The Best Feeling in the WORLD!

Ok I know as a mom of two I should say holding my babies when they are born, or when I hear the words "mommie I love you" ... but SERIOUSLY the absolute best feeling in the world TODAY is getting in to NEW JEANS 2 sizes smaller than I use to wear!!

I know I use to say it was the 26 tumors but D-A-M-N!!! that was 6 months ago!! time for this girl to flaunt it .. lol oh wait THAT'S what gets me into trouble.

Anyways - Hope everyone has a SAFE and WONDERFUL holiday weekend!!

We all do something stupid ...

Miss Moneypenny - please mark this post personal and make sure you forewarn all and any reader that they may get more than they bargain for here.

I use this blog more like a reflection of who I am, where I've been and where I would like to go more than the original purpose and that was to showcase all the wonderful fiber creations I create. Unfortunately, due to recent developments in my life, I have done neither reflected on my life nor created and I have seen the dark corners of hell that I have drawn myself into and now am in the process of pulling myself out of.

First I would like to let people like Laura know how much I absolutely adore her and thank the powers above that she is my friend and "twin". She is the only one that give my ass a good kick when I need it and hold me up when I stumble. I so am very lucky for you and I will hold your hand if you hold mine!

The reason for all this self indulgence and self "ugh" is that over a year ago there was an Idiot who I thought I was long through with that I thought could no longer hurt me, my family, my dear Robert. But stupid me and my "12 year old heart" didn't know that the moment he decided to grace me again with his presence that every thing I thought would be changed.

I realized that although I am a strong woman, can run a non-profit for the SD Blanket Project (which I apologize I have let lapse because I have been so selfish), be a Business Manager in probably the coolest job with the coolest bosses, and a damn good mother of two great kids ... regardless of all that - I am still learning to accept that I am capable of being loved by one incredible man and that this other Idiot is just a distraction.

I realized yesterday that I do not interact sometime (ok MOST of the time) but REact to people. I don't know what I can do about it but I seriously think that knowing the problem my be the first stop in to solving the problem. And a word of advice ... when an EX comes back into your life, for whatever reason, RUN - do not walk, do not pass GO, DO NOT collect $200 - as fast as you can in the other direction!! There is a reason that these people are ex's and we often forget all the bad - but trust me RUN LIKE HELL!!

So I took to hiding my blog and making it private (which I have now unblocked because I won't hide myself again from anyone), back to knitting last night (augh, I really have to get SHORTER size 11 needles), and we all had burgers and hot dogs on the patio for dinner while we watched the balloons over the San Diego coastline and all 4 of us TALKED. (ok, Stephi didn't like the "when you getting a job Miss I'm 16 now" talk, but hey welcome to being 16!)

I'm going to take the baby steps BACK to my family and friends and DOING my job the best I can, and I can hope that if and when I stumble - cuz I know I will - I'll have folks to hold me up (like this really great guy that has shared the past ohhh 17 years with me and understands that sometimes a hug and holding my hand speaks VOLUMES to what I really need!!)

Ok, Miss Moneypenny, set this post to self-destruct in 5 - 4- 3 - 2 .....

And the beat goes on ....

So life at Casa de Smith has resumed to its normal craziness … Stephi is working on getting a job (YEAH! She can now pay for her $300 phone bills!!) and Michael is still twisting my heart around his little finger … and work is well to say we are busy is a major understatement – YUP I’m thriving in my environment!!

On Friday my friend H got me KILLER tickets to go see Montgomery Gentry at Pala Casino here in Fallbrook … I’m so really excited –I mean the last time I went to any concert I think my hair was dangerous to the environment in the 80’s!! And H – being a true “good guy” HATES country so he got me the tickets and is going to then disappear – he earned points for that one… maybe we both grew up in the year we weren’t hanging out … but DAMN it’s a concert!!

The really cool part is I’m going to go with my 22 year old costume designer from work (OMG – I’m old enough to be her MOM!!) and we are raiding the costume warehouse for clothes – but I’m drawing a line at the OKLAHOMA wardrobe … no way am I going in with the petticoat and singing about the wind sweeping down the plains! Maybe some Cowboy boots, and if the “girls” will fit into a leather vest … Hey do people even dress for concerts anymore?? Damn I better consult with my 22 guru!!

But knitting is there – and I usually get in about 5 minutes a day when I’m in line to drop Michael off at school .. but I have completed a few things. A couple of really cute LONDON BEANIES (yes H you get one for when you go camping – but you are NOT getting the sweater!) and Stephi even asked for a shawl for her prom dress…

Right now I’m working on another Lucy Bag for my friend TJ’s daughter who is turning 16 five days after Stephi does. YES, STEPHI is going to be 16!!! Yes, I have a special gift for here (which has been hell to work on since she is ALWAYS snooping – hmm wonder where she gets that – cough, cough)

So hopefully I will get a few more stitches in today … and until then I leave you with this ...

