My gmail was hacked.  Boo  Add another to "Things I thought would never happen to me."

Last week we went to see Johnny about our rings.  Johnny is the jeweler Daniel worked with to design my opal ring, which I love.  Daniel bought the opal over 10 years ago looking forward to putting it into an engagement ring.  When he proposed he said this was the ‘surprise’ ring and we could get a diamond later.  At first I thought I would wait for the diamond.  But after talking to Johnny (an ultimate salesman) I decided to get him to make a diamond ring for me too.  He’s a character, and always busy traveling and buying and selling.  There’s no telling when Johnny might have time- so I figured this was my chance to get him to make a ring that corresponds to my opal ring with some of his signature touches as a jeweler.  The rings should be ready next week. 

This week has been busy.  I’ve been on spring break, but I’ve been busy with wedding stuff every day.  The day before yesterday we stuffed, sealed, addressed and stamped about 400 invitations.  There were about 100 missing from the print run, so we can pick those up tomorrow and have the invites out this weekend.  Our invitations are also one of a kind designs made my Jessica my soon to be sister-in-law. 

Yesterday Daniel and I got our engagement pictures taken.  I think they are going to turn out really well.  We went to Handley, the little town where we will get married, and took some pictures with a caboose (the town symbol) then we went to a few parks in Arlington.

Our photographer is about 12 years old.  I told him I got a haircut and the woman styled it so that it looked like I just walked out of 1990.  He said,  “Oh, that’s when I was born!”  Oh well, his pictures are awesome, so what do I care how old he is?

Today I was with Jessica’s mother because she will be making my veil.  Again, it will be amazing. 

Tomorrow is Daniel’s birthday- so we will be out and about for that and that’s the end of my spring break.  Tragic.

We did decide to go to Spain for our honeymoon though!  Wow- that will be amazing, awesome, fantastico!

http://www.mywedding.com/daniellovesshannon/index.html

I want this:  I don't know what I'd do with it.  It costs between $18-65 per skein.  That's pretty pricey, but it is made from silk and baby goat hair.  That's something right?  It's called 'water lily' and that color fascinates me.

I currently have more yarn than I could knit or crochet in 2 years (probably more, I'm rather slow.) Nevertheless, I  want to join a yarn club.  What a strange notion.

Yarn is my addiction.

I'm currently working on a blanket which I love. Double love.  I started from the center and I'm working out, so it doesn't have a set size.  It is black and rainbow colors in long stripes.  It's square, and the yarn is cheap acrylic, but it is so soft and light and warm and pretty. I love it.  I've taken some pictures, but haven't posted them.  I think it looks better every time I add to it, so I hesitate to put up old pictures.  I think this will be the first blanket I keep for myself. 

Last night a bunch of us went to "Love and War in Texas."  It's a restaurant which serves Tex-Mex and Tex-Tex food.  They have Barbara Bush's fried green beans in the appetizers and  things like long horn steaks, rattle snake and wild boar for entrees.  We went because Daniel wanted to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the independence of Texas.  He get's these ideas- but really, who am I to argue with deep fried green beans? (Yum)

When we got there we saw a car with eyelashes or headlight lashes to be exact.  I decided I needed some so I left a note on the car with my email address.  She totally wrote back and I have already ordered my pair along with the matching rhinestone liner.

At the table we talked about wedding things, and work things and of course Texas things.  Someone at the table declared that Daniel had enough Texas pride to cover both of us since I insisted on being "yankeefied."  He was just jealous because I knew the answer to the crossword puzzle clue "the port of Pennsylvania."  Duh- there's only 1!

My students often ask why they can understand when I speak English, but they can't understand when people outside (Texans) speak English.  I tell them that Texans have a different kind of English than I do.  I speak 'standard English' Texas of course speak Texan English.  I have to remind them that I'm not Texan, I can understand Texans- I've been here a long time- and I've met a few Texans out of context in my travels. (Hi) Sometimes I teach them what I call "special Texan words," like "Howdy Y'all."  They can't believe Texas has it's own words, but I assure them that if they go to another state and use these special words someone will surely ask them if they learned English in Texas.  (Imagine the fun of having a room full of Koreans, Chinese people, Arabs, Russians and South Americans repeating after me, "How-dy Y'all!"  I tell them they'll fit right in. :0)

I have a great time telling all my little foreign friends about Texas- and how special it is.  The lone star flag is very interesting to them along with the six flags of Texas.  I love asking them what they think the six flags are for.  Sometimes the give outlandish answers, only hoping there was a time that Japan owned Texas.  Imagine southwestern samurai eating fish tacos.

Hey friend,
Happy Texas Independence Day!  We went to Love and War in Texas to celebrate tonight.