we had to go to PGH Mills Mall for the H&M...

we found there an excellent kids' play area!

I'll just pretend to be a tall 5 yo so I can play with my sisters (the little ones weren't interested in the big kids' play area)

thanks mom...just what I wanted...now what do I do? 

I wish I were bigger so I could climb up too! 

O: I will head butt your legs until you let me on here b/c I only want what you have even though there are 4 other things to climb on.

F: and by golly I am determined to not share one inch with you (she grits her teeth & holds on for dear life)

fiona doing what fiona's do best...launching from an elevated location & attempting to fly 

"kindercamp!"

( a group of "kindercampers" was here just b4 us & their teacher told them "say 'kindercamp'"; so when it was our turn to take a picture, FiFi says "kindercamp!")

how to end a day @ city park...sitting on a huge cannon, of course!

fun at city park

she wouldn't let me take her picture (for once) 


until she had her life vest on 


a happy sailor 


a 30 min paddle boat ride 


well worth the 45 minute wait 

he just looks like a moron...

even without someone accenting that fact with IT trickery hahahahaha! enjoy. I sure did! hahahahaha!

my latest art installation

pictures don't do it justice, really.

the original inspiration came from this. I blew up just the heart and then used colored pencils to give it some depth and at least a touch of my own creativity. (I still don't feel completely comfortable drawing my own artwork.)

Beautifully rendered on my skin by JD at Phantom 8.

I like it alot. I asked for little or no black & I got exactly what I asked for! For the first time!! JD has a cool vibe & was laidback too, not some arrogant punk twenty-something tattoo artist like I have encountered elsewhere in my quest for ink. (more on that quest at my other blog) And he has a nice touch; not too deep like he's carving out my skin in the process (ouch!). It was actually enjoyable. Darn, now I have no fear of pain to prevent me from getting another one. (and then there's my bro who says that if it doesn't hurt, it's not deep enough & won't last???)(I hope this isn't true). I am so impressed, I do believe I'll be back for more b4 the end of the year. This is just the inner forearm; I have plans for my whole left arm. (and I have plans to send my bro, as well as bring G's mom & sister & her husband mwahahaha)

Funny note: when I visited the shop to make my appointment, I took Fi with me. JD walks out into the reception area to help me & Fi whispers up to me "Do pirates live here??". "No, I don't think so." She looks at JD again and then at some of the flash on the walls & says "I think they do live here".

new ink at my other blog

I just don't feel like posting the pictures 2X. So look there if you're curious.

As to tattoos, I was just reminiscing tonight about my very first inspiration for tattoos. I was really little, like b4 school age it had to've been. I remember seeing this man with tattoos on his arms at a local carnival. So most likely he was a carny is my guess. And most likely they were the all black/blue tats of old -I remember them as black. I mean, this was around 1970 or so; you know, they were that kind of tattoo -the hard india ink kind, the not pretty like today's tattoos can be kind. I can almost remember the exact moment -kind of like when you can't quite remember a word & it's on the tip of your tongue -that's how that memory is for me -when I decided that one day I too would like to have tattoos. I was awestruck. Can't imagine what my mom's reaction was or if I even told her. Or did I ask her about that man & his tattoos & what was her response?

Can't say that I remember giving it much thought after that. But for my 20th bday, I had my first tattoo done by Craig at Island Ave. Tattoo in McKees Rocks. (glad to see he looks healthy & is doing well!) I had to hitch a ride there and I was way nervous; hell, I was a 20 yo art institute student/metal head, lived in rural western PA all my life. But I went back for my appointment & have never regretted it since (other than the bad trip one night after my brother had told me I'd go to hell for having a tattoo. Freak. Like he even remotely resembled some bible thumper. As I recall he got his first tattoo shortly thereafter.)

A few times in the first couple weeks I jumped when I caught a glimpse of it in the mirror b/c it looked like a big black something on my shoulder. The sad thing is I can never see it looking straight on. It's always backwards to me. And I have always loved the twist that Craig drew in a penis. For a kind of spontaneous yet planned all my life moment, it was definitely a good & memorable experience. My best friend Laurie & I were the only ones in the shop the whole time so it wasn't like grand central. Hmmm, actually tattoos were still pretty underground at the time. Case in point,I remember some biker dudes in there when I made my appointment & I totally felt out of my element. It wasn't like everyone & their mother had tattoos at that time. I was originally looking at getting a dragon of sorts & I remember Craig chastising me "you don't want puff the magic dragon on your back for the rest of your life, do you?" So I went with something a little more exotic -a griffin. A pack of smokes shared between me & Laurie & $80 lighter, I walked out with the ink for which I had waited 15+ years.

