More Mitts of the Fingerless Variety

I am still knitting fingerless mitts. They are so fun. These will go along with the other pair for the GSD rescue.

Painting Class with M. Douglas Walton

Back in June when Phillip and Robyn were up at Freshman Orientation, they were looking for a building to find their next workshop. They saw a couple of people across the street and decided to ask for directions. The people were happy to show them the way and they talked a bit while they walked. The man wanted to know what Robyn planned to major in and was excited to hear she was a Studio Art major. He was an artist and was currently teaching a watercolor class nearby. He invited them to visit the class and see what they were working on. Robyn came home from orientation very excited about the class and we decided to take the class together. I will be honest. I only took the class to spend time with her before she leave for college.

The class was a lot of fun. I don't think I was ever able to let loose and go with the creative painting process. My paintings looked more like unicorn barf, but it was fun trying out the techniques he taught us.

Doug is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. He invited the class to his house after one of the classes and I was amazed. He lives in a museum or what could be a museum. Everywhere you looked there were treasures to see. He took us through his entire house, including the bathrooms and his clothes closet. Yes, there were cool things to see even in there. He has been to a bazillion countries and has been given items from some he has not been to...yet. I didn't get to see his separate studio building and storage building. I was having major hot flashes (thank you medication) and had to go sit down and fan myself before I passed out. Robyn gave me a report and said the other buildings were just as jaw dropping as his home.

It was a great three days. I met an interesting person, explored another side of my creative self, but the best part was that I was able to spent time with my baby.

Oh...the picture below is one of Robyn's. It turned out so beautiful that it is now framed and hanging in the house. I need to take a picture of it and post it below.

Half Way Through

I don't have a picture to go with this post. I thought about taking one, but I was too busy knitting and forgot. Today I am halfway through with my chemo. Four down and four to go. I have finished what everyone said was the hardest of the four rounds. I didn't find it to be too bad compared to what I expected. I hope this means the next four will be a breeze.

Fingerless Mitts

I have been on a fingerless mitts craze. I don't know why I like them so. I have never made a pair for myself, but they look so comfy. I was playing around with a pattern I found on Ravelry and did a few modifications of my own. I plan to send several sets of fingerless mitts to Cathy so the Austin German Shepherd Rescue can sell them and raise a little money. This will be one of the pairs.

Fish Hat, Fish Hat, Funny Funny Fish Hat

These fish hats have been a hit. Tessa and Robyn wanted one. What can I do? I cannot refuse!

Sleep Tight

And yet another knitting pattern created my yours truly. I don't know why they hit me all at once. Must be the chemo talking :)

Since I am currently without hair, my head gets cold at night. If I put a hat on, it sometimes gets hot and off it goes. I wanted to knit a hat I could sleep in. This one works great. I knit my initial hat using a cotton blend yarn. It stays on most of the night.

Sleep Tight

Needles- US size 7
Yarn- Worsted weight (model knit in Knit Picks Comfy Worsted- Marlin)

CO 90 stitches. Place a marker to denote the beginning of the row. Be careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 3, purl 3 rib for 2 inches.

Row 1- * YO, k2tog, k13; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 2 & 3- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 4- *k5, YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 5- *p2, k1, p2, k3, YO, k2tog, k5; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 6- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 7- *p2, k1, p2, k5, YO, k2tog, k3; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 8- *k5, p2 k1, p2, k3, YO, k2tog; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 9- *k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 10- * YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2, k5; repeat to the end of the row.

Row 11- *k3, YO, k2tog, k5, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.

Repeat rows 3-11 three more times. If you are counting all of your rows, the last row you will work will be row 38.

*k10, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.
*k5, YO, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2; repeat to the end of the row.
*k13, YO, k2tog; (repeat 5 times), k5 (this will be row 41 if you are counting all rows)

Begin the decrease for the crown-

Row 1- *k8, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 2- knit
Row 3- *k3, YO, k2tog, k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 4- knit
Row 5- *k6, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 6- knit
Row 7- *k5, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 8- knit
Row 9- *k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 10- knit
Row 11- *k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 12- *k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 13- *k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 14- *k2tog; repeat to end of row

Cut yarn and run through the remaining stitches to close top.
Weave ends in.

Houston

We loaded up the car and headed west on I-10 to see Mom and Cathy. It was so good to see them since we had not seen them since Christmas. Houston was smoking hot and not in a cute, attractive way. It was dripping sweat hot. Seriously hot. We decided in this lovely heat to shop for guitar picks (for Cara) and college stuff (for Robyn). This was the temperature reading when we left the Container Store. Yikes. We could fry and egg on the ground.

