What IS this???

I think I mentioned that my parents went to Viet Nam a few weeks ago....... Well, this package arrived on my doorstep today...in it was some beautiful silk robes, fabric and then these two items wrapped with the stickie note what says "Guess what this is"...... i donno. SO...I'm having an impromptu contest. All right answers (one out of two is fine) will be put in for a drawing. One winner will get a skein of dishcloth cotton, and if not a knitter....then a dishcloth made from a choice of colors. Contest closes when I decide. Not long. No more than a week.

But

WHAT IS THIS STUFF???/
I'm wondering if the flat thing is a grater for the kitchen for stir-frys. The other thing is one thing that has two parts. I can't even begin to guess.

Let the games and the guessing begin.

UPDATE: Apparently y'all are stuck too, SO any reasonable guess will be entered into the contest. My mom has enjoyed your guesses, and finally gave me enough hints so I could figure it out. I'll tell you what, guessing was as much fun (even more) than the unwrapping! (5/2)

Knowing my mom, she won't tell me until I've guessed the right answers, so the more help you give me, the sooner we'll ALL know!

3 hours and nothing to worry about later....

We took D into the er. She was hit on the head by a foul ball in the stands during Friday's softball game. Today she had worsening symptoms. I took her to the er. She had a ct scan. She is fine. Here's the documentary of our visit!



Within 15 minutes of our arrival.

The beginning of my fraternal twin two-at-one-time socks.

2 hours and counting (she finished the book)

Where I finally called it quits. Standing and knitting on those floors isn't good on the back.


DISCHARGE PAPERWORK.

All's well that ends well.

K had a game. She got to play second. The next time D doesn't want to go to a game, I sure hope she uses a LAME ASS excuse :P love ya!!!

Just my opinion.

I read on Yahoo (my homepage, it catches my attention often) about this guy who had his own stimulus plan. You go and pick 3 locally owned businesses that you'd like to see make it through the recession and spend $100 a month there. Okay, I don't always have $300 disposable cash. My girls are teenagers and in sports, and I choose to work very limited hours. However, I really like this idea. I have chosen three local businesses to support. What do you know, they all involve food and coffee. SHOCKER! I am trying to make sure we spend at least $50 a month there.

Then I realized that I need to have my sewing machine cleaned. It's a REALLY nice embroidery machine Jeff bought for me when I graduated from AU. I had it worked on not long after we moved here. I just got done sewing fleece. This baby needs to be cleaned. A month ago, I took it into our local sewing machine shop. I waited over 20 minutes, and after several false starts at being helped, I was finally waited on. The owners were on vacation and the previous owners were filling in. And catching up with old friends. And gossiping. And treated me like shit. Why? Because I have a Baby Lock and not their *preferred* Janome. She finally quoted me a price for cleaning and said it'd be DOUBLE because they are a Janome dealer, not a Baby Lock one, and their tech. is unfamiliar with Baby Lock and would need double the time to figure it out. I guess that's why they've taken a one page ad out in the yellow pages saying that they service all makes and models. Sure, if you don't mind spending your first born on it. Anyway, I left WITH my machine. Today, I thought I'd give it another go. What do you know, the previous owners are manning the shop today. I turned around and left. I have now looked up and contacted the sewing machine shop in the next town north. I'd really like to keep my money in town, but in today's economy, is it really all that much to ask for shop owners to be POLITE? I don't think so, and my money is going where the service is! The sad part, is that with the repair and cleaning I need, I'd be paying one employee's salary for at least 2 to 3 days. And I needed electrolux vacuum bags.....just ordered them from Amazon.com instead. And when it needs service...you know it...I'm going out of town. Yep. I say it pays to kiss the customer's butt ( or at LEAST be curteous to their FACE!)


