Those Paranoid Brits....

Most of you know I've been travelling a lot more with my job at Microchip. Well in April I'll be going to Europe for 2 weeks. I was really looking forward to getting some power-knitting done on the 9+ hour flight.

Well today I found out that Heathrow airport in London has banned knitting needles in any carry-on. Of course Heathrow is my landing destination on both inbound and outbound flights from Phoenix. Ahhhh.... I know the TSA in the US will let me bring my knitting on-board US flights, but when I go through customs in the UK to switch planes and have to go through security again that is where I will run into problems. Darn Brits. What are they afraid of.... my little needles are the size of toothpicks??? And what's really annoying is that crochet hooks are ok but I don't crochet!! Anywhere else in the world knitting needles are allowed on planes. Knitting needles are listed along with knives, guns, corkscrews, razor blades and darts! Please.....

So now I'm open for other entertainment suggestions. I guess I'll take my iPod and a few good books but nothing passes the time like some yoga meditation. Bummer.

I will get to spend time in Manchester & London in the UK as well as Eindhoven in the Netherlands. My travel calendar is packed with meetings, but I'll have the weekend in London to explore. I spent a few days in London back in 1999 when I backpacked with Christine so I've done the big touristy stuff in town. I'm researching day trips outside of London for Saturday - maybe an old castle or at least something cool off the beaten path. Let me know if you have any favorites or suggestions that I should check out!

Home Makeover

I love those home make-over shows and organization shows where in 30 minutes you get to see such amazing improvements. So I was thrilled when Ben agreed that it was time to get a new desk for the office (amazing what months of nagging can accomplish!). You are not seeing double - he has 2 computers, 2 monitors plus a tivo and LCD TV as well as our wireless network, cable modem and of course a lava lamp. Before these were all squeezed onto a normal size table and there was not room left to even take a phone message. Now, space, room, bliss. Perfect for my gaming guy to raid and kill stuff!

The project involved 2 hrs at Ikea Friday night picking out furniture (Lesson learned: never where work shoes to Ikea - there's no such thing as a quick trip to Ikea even if you've already picked out what you want... there will be blisters).

9am - 6pm on Sunday putting together furniture & organizing (Of course there were a few missing things that required an extra trip back to Ikea which involved lunch, another trip to CompUSA and another trip to the drug store for an extentsion cord.)

Total project 11 hours! There are actually 3 separate peices. The desk was relatively easy but the storage pieces with drawers and files were more of a challenge! Even Gus got a makeover with a stop at Petsmart for a new litter box and sleeping pillow by the window!

My favorite part of this project was how well we worked together. Ben was much faster at the visual spacing of how the pieces went together. I was more methodical when something went wrong and we needed to problem-solve. I just LOVE the finished product. It's so peaceful and organized.

St. Patty's Day

I finished one of my favorite knitting projects ever last week. It's a black hat with a 2 inch ribbing on the brim. And the yarn is just a little piece of heaven (otherwise known as a blend of cashmere). This one was a gift for a friend, but I'm totally going back to the yarn store to make another one for myself!! The pictures don't do it justice you just have to imagine the soft feeling on your head.

I caught the movie Music & Lyrics with my mother-in-law & her sister Judy this weekend. It was totally cute - I was still laughing about certain scenes the next day. Hugh Grant as a has-been rockstar was really funny. Ben's family is so fun that we just had to stop for a green beer at Keegans after the movie just because it's St. Patty's Day! Sisters are so fun.

Everyone Needs a Blog!

Last week I got to spend a fabulous evening with my girlfriends. Talk ranged from knitting to travels to beer to kids to purses to boys to politics. It was a perfect evening at a very fun Irish Pub - just in time for St. Patty's Day! We got to inspect Cindy's new bag which is just perfect. And it was great to meet Kelly's new guy - he passes the 'purse party' bravery test by showing up with all of us girls around. Fun to hear about Veronique's amazing trip to Malaysia and parasailing adventures. Also great to have Cara there now that she has graduated from "new friend" status! I always come home feeling rejuvinated and inspired after a visit with my girlfriends.

My friends Amy & Nicole both caught the bug and decided to start a blog. It's contagious - anyone else out there ready to join the fun?? It's such a fun way to keep in touch and I'm totally excited to keep up with Amy's adventures with motherhood and Nicole's newlywed bliss and trips to Cabo and Chicago!!

What do you think?

So today at work, I was in the ladies room, and there was a woman in a stall, just chatting away on her cell-phone. It wasn't a work related conversation (thankfully). But still, I just thought that was SOOO weird. It’s true I've been know to chat while in the bathroom at home - but only to a very small list of close family members - sisters and mom. Such a privilege huh? So, I just want to know if any of you have had a similar experience in public. What do you think about cell-phone etiquette and public bathrooms?

My Two Nieces

Happy 1st Birthday to my niece Hailey. She really enjoyed her cake and learned quickly from almost-3 Nora how to get some icing! Hailey is just starting to walk and a very happy girl.

Nora loves playing dress-up and her favorite thing right now is her new cowgirl hat. But cake with icing is a close second.