It’s that time of year again, when the veil between this world and the underworld thins and ghosts and goblins and ghouls come out to frolic with mortals.

It’s also when Spooky Elevator makes a return where I work. I LOVE Spooky Elevator!

Since Halloween is a Friday this year, and because I work with some really fun people, a bunch of us decided to dress up for Halloween. I wasn’t going to at first. All my costumes are in some bin or bag somewhere because of all the construction at Chez Guppy. So I was dithering right up until Tuesday. And that’s when one of my coworkers jokingly suggested that I go as a sponge, as my home, my mom’s home, and the office have all been flooded recently. I laughed, because that was just damn funny. But then I started thinking. Hmmm…Could this be done?

The answer was no. At least not in a way I would be happy with. But I did have a brainstorm and so I spent about $30 at Joann’s Tuesday night and came home with all the parts of my costume…

…any guesses? Oh, and don’t let the yarn fool you. This costume is NOT knitting related. LOL

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish with Sticks

Alpacas!!!!

While in Portland for Cyn‘s surgery, we made our annual pilgrimage to pet the Alpacas at Cascade Alpacas. Unfortunately, Tom and Connie weren’t there this time, but their son was, and he was just as friendly as his parents.

The Alpacas were wonderful (as always) and sooo soft and friendly (click for big)…

They refrained from eating Bobblehead Nora (for which I’m grateful!)…

Look! A baby!…

Just taking it easy…

But BOY do they shed! I mean, look at what I found on my clothes when I got home!

On the way back we stopped at a few viewpoints and Bobblehead Nora took in the view…

We THINK this is Mt. St. Helens. We’re not sure, though, because we thought it was Mt. Hood until we turned away from it and in the direction of Portland and we were staring at Mt. Hood. LOLOL…

As we were driving into the sun and any time you put this Guppy in sunshine she channels her inner feline, we pulled over so I could get out and take in some fresh (and COLD!) air at Multnomah Falls…

Then on to Vista House!…

Where Bobblehead Nora once again charmed the locals…

On the way back, we took a weird turn and ended up driving surface streets for a little ways, and discovered Troutdale…

And when we passed through, Cyn insisted we turn back. How could we possibly drive through and not let Nora enjoy the Big Bronze Moose…

And then back to Chez Cyn where we relaxed, I cooked, and we stayed up late, as we had been doing. The next day, though, I headed home to GuppyVille. I really miss having Cyn around where I can see her whenever I want. And I have to say, surgery aside, this is one of the best trips I’ve had up there. We didn’t do a whole lot, but we just relaxed and watched movies and didn’t have a breakneck schedule. And the weather was just about perfect. I think next year an October trip is definitely the way to go.

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks

*Ring*

Woman: Thank you for calling Big Box Grocery Store. How may I direct your call?

Guppy: Could I please speak to the manager on duty? Thank you.

*Brief Pause*

Man: This is Mr. Manager. How may I help you?

Guppy: Good morning. I was just driving in front of your store along VeryBusy Street when I saw a young man out front raising the U.S. Flag. For future reference, you might want to let him know that when raising the flag…well, anytime he has the flag, actually…he should keep the flag OFF THE F’ING GROUND.

*Dead Silence*

Man: Are you kidding me?! I will take care of this Right. Now. And it will NOT happen again.

Guppy: Thank you!

*Click*

Was it laziness? Did this young man just not know? Or did he think no one would see him? In any case, I sincerely doubt he will ever make this mistake again.

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks

…Cyn came through her surgery with no problems. The surgery started about 2 hours late, but she was done in a little over an hour, then a few hours in recovery/post-op and we were home by about 8:00 p.m. She’s doing really well, with some pain, but nothing too horrible. She says it hurt more when she put her back out last Christmas.

Yesterday morning we got up at about 8:30 and she was all gung-ho to go see the Alpacas! (1 hour away) or Mt. St. Helens! (2 1/2 hours away) Let’s go! On my recommendation we waited a while to see how she felt after being up for a bit. By 9:30 she was back in bed for a little more rest, and we stayed in and watched movies all day. LOL. A fun day, though, since everything we watched at least one of us had already seen and really enjoyed.

Today, though, we ARE venturing out to see the Alpacas. Pictures and stories tomorrow. Dang they’re cute. LOLOL.

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks 

In other words…Slower, Lower, Weaker…

I tried. I really really tried. I tried so very hard to get my Ravelympics project finished in time, but I just couldn’t do it. I knitted my little fingers to the bone, and when I finally went to bed (at 2:30 a.m.) long after the Closing Ceremonies broadcast finished, I only had half the cast-off to do! That’s it! Except it was 200+ stitches I still needed to bind off, and each bind off stitch was more complicated than usual. So I knew I’d be up all night, and since I had to work…off to bed I went.

I did, in fact, finish the next day.

And because the gals at A Mano are sympathetic to Knitter Defeats, I got a gold medal anyway. LOL.

And I picked up one of the Ravelympics Pins.

This was a fun knit, and the drape of this shawl is amazing. Really soft.

Specs:

Pattern: The Peace Shawl, by David Assemany (Ravel it!)
Yarn: Blue Heron Rayon Metallic-Sport Weight. My skein was 500 yards, and I have quite a bit left, but I haven’t weighed it yet.
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony interchangeables, US9
Mods: I increased in both sections of the pattern so it would be both wider and deeper than the original.

Oh, and that’s NOT me in the pictures. LOL That’s my friend Linda-with-an-I. 

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks

…And Straight On ‘Till Morning….

Okay, so maybe I’m not heading to Neverland, but I am leaving tomorrow night to go visit Cyn. She’s having a bit of surgery, and I’m going up to be Chaperone/Designated Driver/Drug Pusher/And All Around GoferGuppy. 

I’m planning lots of DVD watching and Knitting to take place this weekend. And possibly even some napping. Weird, isn’t it, that I’m traveling to another state to have a weekend of doing nothing. LOL. 

Don’t worry, though, the surgery is relatively simple and done as an outpatient thing, so it shouldn’t be too traumatic. 

I’ll keep you posted!

Lynda the Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks