I hate mini golf)

We did have a bit of a scare with the car. There was a loud thumping noise coming from the right rear wheel for most if not all of the trip. The car was otherwise fine, had not problems with handling but made this awful noise. Soon as we got back we had it looked at and found that it wasn't a serious problem after all just a loose spring in the wheel. Crisis averted.

Here's the picture I promised of my latest Secret Pal package:

I got some lovely yarn with a sparkle running through it, some cable needles, yummy tea, a circular needle and the pattern for the Irish Hiking scarf which as I said before I have been wanting to make forever. My pal knows how to spoil!


Yesterday DD came with me to drop off DS for his trip back to school (we bring him to Pen Station in Manhattan and the staff from school meets us there and takes them the rest of the way back. A very nice arrangement that keeps us from having to make the three hour drive) so that we could do some shopping. We ate lunch with DH and then headed to Century 21 a discount department store in the Financial District. I used to shop there all the time when I worked on Wall Street, back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and before I had kids. It hasn't changed much aside from the fact that it's gotten larger. I frankly avoid the place these days because it's right across the street from the World Trade Center site. I always get very melancholy, when I go there. The weight of my memories is just too much. I saw a lot of tourists taking pictures and I wanted to stop them and shake them and ask them why they were taking pictures of a graveyard. It's hard to see the place so empty when it's so full of people in my memory. They are making progress with the reconstruction, and one day soon it will again be filled with people. But it will never be the same again and I will never be able to look at it without sadness.