I had to ask my sister to put ointment on it when I visited the folks later that week b/c I couldn't reach it & I didn't dare tell my parents. God forbid. They never have said squat to me about any of my tattoos. Of course they never said anything about the mohawk & other various shaven hair styles I've worn. Or any of my piercings. Or the docs & biker jacket. (still one of my prized possessions) Why did I think they'd spaz about a tattoo?? Either they're way cooler than I ever gave them credit for, or they just keep their opinions to themselves, which is in itself cool too.

And that is my first tattoo story. There are 3 others not including the latest.

to be continued...?

a pirate's life for me

we saw THE movie of the year last night. And it was really really really good. Really good. As in I would love to see it again. On the big screen. And that doesn't often happen in my life. There has rarely been a movie worthy of paying full price more than once. In fact the only one that comes to mind was "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Or was that Temple of Doom? Or maybe both. Nevertheless, I wasn't too impressed with the first Pirates (I've fallen asleep or gotten bored & left the room everytime I've attempted to sit down w/ it). Maybe seeing it on DVD instead of in a theatre was a mistake. Regardless, I was slightly apprehensive about "wasting" money on a sequel to a movie which I didn't initially enjoy. I will say the beginning was on the slow side which further increased my doubts. But once the action got rolling, it just didn't stop. It literally played out like the most superb amusement park ride I can imagine. The costumes were excellent. The f/x were well done. The story was interesting. Johnny Depp was above & beyond the best he's done yet. Better even than Fear & Loathing!

Madster, on the way out the door, stated that she has some brand new ideas for a halloween costume (previously it was Princess Mononoke; I was not thrilled about having to sew a fake fur costume, so yay! much more creative to be a pirate of one's own design!!) Fi said she too would like to be a pirate. As did Olivia. Heck, after that flick, I think I know what I want to be when I grow up!!!

where have I been?

obviously oblivious to the boob tube. I can't believe I missed this. Not that I'm a big fan of reality t.v. with the exception of the occasional Amazing Race or Project Runway -it pretty much all sucks time & energy from my limited supply. I mean, my own life is real enough, is it not? Why do I need to voyeuristically participate in someone else's? I should be paid for someone to watch my life unfold, not the other way around. Anyhoo. I haven't seen the show yet. Didn't watch any of last season's search for the INXS lead singer. Don't know what my opinion is about my once heartthrob Jason Newsted being involved in such a "commercial" and obvious "sell out". I mean, to go from Flotsam to Metallica to whatever his own band was called? to frigging Voivod to this tripe? I don't know. Is it good that he's still working, always evolving? Or is this the end of the end? Good that Tommy Lee is still forward thinking & evolving beyond what his former bandmates were capable of doing for themselves; he's not playing small venues & hasn't gained 200 lbs & mostly stays out of the bad press. Gilby? Meh. Was never a big Gilby Clarke fan; he was always kind of in the background of GNR. So an interesting group to be sure. Wonder who's original idea this was, really?? Shite, now I have to add another t.v. show to my week. It may push me past my threshold. I think it's holding steady @ 2/week. So, now that the Sopranos is over for the year & Big Love & the Shield. Hmmmm, that's 3. So we now have Rock Star, Project Runway, and that's all I can think of at the moment...and that's enough really. Thank god for DVR & forwarding past commercials.

toads

so madster was quite happy to go toad hunting; it was a new experience b/c I don't think we've ever seen one in our neighborhood. We heard them all around at night @ my parents' house. She found two while visiting my good friends M & C near my parents'. And she found another while visiting my good friend/mad's godmother C in PGH. She would have kept them but for the ride home. She was sad to let them go; a little indignant when she couldn't find any right @ my parent's even though she could hear them. It was just the coolest thing watching her on the trip. Being 8 is such a magical time. She made a fairy home at M & C's b/c they live in the woods & "it seems like the kind of place where you might find anything, you know, like fairies or wild animals or anything"

i'm knitting again!

