My sister’s water broke about 1:30 this morning. She’s at the hospital. Her last child took 24 hrs of labor though, so this one won’t be easy. As soon as I get more news, I’ll post it.

Excuse the housekeeping, but I need to check this from many PCs.

14 girls invited.

3 Cousins accepted

1 Sister accepted

1 Non class mate accepted

4 Class mates accepted

-2 Class mates declined

We have to pay for 11 kids (Chuck E Cheese), so this helps my math. I may send out a bugging email to others.

Happy Holidays and warm wishes to any readers out there who happen by!

In advance of the new year, I’m making this public. Hopefully, I’ll track my progress. Areas are not listed in any order, other than how they pop into my brain.

Professional: I’m taking one of many baby steps and getting involved in code camp. I’ve volunteered to take on the web site duties, and one of my personal professional goals is to have enough confidence about a subject to give a talk at the next one. I’m picking up sharepoint coding, so that may develop into a presentation, and I’m getting back into web development after six months of vb6/install shield heck, so maybe I’ll be able to feel more knowledgeable about something there. I’ve loved the code camps, so hopefully I’ll be able to give back.

Parenting: I need to stop yelling so much. It’s just easier to be louder than the kids, instead of stopping what I’m doing and walking over to them and making sure they’re listing. I don’t know how to quantify/objective-ize (is that a word) this, but it’s something I’m working on. Also, we all need to be better organized about our mornings – which means I need to do stuff at night to make this happen.

Housekeeping: I am not a housewife, but I need to be better at this. And I need to get the kids involved in chores, now that they’re old enough. I know my husband would prefer not having a slob of a wife, and a house the same.

Knitting: Cables. Completion. I need to complete stuff, and do something with cables. And take more pictures.

Writing: I need to be more diligent about blogging, even if the topic is not related to yesterday’s. There are enough interesting things in my head that I should be able to come up with something each day. And I need to get Cinderfella finished – it’s finished in my mind, but I need to make myself write it.

Reading: I’m on God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 4)' target=_blank>God Emperor of Dune (Book 4), and I’d like to finish the original series, then the two add-ons that the son wrote from the outlines. I’m not sure I want to read the prequels, since you already know what happened, but I’ll decide later.

Web Site Management: Now that I’m getting back into web development, I hope I’ll make the time to do some sprucing up around here.

Personal: Okay, weight loss was a non-success this year. I’m not using the f-word, since you kind of have to try in order to fail, and since my tries were very inconsistent, I’m not counting. However, new job has minimal commute (I mean, 1 mile, maybe from daycare to office), with no chances of drive thru, so that’s good. However, if I want to stop and get something, there are options. And since I’m so close… Well, I’m trying not to to that too often. What I really need to do, of course, is spend time on the treadmill. I’ll think about how that can happen, and get back to you when I have a more concrete goal.

Okay, the above are loosely defined, so next week, my plan is to have, for each area above, a well-defined, achieveable objective. Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Holidays!

I asked for guidelines, and I get exact present specs. This is actually the 4^th year I’ve been wish list compiler. Here, names redacted, are what people sent in. You may notice some common themes – we all loved Buck Rogers as kids. Most of us like sc-fi/fantasy. There are no Dallas fans allowed (grounds for disownment). Hubby’s Parents visit, but are not usually included in the recipient list – in other words, I give them a slightly modified version, so that the girls get different presents.

18 yr old Daughter
Converse Hi-tops – size 8 ½ in women, 6 ½ in men
Jewelry
Sony Cybershot W200 Digital Camera
Golden Girls DVDs (any season)
Lucky Never Slevin DVD
Ocean’s Thirteen DVD
Knocked Up DVD
Payless Gift Card
Foot Locker Gift Card
Famous Footwear Gift Card
DSW Gift Card
Target Gift Card
Wal-Mart Gift Card
Torrid Gift Card

5.9 yr old Daughter
Disney/Other Movie Books – Learn to Read level
Barbies
Horses
Favorite Color (this month) is green
Arts/Crafts requiring minimal assistance

4.15 yr old Daughter
Whatever Cailin gets (within reason)
Power Rangers (any kind)
Favorite Color (this month) is purple
Barbies and or Baby Doll things
Arts/Crafts requiring minimal assistance

Me
Redskins Stuff
Die Hard Series on DVD
Buck Rodgers Series on DVD
Young Ones (every stoopid episode) series DVD
Knitting Calendar
Blue/Silver jewelry

