It's been a while... wow, when I fall off the wagon I really do a good job of it. It's been almost a month since the last time I posted. Things have been quiet at work, I've been getting my ducks in a row and I haven't had anything negative happen yet, but then I haven't messed up a punch yet. I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

So, it's been so incredibly busy that I haven't even posted that we've been on vacation. My parents have a time share, a villa, in Kissimmee (pretty much Orlando) Florida. It's in a very elegant resort complex and the place is just gorgeous. Two big bedrooms, the master bath has a jacuzzi, we have our own full size bathroom to ourselves as well. The loft has become Steve's favorite hangout as it's the only place he's able to get a decent wireless signal, I'm ok down here in the living room with dad's Mac.

The weather here has been beyond compare. 70's and breezy from last Friday till about Wednesday, perfect weather for doing some light park visiting. It was actually on the chilly side, believe it or not, when the wind was blowing. We spent a day and a half at Universal (awesome) and a day at Epcot. My cousin works for Disney as a cook so our Epcot day was free and we got his employee discount on souveniers and for our lovely dinner at the Japanese restaurant.

The latter part of the week has been warmer, 80's, and less breezy. The sun has been more intense and I've definitely tanned, despite the fact that we spent two or three days just lounging around while my parents visited family in Ocalla, and then went to Miami. We're the kind of people who like to take it easy on vacation, not run ourselves ragged. My parents have WAY more energy than Steve and I do.

It's been a good vacation, no doubt about it. The Xanax my doctor gave me worked like a charm with my panic attacks and flying. I was calm, not woozy, and they actually WORKED, despite me not thinking they would. My time here has been wonderful, I read three short novels in a series, one very large novel in a series, and finally had to stop by a book store to buy another thick fantasy novel to take me through the last two days and the airport. I haven't gotten nearly any knitting done, sadly. I can't knit in the car and the socks are metal needles so I can't take them on the plane. I did get a lot of spinning done with my new custom spindle, which did not make it in time and had to be sent via priority mail by Katie. Thanks Katie!

Speaking of Katie, it's her birthday today. Katkins, I wish you all joy and love, even though you already found yours. I hope that this natal day finds you wrapped in the arms of the one you love, surrounded by well wishes from those who also love you, and filled with the warmth of a content heart. No one deserves it more. :) I miss you, you would have loved it here.

I am giddy like a kid in a candy store today. As a matter of fact, this has been just a pretty awesome week in general, if I do say so myself!

I've decided to start throwing away all my cheap ass shoes. I'm a bit of a shoe horse, but mostly because I never throw any away. I still have a pair from high school! What I've done is filled a trash bag for Goodwill, full of shoes that were cheap in the first place, didn't fit me well, and frankly made my feet hurt if I wore them too long. My Skechers sneakers, work boots, and a few pair of "dress" shoes are staying. I have replaced them with "like new" Dansko shoes off Ebay. And when I say "like new", I mean indistinguishable from new! For less than $100 including shipping, I have gotten a pair of clogs and a pair of Maryjane clogs. (They average $110 each, new.) The goal is to have no more than a dozen pair of shoes, most of them Dansko, as in shoes that are made to cradle and support your feet, and will last forever. I refuse to pay full price, so this will take a while as I haunt Ebay. More on this, and pictures, when I've worn them for a full week

Also this week I finished off my second wholesale yarn order for the website Yarn4Socks, where I am to be the featured artist for October. God, I love October. :) I have sent them 11 different colors, several of which are brand new and never offered by me before. This is the new superwash yarn I'm using that is sans nylon for all you purists out there. Very, very nice. A huge shout out to Katie and Steve, without them I never would have gotten it done, no exaggeration there. I really wouldn't have been able to do it, especially with all the ups and downs I've had since I started on this wholesale adventure this summer.

The same day as I got the shoes in the mail (yesterday), I got some prints of mine that I ordered to decorate my cube with. Wow. I swear to god, I say this without being vain, but wow. People keep stopping by my cube and I'm afraid someone's going to get whiplash. I think it has less to do with me being a super-duper photographer and more to do with the fact that work is such a sterile environment, and even our homes to some extent. How many of you have anything other than family photographs decorating your homes? We can't put anything up because our walls our sheet rock over brick, but before that I can say what I suspect to be the frequent answer: none. Maybe a movie poster, or bland kitchen print. I wish more people would remember that art brightens your life, whether it's your own snapshots (as in my case) or the work of someone else. How about this, why don't you check out the deviantART store today and take a look around? This is the link for the general store, if you want to see my work you can click on the link in my side bar.

deviantART Shop: give your eyes a vacation!

And lastly... tomorrow I get on a train for the first time in 15 years! I will be taking my spinning wheel, a camp chair, my camera, and my achey-ass self down to Grand Central Station in NYC where I will meet up with Carolyn (from my WOOL Retreat) and Jessica (blogger I met at Rhinebeck '06). We will be taking a taxi (one of the big one 'cause we'll have our portable wheels in bags) to Central Park where we'll be joining dozens of other spinners for Spin Out 2007! The money raised goes to Heifer, an organization I believe strongly in. If you want to check out their independent rating (or any other non-religious charity) go here: Charity Navigator. I can't wait to sit around the fountain with all these other spinners and enjoy a beautiful day. I can't tell you the last time I was in the city! And I'm beyond excited to be spending the day with these two wonderful ladies. I've never even been in Central Park, which just goes to show you how much of New York I still have yet to see.

Yay. Just, yay.