Sparks and Trucks

We're all afraid of distracted drivers on cell phones, aren't we? Well, today I witnessed a sight from my elevated position aboard the commuter bus that I REALLY wish I hadn't seen! I glance out the window and observe a truck driver at the wheel of a HUGE cement truck, with head bent, feverishly pushing buttons on his cell phone. Now while I'm driving my small car down the 101, I do NOT want to think of multi-ton vehicles riding my bumper and texting/chatting/talking to ANYONE on a cell phone! whew!!

Okay, now I can get to the Sparks game... First quarter, it was as if they came onto the court with no warm up... it looked as thought maybe that had never played together before.... it just wasn't gelling... Then, seemingly all at once, at the end of Qtr 1, they warmed up and started playing. They pulled ahead and played a close, close game until the end of the 4th qtr. 2 1/2 minutes to go the Sparks were leading by 4. Mercury scored, Sparks had over a minute on the clock and only a two point lead and started slowing it down (in my opinion WAY too soon). They weren't leaving themselves enough time to recover for a turnover and that's exactly what happened... Sparks lost the ball, Mercury scored, sparks fouled, Mercury makes the free throw, now 2 points behind Sparks recover the ball with only 11 seconds on the clock. They can't get the play, miss the shot and go home sad. Mercury was consistent through the whole game. I can't help but think Sparks would have won soundly if they had shown up ready to play the first quarter.

Nevertheless, it was an exciting game, much enjoyed by all. It's hard to believe this is the 10 year anniversary of the WNBA. As my friend so aptly said last night, "Given what we all lived through with Title 9, we should probably buy season tickets whether we can make it to the game or not, just to support women in sports." I agree. I remember growing up in a time when there were precious few opportunities for girls to play sports. Now, we are busy with work, with husbands, with children, with you-name-it... but I agree with my friend. We should remember the long hard road women in sports have faced and show up and support. I'm not the biggest sports fan. I like to play sports more than watch sports, but you know what I've discovered? You can watch sports and knit, too! HA! No, seriously, please support our sisters and daughters and friends and support women's athletics.

Thanks and have a great day!

Spin, spin, whirl, whirl

Traditionally, I think Summers are considered laid-back time with little or no activity. Then why am I so busy?!?!?!

All good things.

Tonight my friend Kathy and I will be at the Sparks game because, did I ever tell you about last year when the two of us joined a basketball league at the YMCA? It was HILARIOUS. I hadn't played basketball since 7th grade... and my friend Kathy, although an excellent athlete, had never played basketball in her life. Her husband, brother, everyone she knew explained the rules to her and WOW, did we ever have fun playing on that league! Well, this year they separated the league between the women over and under 40 or something like that and well.... I didn't want to play on the "senior" league. There were younger women in worse shape than we were! We held our own...... ohwellanyway... we talked many times about attending a Sparks game with the husbands and it never panned out. TONIGHT, however, we have FREE tickets (thank you company executive who cannot attend and remains nameless) with FREE parking and well, it's girls night out at Staple Center everyone.

Go sparks. Girls can play ball! =)

Okay, I will say I make hardly any money at all, but free tickets are a nice perk. Week before last was American Idol concert with box seats and food included! Woo Hoo... Nothing like free PopTarts.... (you had to have been there.... but Pop Tarts are always good... )

Have a great day and soon I'll post photos of my very first cable knit! Yes, after months of setting the denim knit shell project aside ( photo here:Aunt Melissa's Kitchen: It's Saturday Again), I got brave and used cable needles... It worked. I have a witness even!

If you would like to see some GORGEOUS projects, check out my friend Kelly's new blog:

http://maniacallacemaker.blogspot.com/


Have a great night and I hope to talk to you soon.

Katy's Texas Wedding

Greetings everyone. It's my first day back at the office after vacationing in Texas. My niece Katy was married last Saturday in a BEAUTIFUL and very fun ceremony. It was great eating steaks at Ranchman's Cafe in Ponder, Texas, witnessing the "I-do's" in a highly entertaining ceremony, visiting with cousins and friends I haven't seen in 10 years or more.

I've been painfully remiss in posting fun photos and information the last two months and really hope to catch up soon.

The Women's Retreat Weekend was a resounding success July 21/22 at Mt. Baldy and I want to send out a HUGE thank-you to everyone who helped with the event! Thank you Sierra Club for having such a great lodge and wonderful overseer! Thank you women of Woodland Hills Church of Christ for being so WONDERFUL.

Steve and I have been back to the Getty Villa in Malibu (pictures to post later), and well, I just can't seem to keep up with my life... but I promise, promise, promise to post photos and current projects SOON!

Love you all,

Aunt Melissa

Stitch and Pitch at Dodger Stadium

We wish you could have been there last night at Stitch and Pitch at Dodger Stadium, it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Janice and I and my friend Carol had a BLAST! And I think even people who don’t care about baseball would have loved it! Our goodie bags were worth more than what we paid for the tickets! (which were only $12)

We received:

A Dodger Blue knitting bag

Knit Lite knitting needles (I had seen them, thought, oh, I’ll never knit in the dark, but once I tried them, I really like them)

1 skein of really pretty yarn

1 embroidery kit

2 miniature cross stitch kits

Tons of coupons for most yarn shops in the LA area, and this FABULOUS list of yarn shops sorted by city, with address, telephone and website info.

There were 3 sections FULL of ladies knitting, embroidering, crocheting, it was a hoot!

WE LOVED IT and HIGHLY recommend if Stitch and Pitch comes to your local ballpark, GO!!!

=)

Aunt Melissa

p.s. We think we’re good luck charms, too. Dodgers won after a 4 game losing streak, beating the #1 team in the league. ‘cuz of us, I’m sure. =)

Booties for Baby Reece

No news yet, but we are expecting Carol's grandbaby Reece to make her grand entrance any minute now.... We can hardly wait to see her precious face. And to be sure her feet aren't cold, I made this pair of booties. There are a couple of mistakes ( notice one is slightly larger than the other), but I'm working on the second pair which I hope will be perfect. I couldn't resist the photo album to match.

Hang in there Debbie!!! You're doing great!

Pattern:

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/bethany_booties/bethany_booties.html

have a great day everyone!