Hubby
Eagles Stuff
Seinfeld Season 9 DVD
Book: Semi Homemade 20 minute Meals by Sandra Lee
fFolkes DVD

15 Yr Old Nephew
Nintendo PSP
Ghost Rider (the DVD or anything)
Dukes of Hazzard (DVD or TV series)
Hero clix
marver super hero related anything (except superman)
godzilla collectible figures
anything with a rebel flag
Undertaker 15 and O (DVD)
Hulk hogan anthology
clothes with any of the following. Lynyrd skynyrd, AC/DC, Pink Floyd,
Guns and Roses and Avenged seven fold
spiderman 3 game for PS2 or dvds
civil war game for PS2
Transformers DVD or PS2 game

10 Yr old Nephew
Magic cards Lorwyn edition
Hero Clix
Hero clix booster packs

4.15 yr old Niece
Leapfrog phonics writing desk
Leapster games (she only has disney princess so far)
Baby Alive
Barbie Island princess accesories (i think i'm getting the doll)
any barbie stuff really...
Barbie and Tanner
Barbie cash register
moon sand
playdoh kits
aqua doodle mat
candyland castle game
wacka mole game
Hungry hungry hippos

Sister In Law
subscription to Paula Deen's magazine
Jewelry-gemstones, hoop earrings, bracelets
starbucks stuff. Like a travel mug with no handle...
laptop lap desk

Brother (38, but you wouldn’t know it)
Magic The Gathering TCG 10th Edition Core Set Fat Pack
1000+ Assorted Magic the Gathering Cards
Magic the Gathering What Color T-Shirt, XX-Large
(5) Magic the Gathering MTG 10th Tenth Edition X Core Set Booster Pack
Magic the Gathering Coldsnap Fat Pack
Magic the Gathering Future Sight Fat Pack
Magic The Gathering TCG Planar Chaos Fat Pack
Magic the Gathering: MTG Lorwyn - Sealed Fat Pack
100 BCW 9 Pocket Storage Sheets for Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Yugioh, Pokemon and Other Collector Cards That Fit in Standard Sized Pages
Ultra Pro The Magic the Gathering (MTG) Ciruelos' Dragon Playmat - Limited Edition (Black)
Player's Choice Gold Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Player's Choice Purple Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Player's Choice Silver Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Player's Choice Red Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Player's Choice White Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Poker Secrets From Poker Champs DVD
Maverick DVD
Rounders (Collector's Edition) DVD
Tilt - Season One DVD
NFL Washington Redskins Poker Guard with black velvet pouch
Washington Redskins Monopoly
Washington Redskins NFL Polo by Reebok (Adult XX-Large)
YuGiOh GX Card Game 2007 Series 1 Collector Tin Set Elemental Hero Grand Neos
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Machine Re-Volt Structure Deck
YuGiOh GX Card Game 2007 Series 1 Collector Tin Set Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus
2007 YuGiOh! Collectors Holiday Tin: Destiny Hero Plasma
YuGiOh! Ultimate Edition 2! Dragon Master Knight with 2 Dark Revelations Volume 3 Booster Packs + Ultimate Dueling Guide
Yugioh Jaden Yuki and Syrus Truesdale 2 Starter Decks Sets
Yugioh Blaze of Destruction Structure Deck
Yu-gi-oh! Structure Deck - Fury From the Deep
Yu-Gi-Oh! Lost Millenium Special Edition Box
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Collection Volume 1
2006 Magic The Gathering Time Spiral Fat Pack
Player's Choice Black Sleeves - Standard Size Deck Protectors
Magic the Gathering: Core Set - Tenth - 10th - Edition Sealed Fat Pack
Magic The Gathering - 10th / Tenth Edition Theme Deck Set of 5
Caro's Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro (Author)
Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategies for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. III--The Workbook (Harrington on Hold'em)
Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame by Dan Harrington (Author), Bill Robertie (Author)
Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker by Doyle Brunson (Author)
Doyle Brunson's Super System II by Doyle Brunson (Author)
The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence by Josh Waitzkin
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device
Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman
Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies by Sol Stein
Book: Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish)by James Scott Bell (Author)
Book: Techniques of the Selling Writer

9 Yr Old Nephew
Wrestling toys- John Cena
Rocky Toy
Steelers stuff
Playstation 2 games: action and sports games ( no T for teen or M for Mature games)
Chris Brown's new CD Edited version
Kanye West's New CD Edited version
Hideki Matsui memorabilia (Yankee player)
Gilbert Arenas jersey (black and Gold One)
Steelers Helmet
Clothes