UPDATE:

I took my machine "up north" (a whopping 20 miles) and what do you know, it should be no problem and he'll call IF it'll be over $69. Um, I was quoted $338 JUST FOR CLEANING at the place in town. I sure hope I am as happy as I was when I left today. He asked if he could have it for a week. (as opposed to "I don't know how long this is going to be....it could take up to several weeks if we have to order a part) and best yet instead of ("Gee, I don't know if he'll be able to do anything about that plug. We're a Janome dealer and I don't know if we'll be able to get the part") he said, "I should be able to do that, it doesn't look like a problem to me" I realize time will tell, but things are looking a whole lot more promising!!!!!

She did it!

It took a few hours, but the right combo was finally found...so if you want, go check it out!

Organic Food Power Point

thanks everyone :D

Homework Hellllllllllllllllo

Okay, Dd2 is trying to publish her powerpoint somewhere on the web. The AVI conversion download is telling us her file is corrupt. I cannot help her as I am on a mac, and I can't find anything that supports converting a powerpoint to a movie format on a mac.

ARGH!!!!!!!!

Any ideas COMMENT PLEASE

Picnic on Turtle Island (Saturday)

Chain Reaction 2

Here it is....chain reaction 2. My second purse of accidental origin. This one is done in tangerine and is a bit bigger than the original. I'm obsessive on this purse. I can't tell you why, but I am. As soon as she's dry, I'm going to go button hunting! Then she'll be for sale at the etsy store, as I don't have a need for so many purses....but I want to make MORE. Occasionally, I'm hopelessly stuck on something.....so I'm letting the needle on the record skip and I'll keep making them until the song plays on.

I haven't been here in a bit. Why? I haven't had much to say. It's allergy season and I have a cold. Not only does it plug the sinus cavities, it plugs up my brain. UGH. I hate that.

This has been a calm week, and I am very thankful. Over the weekend, I took K to a wake. Her team mate's mom had lost her battle with breast cancer. Y'all know me, I hate pain and I hate sad. Well, i think I took the "stupidest thing said" award. I hugged her daughter (whom I only know through ball) and said the usual, I sorry, this sucks, and it sucks that I'm sorry doesn't even begin to cover it...I let go, looked her in the eyes, grabbed her into another hug and said, "if it'd make you feel any better, come and egg my house". WHAT???? Okay, I meant it. She did smile. BUT WHERE IN THE HELL DOES STUFF LIKE THAT COME FROM??? I'll never know, but my brain gives birth to some doozies.

I'm even doing okay on the housework. I need to clean the bathroom and vacuum the furniture. Laundry is about half done...and it's THURSDAY? Hummmmm, you can tell J comes home tonight and is "working" from home tomorrow and the kids have the day off. It's supposed to be warm and I'M READY TO PLAY. Crap. I forgot to see if J wanted a tee time. The golf course opens up today.

Now, how much sudafed, benadryl and claratin can I take to get these eyes to stop itching?

Busy Busy

I haven't even had my camera out the past couple of days. Scary!

I've been doing the testing for the seniors who need to pass the test to graduate. SO...that means I'm up with the real world and trying to stay awake watching kids fill in bubbles. Thrilling. Yesterday I finished my first sock for Warm Woolies. Today I made a swiffer-like cover for the etsy store. I need to make a couple more before I can load it in, though. I've also alternated with reading 24 Hours by Greg Iles. So far, it's been a great read. He's starting to get a little predictable. That is okay. I like his pattern.

When I'm not there (which is most of the time...it's just the BIG CHANGE in schedule) I've been working on the regular household stuff and washing walls upstairs. Whooo hoooo. I'm the last of the fun suckers in the universe, huh? It had BETTER warm up SOON. I will be on the psych ward if not. WAY too much cleaning is NOT good for one's mental health, I say.

Tomorrow, I am on call. (ROFL...subs are always on call) BUT this time I need to be up and ready to go at 8, but I have to call and see if the last straggler that needs to be tested shows up. If he does, then I do, and I get paid. If he doesn't, I'm up, dressed and ready to go....WHERE??? I'm taking suggestions!!! If you have any ideas AT ALL PLEASE comment. I'm in the box and I can't see out. H-E-L-P M-E!!!!!!!!