As we got ready to round the final turn in the subdivision and pull into the parking lot, we saw a family of ducks playing in the water at the edge of the curb. Lot of neighbors were watering their grass and the run off was an excellent swimming pool. As we got closer, the ducks waddled off to find other enjoyment. I love the ducks in Mom's subdivision. They are always in for a good time.

Ollie

Well, I haven't done much this month other than knit. I don't have the energy to be active and you know I love me some knittin. Here is another pattern I came up with. The name comes from the eight ribs that come down from the crown of the hat. Click on the following link to download the pattern. download now


Ollie

Needle Size- US size 7
Yarn- Worsted weight (model knitted in Moda Dea Washable Wool- Plum)

Ollie stitch pattern

Row 1- *k1, yarn over, slip one knitwise (yarn in back), k2, pass slipped stitch over the last two knitted stitches; repeat stitches from * to the end of the row.

Row 2 and 4- knit all stitches

Row 3- *k1, slip 1 knitwise (yarn in back), k2, pass slipped stitches over the last 2 knitted stitches, yarn over; repeat stitches from * to the end of the row.

CO 80 stitches. Place marker to denote beginning of row. When joining, be careful not to twist stitches.

Knit k5, p5 rib for 2 inches.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.
Knit Ollie stitch pattern once.
Knit k5, p5 rib for 10 rows.

Decrease for crown-

Row 1- *k5, p1, p2tog, p2; repeat to end of row
Row 2- *k5, p4; repeat to end of row
Row 3- *k5, p1, p2tog, p1; repeat to end of row
Row 4- *k5, p3; repeat to end of row
Row 5- *k5, p1, p2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 6- *k5, p2; repeat to end of row
Row 7- *k5, p2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 8- *k5, p1; repeat to end of row
Row 9- *k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 10- Knit
Row 11- *k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 12- *k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 13- *k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row
Row 14- *k2tog; repeat to the last stitch, k1

Cut yarn and run through the remaining 8 stitches to close top.
Weave ends in.

Oil Spill

Sometimes Big Business is all about making a buck. They cut corners and don't worry as much as they should about safety issues. I think this is what happened with the BP oil spill in the Gulf. I don't think BP was looking at anything other than to get the oil in the quickest way possible. It was about quantity, not quality. No thought to safety, following standard procedure, or accountability. Their shortsightedness has changed this area for a very long time, probably for at least my lifetime. I am the daughter of a petroleum engineer. I grew up knowing a little about how drilling works. I don't have a problem with drilling in the Gulf, IF procedures are in place and followed. They were not in this case. The management will never know the full effect the spill with have on this area and in some cases, they might not even care. Sad and tragic.

Checkmate

I have been on a knitting roll and another hat pattern came to mind. I hope you enjoy it.

Checkmate

Cast on 72 stitches. Be careful not to twist stitches when joining first row. Place a stitch marker to note the beginning of your row.

Knit in k4 p4 rib for 10 rows.

Purl 2 rows.

Knit in p4 k4 rib for 10 rows.

Purl 2 rows.

Knit in k4 p4 rib for 10 rows.


Decreasing for crown

Row 1- *k1, k2tog, k1, p1, p2tog, p1* repeat to end of row.

Row 2- *k3, p2tog, p1* repeat to end of row.

Row 3- *k3, p2tog* repeat to end of row.

Row 4- *k2, k2tog* repeat to end of row.

Row 5- knit

Row 6- k7, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 7- k6, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 8- k5, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 9- k4, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 10- k3, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 11- k2, k2tog; repeat to end of row.

Row 12- k1, k2tog; repeat to end of row.



Cut yarn and thread through the remaining stitches to close hat. Click on the following link to download that pattern. download now

Another Teenager in the House

It seems like yesterday, Cara was crawling everywhere, learning to stand and eating her "cerl and muk" every day for breakfast. Where has the time gone? She had grown to be an adorable girl who makes me laugh, often when I need it the most. She is smart, talented, and thoughtful. I am lucky she is my child. I love her so much. Happy birthday, my baby.