32 yr old Sister (due in Feb)
Buck Roger's series on DVD
Flip mittens
Carol Burnett Series on DVD
Hair things
gift certificates

Sister’s SO
A Job
Sports Illustrated Red Sox World Series DVD
Best of Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live
Miami Heat, Boston Redsox, or Pittsburgh Steelers Memorabilia
Gift certificates

Sister’s SO’s Mother
Anything butterflies

36 yr old Sister
Cuddlekins Black Bear 12" Plush by Wild Republic
College Logo Pendant - UC Berkeley Golden Bears Offered by FanTheFire
SHINY STONE BEAR'S CLAW Paw Pewter PENDANT Necklace Offered by Dan's Jewelers Sterling Silver Bear Pendant Offered by Sabrina Silver
Star Wars Darth Vader with Lightsaber Lucite Keychain Offered by Countdown Enterprises
DVD Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - The Complete Epic Series
DVD Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Epic Series (Limited Edition Cylon Head Packaging
DVD Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition) New Version
Book Three in Death by J.D. Robb (Author) 

Brother In Law 
Books are always good (softcover perferred)
Mort by Terry Pratchett (book 1)
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (book 2)
Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (book 3)
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett (book 4)
Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett (book 5)
The Harlequin by Laural K. Hamilton
Mistral's Kiss by Laural K. Hamilton
For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
Bitten by Kelly Armstrong
Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Movies (widescreen):
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (released dec. 11)
Transformers
1776
Ducksoup
Night at the Opera
The Thin Man
After The Thin Man
Another Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Thin Man Goes Home
Song of the Thin Man
All That Jazz
Key Largo
Clothes - 3x shirts, 46 jeans

60 Yr Old Man (my dad)
Left & Right Throttle Rockers JC Whitney.com/J & P Cycles.com
Belgian Waffle Iron & Mix GoldenMalted.com
Portable DVD Player
Western Books / Movies
12volt Cook Ware

63 Yr Old Lady (my mom)
Slots disc WMS II (I have I) from casino center.com.
light weight socks (crew)
size 3x tops
help with Gramma
Rascal Flatts newest CD (Still Feels Good)
Newest books from James Patterson, Robert B Parker, Catherine Coulter, Michael Connolly, Janet Ivanovich (Discounted only, or I'll wait for used book store)

90 Year old Matriarch (my grandmother)
warm socks
chocolate candy
flannel night gown
Large print historical fiction without sex
Pictures of grandkids

According to the recruiters, nearly everything is a “Hot Opportunity” or a “Perfect Match to your skill set”. And yes, it seems this is a good time for me to be looking, right now. Govt contracts have been awarded or enhanced (thank you, taxpayers). People here in the DC area are in a state of transition. (Which, for this area, is the norm, but it’s a little high right now, since it’s after the school year has started.) My particular skills (and an odd mix of geekiness they are) are not necessarily the norm, so when some recruiter sees my resume on Monster, or Dice, or Washington Post Jobs, they gravitate. I’m even getting identical job descriptions from competing recruiters, which always makes me chuckle, whether I’m interested or not.

So, I’ve been on one real interview, and two meetings with “Recruiter/Staffing firm” people. Not bad for 7 days out of work. And I could have done more, if my personal requirements weren’t so limiting.

My biggest challenge is looking business-like. The phrase “bull in a china shop” is very close to my awareness outside of my home, not the least because I get clumsy when I get nervous.

And I’m definitely not in the market for the constant increase in wages, which causes disbelief in many. So many of the recruiters automatically add 5 to 10 K to what I just made as a starting point, and that’s not the kind of image I want to present.

So, this may take awhile (hey, I’m catching up on the dreaded laundry), or I may get the “Perfect Match” sometime next week. Either way, I’m trying to make the most of it. I’m volunteering for the book fair next week (yummmmm, book fairs), and I’m doing plenty of decluttering and catching up on house work that I would otherwise ignore, and I’ve started NaNoWriMo, and I’m catching up on sleep. I’m knitting a little bit – I’m actually using knitting as a reward for getting the unpleasant housework done.

To finding a job closer to home, doing work I want to do.

To Shenandoah Sheep and Fiber Festival.

To Halloween with Spider Girl and the Vampire Queen (I found my camera, pictures will be procured and posted).

To getting rid of lots of clutter and getting a craft room for me.

To trying to eat right, once again, or just giving in and doing the gastric bypass.

To wrapping up the year on a positive note.

Michelle had her baby! Yay!

Michelle’s water broke. My prayers are with her and her hubs and babetko.