I crocheted these nifty washcloths b4 I left on holiday. The patterns are here. I did the "janelle's star" and the "latticework"; fun & nearly instantaneous gratification.
ooooh pretty 
I also started another; I think it's round. I left off & will probably have to frog it to start anew. One of these days I will remember to write down where I leave off when I have to put a project down for an extended period of time.

I've also cast on numerous times for the Sexy Knitters Club project. I got through the 1st row & decided that I didn't like how the piece was joined on the circulars. Grrr. Then I kept getting interrupted (darn that "Cinderella Man" movie & it's many suspenseful moments!) & losing count. Yes, I do have a stitch counter thingy. But all is well. I will cast on today AND join the ends correctly. 180 cast on is easy to lose track of counts with kids running amok during the day & a movie that I can't stop watching at night. The pattern so far seems to be easy enough. We'll see how it goes as I get to the little cap sleeves & the yoke collar. Some techniques that I've not tried yet. I'm doing it in TLC Cotton Plus in this really pretty, rich red color. I'll post a picture when I've got a little more than the 1st row OTN.

And I'm trying to participate in the Knit the Classics projects for July & August. I'm actually reading the book this month, so that's a start. Too bad the Sexy Knitter's Club project doesn't fit in India circa 1930 (I think that's the time frame). I'm at a loss for what to knit. I thought maybe a shawl of some sort. Or some sort of veil. Hmmmmm. That may be the ticket. Now to find a pattern & get busy.

Finally, I'm actually finishing the girls' sheers. It's really not a difficult project. Don't know why it felt so daunting. Maybe my mom's complaints in the back of my mind about sewing w/ slippery, sheer fabrics. I've used fusible tape on the edges so as to avoid as much sewing as possible. I sewed the rod pocket w/ no problems whatsoever. I'm thinking the tape acts as a stabilizer & makes stitching easier. Have to ask my mom if she didn't use a stabilizer & that's what made sewing these fabrics difficult for her. I will have to put some kind of fringe or beads or something along the bottom edge as I've cut it too short to actually hem it up. But the one panel that is now hanging in the window does look very pretty & is exactly what I expected. Yay!!!!!

oh that Christian Bale

So I got "Howl's Moving Castle" from Netflix for Madster's continuing anime fascination. The movie itself is 2 hours long; 2 1/2 hours later, she's still watching it. Hmmmm. What's going on? C:"did you start it again or is it still playing?" M:"it's still playing" M:"did you know Christian Bale is the voice of that character (she points at the screen). C:"oh yes, I hear it now; that Batman voice." (hmmm, it's all making sense now; she hadn't paid attention to the credits during the first 2 hours) C:"so you did start it again, didn't you?" (M grins impishly). Good grief, even his voice -with no visuals- is sexy.

just a late preview

more to come when I get copies from B. Snick is the 2nd from the right sitting (with student council seniors) before the ceremony & during speeches. She's the 3rd from the left standing (w/ stuco seniors) shaking hands & hugging each graduating senior as s/he exits the stage. She had to buy the cap & gown; what a waste but what money making scheme for some company: $30X450 is a fine profit from just one Boulder graduating class. Poor girl's 91lbs soaking wet looks deceptively like 200lbs on her 5'1" frame as she swims in that huge gown.

look ma! no training wheels!

After long & arduous practices with many complaints of how hard it is, I decided to just let her go on her own w/ no help from me. No one watching & no one to complain to, she finally got the hang of it. Yay!

has it been that long already?

I'm baaaack after my short hiatus to the east coast. It was just long enough b/c my kids were driving me crazy towards the end, and yet not long enough b/c I didn't get to see everyone that I intended to visit. I had wanted to leave out on the saturday but had to work the night b4 & so didn't get any packing done (or cleaning 'cuz you know how it is to leave w/ a clean house.) So it took all day Saturday to get out the door. When finally the car was packed & everyone was belted in & goodbye kisses were given & received, I turned the key in the ignition and...nothing. We had run the battery dead. And it was 11:30pm. So amidst tears & great protestation everyone got out of the car & into their respective beds to start anew the next morning. The mechanic who did the tune-up did say we'd need a new battery soon. Well, that was sooner than expected but better in our own driveway than five hours into our journey in the middle of godforsaken Nebraska. We finally headed out around noon and only had to turn around the block once for a forgotten sweater. Whew.