Birthday Money

Cara had a party to go to and I wanted to come up with an interesting way to present the money other than with a card with money stuffed inside (although that is always welcome). A couple of weeks ago, Cara had her friends over for her birthday party and one of her friends gave her money rolled up in a roll of toilet paper. It was funny to see the toilet paper sitting there among the other gifts. It had a ribbon tied around it and was as festive as the other presents. When it was time to open it, she unrolled the paper. Confetti and dollar bills were inside. It was one of the hits of the party. Everyone loved it. Cara wanted to give one of her friends money too for her gift. I remembered folding up chewing gum wrappers when I was their age and we made long ropes of zig zagging paper. I found a site that gave instructions on how to use the technique to make a bracelet. The money looked great in bracelet form. It was a little big, but more fun that just sliding out of a card.

Parenting

There are two types of parents I don't understand. One is the type that assumes you will watch their children while they enjoy themselves and the other is the type that is oblivious to how their children are disrupting others. Unfortunately, some parents are both types.

Years ago, Phillip and I attended a party where swimming was available. Robyn was little and didn't know how to swim. Both of us were in the pool with her, playing around and letting her have fun in the water. The only other person in the pool was a young girl floating around in an inflatable ring. I had no idea whose child she was. She was on her own. All of sudden we heard a bunch of screaming and looked around to see what was up. The girl had slipped out of the ring and was under the water. She couldn't swim. Phillip handed Robyn to me and dove to get her. When he got her to the side of the pool, her mother was standing there. She was upset because Phillip didn't get to her daughter sooner. Why was she in the pool alone if she couldn't swim? She took her daughter away. No thank you. Nothing. Why do some parents expect you to watch their children while they enjoy themselves themselves at an event? After all you are already watching a child. Why not watch another? Similar instances have occurred over the years. Why do some parents just assume you will be their babysitter?

Tonight we went to eat at a restaurant and this sign was on the door. It is sad to me that a business feels they need to post such a sign. The other group of parents that I don't understand are the ones that are oblivious to others around them. They are at a restaurant and their kids are loud, running around, and annoying others trying to eat. Making a general mess at their table. The parents are busy talking to the other parents and are not watching what their angels are doing. You see them at the store. Their kids are running through the isles, bumping to other shoppers. This parent just walks through the store doing their thing, sometimes screaming across isles for their children. These parents are everywhere not giving a thought about how their children are acting or disrupting others. I rarely hear these parents correcting their kids about their behavior.

My girls are not saints and I am not the best parent on the planet, but I don't let them run wild in public nor do I expect others to watch them when it is my job. I get tired of correcting their children and the looks I get from them when I do. I don't just standby and let their kids run amok when their child is disruptive. I just don't get these types of parents.

It's Time

Yup. Goodbye hair...for now. This morning I was reading and kept feeling tickles on my neck. Lots of hair was falling on my shoulders. I went to the bathroom to take a shower and combed my hair to get all of the loosies so I didn't clog the drain. No use. It was too much hair. It was time for it to be it shaved. We borrowed a razor from our next door neighbors. Phillip, Robyn and Cara took turns working on my do. They gave me the Mohawk and then took it all the way down. Now I just have stubbles. It is much cooler. When I look in the mirror I can hear Tim Gunn telling me "That is a lot of look." He is right.

All I Wanted Was to Watch A Little Baseball

LSU is playing in the Super Regionals heading up to the College World Series. They won it all last year, but this year the pitching has been struggling. The game is blacked out here. They are playing at UCLA and I was able to find it through Facebook posts on the LSU page. Some guy was streaming the game from his cable connection and it came in loud and clear. I loved being to sit in the recliner and watch the game on the laptop. Pretty decided that I was to be her bed, so I had both of them on my lap. Most of the time, she didn't block my view. She roots for LSU too. That's my girl.

The Hair Exodus has Begun

Well it has started. My hair is falling out. If I run my fingers through it I get 5-8 hairs. Well poop. I so wanted to avoid this even thought it was virtually 100% definite that I would loose my hair with my chemo treatment. Cara is itching to give me a mohawk. I think it will be soon.

Better Than A Bowl of Soup

Robyn has a good friend who has mono for the second time. It is so bad that it has affected her liver and she now has hepatitis. She is such a character and I love her sense of humor. I thought that instead of sending her something healing like chicken soup, I would knit her something that would make her laugh. I hear she loves it. Feel better soon, sweetie.

What's In Robyn's Car?