4yr old got three shots at yesterday’s checkup - the umbilical cord has retracted somewhat. With this one, it was never quite cut. I have my own personal Clingon.  So, this will be a frustrating weekend.

I still haven’t located the camera, so maybe today.

That was what I asked myself when my favorite blogger went off line for nearly two weeks. I mean, even to post something saying she was taking some time off?

Of course, over the last two weeks, I’ve had the same difficulty posting – not necessarily due to lack of something to say, but finding the time to say it right – with pictures and everything.

So, I’ve decided to stop being the hypocrite, and stop being the perfectionist and just post – even if I don’t have the pretty pictures downloaded from the camera and ready to go.

Here goes:

The in-laws just left after a week’s visit. They’re great. I love them, but it’s nice to have my home back to myself (so to speak). Really, they’re wonderful. They both clean (I’m not quite the world’s worst housekeeper, but they may think so), she cooks, and they both dote on the little monst–, uhm, girls.

Of course, I get a head cold last week, that this week is trying to migrate into my chest. And I don’t have Columbus day off, with this new job, so I’ll be dropping you know who off at my mother’s.

I’ve made progress on Ellen’s Surprise, and Holly’s Custom Sweater (Light blue with up and down white stripes). I’ve started and ripped and started Cara’s Matrix Thing.

I’ve watched all my shows from last week – Bones, NCIS, Bionic Woman, CSI, Numbers, and Cold Case. I started Munich – about 45 minutes. I finished Highlander: the Source. Ugh. I was never a fan of Duncan McCloud.

Next time, I promise to have pictures. Gotta go wake 5.5 yr old, and dress us all, and head out.

What a week it’s been. We had an intense time at the beach, then came back to the week not quite from heck, but from somewhere pretty close. So now I’m finally mentally and physically ready to resume blogging. Unfortunately, I haven’t any pictures for you, yet, but I’ll get back into that soon.

Below is a list of all the stuff I have in the works in various stages more solid than dreaming about.

Knitting Projects Currently On The Needles:

• Green Sweater for 5.5 yr old (needs one sleeve, and body)
• Christmas Sweater (not those colors) for 18 yr old
• Kittyville hat for Youngest Sister (by request)
• Not a Kelly for Me
• Various Dishrag / swatching

Knitting Projects Soon To Be Cast On

• Tank/Tee for Middle Sister
• Sweater for 4 yr old
• Sweater for Cousin 4 yr old (by request)

Knitting Projects Being Planned

• Layette for BOSS (due Jan 1 – Baby’s Due Jan 15, gender unknown)
• Layette for Youngest Sister (due Feb 1 – Baby’s Due Feb 14, male)

Website Projects In the Pipeline

• Updates to this site
• Writeaholic resurrection
• Codemom deployment

Writing Projects In my Head

• Divine Right to Rule (exploring a physical manifestation of this belief)
• Magic Tigers
• Warriors

Brian May, of Qeen fame, has done it. He’s a PhD. As someone who couldn’t tolerate college (most likely due to asthma-medicine induced ADD), I’m both congratulatory and jealous. And, it’s in astrophysics, no less. Something I have a passing interest in – I follow the headlines more than most people would (same with quantum physics).

Hats off, to you, Brian, for finishing what you started long ago. Maybe I’ll go back to college in 30 years, and just graduate.

I start my new job on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to learning new things, and doing something the public (well, more than just classified Navy Users) can see and use.

Hubby will be changing his job schedule with the new month - he'll be working evenings, for most likely the month of May. He's not looking forward to it, but I am. He can take the girls to school when they're nice and cooperative, and I'll pick up the cranky monsters and feed them, and put them to bed.

I've started Intermittent Fasting. Eat 24 hours, Fast 24 hours, from 6pm to 6 pm (In my case it's more like 7 - 7). Today is my first fast day. I will most likely be fasting Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I didn't weigh today, and we have the road trip to the inlaws this weekend, but I'll get a baseline tomorrow morning if I can, and I'll try to repeat every week.

On the writing front, not much is happening. Current job ends tomorrow, which has basically been all consuming of any free time (hence the job change). I have several stories in the various mental stages, that I'd like to start putting down on either paper or electrons.

By the way, does anyone know if reflected light is different than direct light? How does the reflection alter the light wave/particle makeup? Anyone? Anyone? ... I guess I'll have to look it up, then.

But I'm going to try anyway. Today's events at Virginia Tech will cause a lot of damage. Most likely more damage than the shooter originally intended. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and any other persons affected by this tragedy, including the family of the shooter.