I just made it through airport security and am sitting in my terminal for a slightly delayed flight to LA via Atlanta. Slightly delayed is fantastic considering it's Christmas day. (Happy Christmas to you all btw) I'm in Moline which is fantastic to travel through. Esp on international flights because you can arrive and hour before your flight departs and you're good. I checked my one bag. (I feel I'm somewhat of a pro when it comes to packing now) and walked the hall to security checkpoint 1 and only 1 here. They did the routine check with your shoes off and my belt off and my jacket off and my scarf off and my pockets emptied and my 3.4 oz liquids claimed and made it through... with knitting needles.

I took up knitting during my time home for Thanksgiving and have enjoyed a new skill in my life. It might age me 50 years right off the bat but whatever. My aluminum, sharp, pointed knitting needles are permitted on an aircraft... and somehow, though I will enjoy my new hobby while I travel, I don't know that it makes me feel entirely safe in the friendly skies. I won't go into the list of things I've considered as possible harmful tactics using knitting needles because homeland security might censor my blog. It may just be that they assume all knitting-needle-toting travelers might be in their 80's and the air marshal could take them quite easily. Just perhaps.

We'll see what happen when Granny from Florida takes down an airline becausse she's threatened someone's Corotoid with a #9 gaged pink aluminun knitting needle.

My House's Antithesis

These are pictures that were previously posted as the "Halloween House" pictures. As promised, I have pictures of their Christmas fiasco. Some people who were a part of my tastful and pleasant decorating endeavor went to see this house afterwards with me - Andrew and Staci, pictures coming and... and the cows story - we just stood in awe. We just don't understand. And the woman decorating was NOT in the Christmas Spirit. In fact, she seemed rather put out that we were speaking to her. She was busy festooning, however, and perhaps was just irked that we were distracting her from her inspired efforts.





Sadly you are unable to see it, but there is a Christmas tree nearly hidden by the telephone pole. Scooby-Doo is dressed in a santa hat riding a train around that tree.


A barrage of holiday inflatables adorns the top of the garage's roof.



The other houses on the street can only be jealous. What else can they do but wallow in their mild aura and mediocre electric bill.

The prettiest little house in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!

...this is what I dreamed of doing last Christmas... right up until I didn't have a house for Christmas. This year decorating was really great because of it. It was one surprise after another... "I have THIS?!" - "I forgot about that one!" My house is a dream! And every time I pull into my driveway I just sigh deeply and declare, "I have the prettiest house in all the world!"