Flashback Thursday

Was surfen' around the other night and found this ... hope those that remember it enjoy it as much as I did seeing it :)




And "kids" this is what they REALLY use to play on Mtv ... ahh the good ole' days ...

We Graduate!!

So it’s been doing a lot lately:
Family Camping trip – check
Artwalk – check
International Business – check
Car Accident – check
Taste of Little Italy – in process

But the best thing I can mark off on my list is STEPHANIE GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL!

We got her test scores last night and this kid ROCKS!! In order to graduate from the California School system, kids have to pass a series of tests that basically show – wow – they actually learned something in the 12 years. And for ANYONE that knows me, this year has been a killer.

Between hospital visits in the first few days of school, being told that my normally A student was a “problem” because she would question the teacher (yes the teacher actually said that the Holocaust was never proven therefore it was not a fact and Stephi should not bring the topic up in class – HELLO – I’m Italian and my Nana was Jewish and a survivor of the holocaust – our family was THERE … rumor my ass!!) Sorry I digressed…

To homeschooling – where I was told I couldn’t / wouldn’t be able to do this and work the schedule I do with the 3 companies … and raise another child ..

To all of those nay-Sayers I have one thing to say – KISS MY GRITS!! My kid got nearly perfect scores on both the Math and English portions of this test!! She is amazing!! Stephanie YOU ROCK!! I am so proud to have you as my daughter and you are an amazing person …

… now go clean your room and set the table, its nearly dinner time. Love Mom xoxo

Where's GeorgeAnne (like where's Waldo with better pics!)

Yes I’ve been missing in action – I’m sorry but seriously if you know me you know where you could have look – Either my desk at work or in the kitchen dyeing yarn (you can see all the pretty colors in my sidebar)!

Work has been amazing the past few weeks. The Imagination Entertainment side of things has been going world wide with events in Turkey and for the first time I’m REALLY happy I use to hang out with a Turkish guy who told me how to get things done … Thanks H! But seriously International Business was NOT something I was ready to jump into!! Making collection calls at 2 am our time – Sam I love ya’ but seriously … oh hell I love my job!!

This past weekend was the INCREDIBLE ARTWALK 2008!! Over 400 artist booth closing down 15 city blocks and I walked that event for 18 hours over 2 days in 90+ degree weather… but I LOVE it!! (Maybe I’m heat stroked, but what better job is there were you can hang out with artist, work on your tan, AND carry your knitting with you to work on??!)

The only bad part of the weekend was some idiot decided that my car made an excellent RAMP for his to back up over … yup I was the victim of a stupid car accident! The Saturn takes a licken’ but keeps on ticken’!! I love this car and more importantly as bad as the damage is I walked away from what could have been a terrible accident! The really “cool” part was I called Robert in a full fledge state of panic and within 15 minutes this man was by my side to help me get the car on the tow truck, get my rental, and got me to work (yep went to work after being hit head on – hey it was ARTWALK weekend!!)

So now it’s back to knitting at night and dyeing yarn when I can … I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking because seriously … I’m pooped!

Counting my Blessings

About a year ago I started a knitting group. My heart was breaking – it’s a long story and if you know well enough you know it’s long and evolved. But I started to get out away from a computer that I had hid behind to pretend to be someone and something I wasn’t…. so I started a group. My therapy group.

In that group I met some AWESOME folks… and one amazing lady who I swear is a sister to my heart. I actually MET her for the first time after the fires in San Diego (her dad ended up losing his home) but I knew from all the emails of the previous months before that she was a great person.

Through the past few months (can you believe that girl - 6 months?!) I feel so inspired by her… We share so many things from home schooling our kiddos, to knitting and crochet to (blast) a similar sense of humor!

I guess in all that tragedy and especially in my heart break – I grew up a bit. I use to think that I needed a lot of names in my cell phone of people to call “friends” but rarely knew anything about me at all. Now I have a much better perception about what I want in my life not what I THOUGHT I needed.

I realized today I have people I care about and who really care about me. So thank you Amanda, and all my therapy “sisters” who held me when I would cry about nothing. You really do make a difference and I might not always say it – but I’m so glad I have you in my life!

There and back again …

Wow! It’s been a week and such a strange ride at that. Let me see where to begin. Perhaps at the beginning. Fiber wise: I’ve been knitting and dying! I’ve had LOTS of hats on and off the needles. Some are going to friends who are collecting for their chemo patients:

And another hat is going to my Reggae friend. This guy is amazing! At 36 he is raising is daughter solo, going to college, and works 2 jobs. One of his jobs is catering the food at a Reggae club where he occasionally gets to DJ as well. So I thought this was PERFECT for him – well he thought so too! And he is now “pushing my wares” down at the club and I’m loving it!! Thanks TJ!

