Happy Birthday!

As you may recall, my Prince's 50th birthday is today. I debated about throwing the BIG party, but unless it was held in Massachusetts, the only non-family guest would be our neighbor Chuck. Chuck's fun and all, but they're happy sitting in Chuck's garage smoking cigars so a party wouldn't really be necessary.

Before the big month of May started, my dear husband said,

"You know my birthday's the big one this year."

"Yes, I do," I told him.

"I kind of think that since it is the big one, it should be all me all May."

"And, that's different how?" I asked.

"Well," he said, "I think I should be the absolute center of attention all month."

"Not to sound redundant, dear, but that's different how?"

Now, as many of you know, I've been knitting him a sweater; and, knitting it right in front of him from the get go. When I was sitting in my little room putting on the collar last week, he came in and asked me what I was knitting.

I was so floored by the question, I looked up at him dumbly and said, "Uh, nothing."

Wow, impressive answer wasn't it?

So the sweater was completed with time to spare. All sewn together, blocked, and ready to go days before the BIG DAY! I made it with Classic Elite's Princess which, by the way, is an incredible yarn. It doesn't, in this case, hurt that it's named Princess either.

Being the incredibly impatient type, I simply couldn't wait to give it to him on his birthday so I gave it to him Friday night. This way, I thought, he can wear it out to his birthday dinner on Saturday night.

"Oh, dear, it's a beautiful sweater! So soft! Great color! I love it! When in heaven's name did you knit it?"

"I've been knitting it right in front of you for the last 6 weeks. I can't believe you didn't know. I was sure you knew when you came in and asked me what I was knitting!"

"Well, after the Cubs' game incident, you told me you were never knitting me anything ever again and I believed you."

"See there! It is all you all the time! Try it on; let's see how it fits."

It fits pretty darn well, don't you think?

Happy 50th Birthday, my darling husband! You look damn good in that Princess sweater!

Who's on First?

Now that baseball season has officially started, I'm reminded of a time when our number two grandchild was 6. He was the Prince's baseball prodigy. He was on the Dodgers here in Oak Lawn, and took this baseball stuff very seriously. The Prince signed him up, was at every practice, every game, practiced with him, and snuck in as coach when he could.

On the day of the big game, Miss Cory called me:

"Mom, he's driving me crazy, he keeps telling me he's got to bring his cup to the game tonight. Do you have it?"

"I don't remember seeing it on the counter when I left this morning," I said.

"Are you sure you don't have it?"

"I'm pretty sure it wasn't in the dishwasher. I have no idea where it is, you better ask Papa."

"God, he's driving me crazy! 'Can't go to the game without my cup; call Papa' over and over again."

Dumb and happy, I go on with my day. Later I asked the Prince:

"Do you know where the boy's cup is?"

"Not really. It could be in the toy box in their room at our house."

"Why would it be in there?"

"Not sure, but I can't think of where else it might be."

"Why does he keep bugging Cory about it?"

"Well, I told him he couldn't pitch or catch without it."

"What? They don't let them drink on the field!"

"You're kidding me, right? Drink on the field? Did you really think it was a drinking cup? He's talking about an athletic supporter for God's sake!"

"Oh! Well, did you buy him one?"

"I can't remember, I know I bought his older brother one last year so there's one around."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? IT WOULD SEEM, ALTHOUGH I CLEARLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEM, THAT THEY ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR AND ARE NOT SHAREABLE!"

"Ah geez, here we go."

"We're stopping on the way home to get one."

The family came over for a barbeque a few days later. Young Mr. Baseball came running into the house; no hello, no hug,

"Nanny, DO YOU HAVE MY CUP?"

"Yes sir I do and here it is."

"I'm going RIGHT NOW to try it on."

Papa said, "Come on, I'll help you and show you how it works."

They came out of the bathroom and our adorable baseball player posed for the crowd to see.

I whispered to his mother, "Who turned the boy's body around? It looks like he's wearing his butt in the front."

And in Shop news...we're having a sale this weekend! Take 25% off all yarn and don't forget that select books are 40% off all month and needles (except Signature) are 15% off.