hell-o reno.

It all started with a leaky faucet. Isn't that the way it goes? The night before we left for Vegas the taps in our ONE BATHROOM house decided to shit the bed. GREAT. Fortunately, my parents are the good sport types and used the kitchen sink for everything. Good thing its a whopping 10 steps away.

So we come back from Vegas. Taps. Argh. Go to find a replacement cartridge (not a washer type this POS. Nope. A cartridge. L.A.M.E.) and the nice dude at Rona gives us 2 for free! Delta has a lifetime warranty. You know, if they fit that is. Which they don't.

Off to buy a cheap replacement faucet. BUT whats that I see? A super cute vanity? For like 100$? Well that of course leads to better taps. Which leads to a new floor as the old one just won't do with all that new floor space. Which leads to a new toilet* (super small! super efficient! 2 flush sizes!) which leads to new paint which leads to a new bathroom.

We only had to call the plumber to attach the sink as we have NON STANDARD plumbing. But you know.. its pretty smokin' if I do say so myself.

Now if you ever hear me volunteer to paint another bathroom.. you know there is something really wrong with me. Cause that ain't NO FUN AT ALL. Really though, scraping up ancient flooring isn't either.

The awesome? We have more room, and its pretty and fresh and clean. And we learned that NO WAY IN HELL could we ever do our own kitchen. NOPE.**


















AND Chris got to smash the old toilet with a hammer! Fun times!




*Chris calls it the Hello Kitty toilet it's so small!
**But I have a sneaking suspicion it will be done :)

Neglect

Oh poor bloggy.. you have been so neglected lately haven't you? Well I wanted to blog about our trip to the Vegas, but was sidetracked by an impromptu renovation that took hold. But I reckon chronological is best isn't it?

The Vegas.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood again. Just so you know, the sandwich* totally works and a 20$ tip got us upgraded to a way bigger room with a strip view. Oh yeah.






We made some new friends:











And an old one:



We saw beauty queens and a show:









The Amazing Jonathan was AMAZING. Ok not really, but he was bloated, completely not PC, vulgar and not just a little bit drunk. We loved it. He was raunchy. I think he used to be a magician, but the only things I saw him make disappear was some shots and a beer. Not for the faint of heart.

We saw Volcanoes, fountains and so. many. kids.






It was weird to see so many people pushing strollers. Why? Vegas=not for kids. Although Chris and I found it hilarious to see a 7 year old boy picking up the hooker trading cards the snappers hand out while his 5 year old brother was laughing. Oh Vegas!


We ate too much, drank too much, and had too much fun!













Next up... RENO. HELL.


*Front Desk Tip It works. For reals.

Snose goes away please...*

I have a black thumb. Its true. I planted a HUGE garden when we first bought our little duplex. I broke the ground, rototilled the soil**, planted little seeds, weeded and cared for it. Then Chris ended up in hospital that fall and while I managed to get a few things out of the ground, it was left to go to seed. The backyard has since reclaimed that piece of land and I buy my veggies. Screw you gardening.





House plants have NEVER fared well in my care, but I have had a lucky bamboo stick that is seeming to be ok*** so I have branched out. A tiny terrarium! With a very small plastic deer! Did you have any idea how hard it is to find tiny plastic animals? Well it is. I really wanted a sheep, but didn't find one. So deer it is. Lets see how long it lasts. Hopefully a long time.




The flick carded cormo locks spun up into some lovely yarn didn't it? And of course.. Mr Takemypicture is right there. Aways there for impromptu photo shoots. Little bugger.



The little baby sweater sure knitted up fast! Not having done a whack of baby knitting I can say with certainty, it is FUN. Like instant gratification fun.




Not that I'm a good friend. This sweater does have to be hand washed. Like new Moms have time for that right? STILL EVIL.




*what Pickles looks like when he comes in after the snow. You know EVERY DAMN DAY. Ugh. GO AWAY.

**and got 3rd degree sunburn for it. Ugh.

***leave it alone and apparently it works.

I call BULLSHIT.

On a whole buncha stuff.

Spring:


SPRING MY ASS. This was taken this am so the dogs could go out to pee. The door couldn't be opened until Chris shovelled. UGH.