Other than that .. hmm I HAD MY FIRST ETSY SALE!!! Actually, I have three sales and I love it. Dying yarn has been awesome, but it’s now a family experience – Michael and Stephi help wind and skein, Robert helps in the photo process (the man went out and got me Photoshop C2 to help me!!) and I get to clean the kitchen! I love my etsy store and I’m learning a lot about me in the process. Right now I’m having a SINGLE SKEIN SALE to clean out the test skeins, so you might want to take a look over there. So fiber life is good – life life is HECTIC! It’s tax season (rabbit season – sorry that’s my bow WB cartoons!)

We have ARTWALK 2008 coming up in three weeks. What Sandi and Paula do as a team is an amazing feat! I am so proud to be a part of that! In addition to the KidsWalk area (really, if you have children, are a fan of the independent artist or just love a good time in Little Italy, San Diego – you should NEED to come down on April 26 and 27) but we are also having an Artist Auction for these AMAZING benches that with all the funds raised will help fund the ArtReach Program.

Thanks to all the budget cuts many schools have lost the arts in the school systems and ArtReach is a way to help bring some of it back! As a parent I’m glad they are there – as part of the team … I just am amazed at what goes on and what the kids get out of this!!

And if that wasn’t enough, everyone take a deep breath because 10 days after ARTWALK we have The Taste of Little Italy! Needless to say – a lot going on in an amazing company! This is all part of my day – in the morning I might be working for Sam and the iL Circo side of the company, and by the end of the day I might be looking at some of the most amazing art that is going to be showcased at the April event.

Yeah it’s hectic and amazing and I’ve been there… and back again.

Is that a Gray Hare?

I work with a fairly young bunch of people - I guess you have to when you are an acrobat or contortionist .. but there are sometimes when I feel like I saw the invention of the wheel. For that I have to say:

Since the “kids have it so easy” rant is still in full effect, I thought I’d pass this along as well. Feel free to update as necessary, as this list only refers to kids born in 1980…I’m sure it gets worse in later years! Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of that year’s incoming freshmen.

Here is this year’s list:
The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1980.
They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and did not know he had ever been shot. They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.
Black Monday 1987 is as significant to them as the Great Depression.
There has been only one Pope. They can only really remember one president.
There were 11 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War.
They have never feared a nuclear war. “The Day After” is a pill to them, not a movie.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle (Challenger) blowing up.
Tieneman Square means nothing to them.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic
Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums.

The expression “you sound like a broken record” means nothing to them.
They have never owned a record player.
They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
Star Wars look very fake to them, and the special effects are pathetic.
There have always been red M&M’s and blue ones are not new. There used to be beige ones? (I actually don’t remember these and I was born in ‘68–L)
They may have heard of an 8 track, but probably never have actually seen or heard one.
The Compact Disc was introduced when they were 1 year old.
As far as they know, stamps have always cost about 32 cents.
They have always had an answering machine.
Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black-and-white TV. They have always had cable.
There have always been VCR’s, but they have no idea what BETA is.
They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
They were born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony.
Roller-skating has always meant inline for them.
The Tonight Show has always been with Jay Leno.
They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool.
Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
They have never seen Larry Bird play, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a football player.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI, WWII or even the Civil War.
They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran.
They can’t imagine what hard contact lenses are.
They don’t know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: “Where’s the beef?”, ”I’d walk a mile for a Camel,” or “de plane, de plane!”
They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is.
The Titanic was found? I thought we always knew where it was.
Michael Jackson has always been white.
Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not groups.
McDonald’s never came in Styrofoam containers.
There has always been MTV.

Just in case you are having one of "those" days ...

Playing Tour Guide

I'll be playing your tour director today - since Robert and I FINALLY got a day off together!

We started our morning off at Hash House a Go-Go in Hillcrest. OMG if you ever get to San Diego and want an AWESOME breakfast – GO HERE. We waited an hour for a seat, but trust me the food is SO worth it! Look at these plates!!

We did not eat again until 10 that night it is worth EVERY PENNY!!

From the restaurant, we headed down to the San Diego Embarcadero. I work about 10 feet from these place every day and I never realized just how beautiful it is. We went to the USS Midway War Museum and well… just look at the view!

Right next to the USS Midway was the Bob Hope Memorial. The really neat thing about this, is that there is no statue of Hope, but instead it's images of what he saw when he was performing. This was amazing and after living here 13 years, I didn't even know this was here!!



Oh and this was REALLY cool!
Yup, that's me in the red ... that's one BIG statue!!

When we got home, My friend Anita - aka the Easter Bunny - had gifted me with these adorable stitch markers ...

Last, but not least, we snuck away for dinner (it consisted of a $1.50 hot dog) at one of the local casinos and ended up winning about $40!

So nope, there wasn't a lot of knitting on my vacation ~ unless you count the 2 rows I did in the car on the way to the casino ~ but in those 24 hours with DH I had the BEST day!! WOW ... this was ONE AMAZING, TOTALY AWESOME day!!

And this ladies and gentlemen, concludes our tour today. Thank you and come again :)