Dogs who won't stay outta the back 9. Then cry cause they are too jammed up to walk.



People who claim something has happened only maybe 2x when you know that is as false as false can be? RIGHT. /eyeroll

Things I am not calling out?




Gorgeous flick carded cormo locks. From The Fiber Denn Fleece on Etsy. Wow. This is spinning up like BUTTAH. And yes, I did the flick carding.


I also have a whack of Polwarth that I am processing by hand. Time consuming and very pretty. I'll try to get Chris to do some photo journalistic pics of it being done soon. Very old school.

Another thing that doesn't suck*? Going to Vegas in a couple weeks.

Nope. No suck there.


*Soul Calibur 4. FULL OF WIN.

Springing into action

I've just heard from an old pal that she is expecting. Ooooh baby knitting! What an exciting prospect!

Finished: one more sweater*. From the book Custom Knits its the Favorite (it kills me a little inside to spell it that way you know) Cardigan and I listed my mods on the Ravelry page for it. I love it. The colour is more true in the first picture. Mmmmalabrigo. From Mmmmorgan.






Tattoo info:

Tattoo was done by an amazing artist named Rick Wilson working at Strangeworld Tattoo here in Calgary. The nicest shop ever. Super clean styley place with big flat screens on each station and they were totally playing 28 Days Later when I went. Le sigh. He was an awesome guy, really friendly and had the bonus of being cute and liking alot of the same things as me which makes 2 hours of tattooing fly. I can't wait to get more. MORE MORE MORE.

We have a wedding to go to tomorrow so I guess I have to get out my one vaguely dressy dress/slutty waitress outfit. Hahaha not. Oh well. Thankfully its ok to wear black to weddings now. At least it said so in the newest edition of Glamour Magazine (my only lady mag weakness) so there. I haven't met the bride or groom (the groom is one of Chris' pals) so hey! What the hell huh?

Captain Flashbang** is wholly addicted to Call Of Duty (doody! haha) World at War and is a total write off and is prone to yelling out shit that makes no sense at all while playing. "I WANT THAT LITTLE THING!" "OOOPS BUDDY!" "JESUS I KILLED YOU HAHAHAHA SORRY!"

oh well at least its not crack. right?


This was photo shopped for my Dad who loves this picture of Max/Matlock with his whole heart.


It never fails to make him laugh.

Chris was up in Prince George this week, so I watched a whole lotta movies. Inside Deep Throat (a documentary about the porno movie that changed the world! ) Religulous (amazing. Actually Dad, you'd really enjoy this) and Dracula 2000. So bad, so very very bad, it was good.

The weather is finally warming up. But for how long? Sigh.

I'm starting to feel the siren call of Vegas. This winter has sucked the will to live err... um no that sounds about right, outta us all.


*Sweater count for 2009: 5 so far.
**Chris. Not Pickles.

Marked for good

I actually have some photos of new and awesome things.





Like ME!



I have been plotting these tattoos for a LONG time. See my Dad has these birds on his hands and I remember being utterly fascinated with them as little girl. I wondered why everyone's Daddy didn't have them (wusses) and I loved them. So FFWD 40 years and here they are! The one with the little rose? For my Mom. Although she cried when I got my first tattoo, I think she likes these. :)

And some stuff I knitted: unfortunately no modeled shots. But I do hope to rectify that at some point in the future. Both sweaters knit from the same yarn. Lana Gatto Bambini Soft. Super good deal at Elann.com.


The garter one is a rav pattern thats super easy and fast to knit.





The grey one? My own made up-ness. Since new tattoos call for shorter armed sweaters, good thing I can oblige huh?



Man shorter armed sweaters knit up FAST!

Pickles is providing much picture fodder these days. When he sees the camera come out he poses like a supermodel. So its kinda rare that I can catch him in a candid* unposed shot. Boy does he love his PEST** tent. And his toys. Nope not at all spoiled.





I have to thank Michelle for the link (see picture at top pf page thnx) to the Superhero Creator. I'm LOVING it.

*OMG I am totally one of those crazy people who thinks I'm catching my dog in a candid
moment. Lock me up.
**Like in Deadwood. Pest tent. Hahaha.