Today we are playing what is in Robyn's car. A couple of weeks ago, she participate in the Talented Art Senior Show. All of her pieces were either fully knitted or had a part that was knitted. They featured animals. So for the past two weeks, she has driven around with these animals in her car after the show was over. I guess she enjoys the company. In the back seat we see the electrocuted fox, the armadillo road kill, and part of the clubbed baby seal. In the very back, we can see the head of the slaughtered cow. Her theme was animal cruelty. She wants to hang the cow in the den. We nixed that idea. Who knows how long her animal creations will continue to hitch a ride.

Ingenuity At Its Best

I took a ride with Phillip to Lowe's. He loves to walk around in there and look around. I do too, but I was not feeling up to the walk. I stayed in the car and people watched. This I love! I wish I could have seen who drove up in this baby cause I would get out and salute them and their creative mirror additions. I am guessing that they pull a trailer or something that creates the need to see greater angles behind them. I had to get out and see this up close. I am not sure what they used to attach the mirrors, but it was glopped on good. Real good. Amazing.

A Tick !!!

Never let it be said that Phillip and I have great eyesight. Tonight, I was rubbing Skittles tummy. I saw this black thing. It looked like a tick. From all angles, it was a tick. I got Phillip. Same diagnosis. We got Robyn. She worked at a pet shop so she was the family expert. While I googled "tick removal" Phillip and Robyn discussed their options. Skittles was thrilled to have so many people giving her attention and giving her love. We got the glass of alcohol to kill the tick ready and the trust tweezers were in hand. Phillip tries to grab it but cannot get a good grip. Robyn starts to think it was not a tick after all. She takes hold of the tweezers and pulls off...a glob of dirt. I am thinking it must have some pine tar mixed in with the mud because it did not break down even spending the night in the glass of alcohol. So there you have it. Phillip and I are blind and Skittles got her attention. Her plan worked.

Enough With the Waffles

Do I hear you saying that? Wellll. You might have to wait a little longer. I have a couple more of these babies in the works. You have to agree. It is a great hat.

Another Order of Waffles

Can you tell I like this pattern? It is so easy to remember and interesting to look at. Don't get me wrong. I still love my rolled brim hat, but sometimes we need to mix it up a little. Right?

A Conversation with Myself

I am so tired of having no energy. I don't like the numbness around my surgical site. I don't like going in for tests and blood work. I hate waiting to hear the results of those tests. I don't like feeling like I am an old lady who shuffles around everywhere she goes. I want do the things I have always been able to do. I want to do the grocery shopping alone, vacuum the house, and do things for and with my family. I want to go to all of the important events in my girls' lives and I don't like that their life is altered because mine is. I don't like that this has caused Phillip to work even harder than he already does, having to work and then come home to deal with those things I cannot do now. I hate that I am wishing away months of my life, so I can be at the end of chemo and my body to be healed. I want to be the one that worries about everyone else, not the one everyone else worries about. I don't want to be sick.

But Merry, this is your life right now. It will not always be this way. You have to find a new normal. The old normal is gone. Have faith and know that this will pass and be in the past. Be patient. It will happen.

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day. I love being a mom. I have wonderful, beautiful, smart, and funny daughters. They bring me an incredible amount of joy. I cannot remember much about what my life was like before them. The girls made me gifts. Cara created a gargoyle out of clay. I love how its tongue sticks out. I can see it right at home among the other gargoyles aligned on the rooftop of Notre Dame Cathedral. Robyn sewed me a mini Skittles. I have often said I wished I could shrink her down and take her with me everywhere. Now I can! They were the perfect gifts. Thank you my babies!

Waffles for Me

I loved the Waffle Hat so much I thought I deserved one too. I really like this yarn and they way the pattern stripes it out. The yarn is Bernat Softee Chunky Ombres in Denim. Anyway, it will have to get a lot cooler before I can wear my new hat. Hopefully my hair will grow back quickly.

Training

Today I went in for chemo training. There were supposed to be a couple of other people in the "class", but I was the only one who made it. I was happy to have the nurse all to myself. I could ask all of the questions I wanted and no one else could hijack the class. The nurse was great about explaining about the procedure and all of the potential side effects. My cousin, Evelyne, told me that a friend told her that with cancer you get "cut up, poisoned, and fried". I will get to do the "cut up and poisoned" part. At this time no radiation is needed as there is nothing to radiate. The side effects are many and sound daunting. One of the drugs, Adriamycin, has the nick name "red devil". That should give you a hint how much fun that one will be. I will be given that one and another one, Cytoxan, every 3 weeks for 4 rounds. After that, I will have 4 rounds of Taxotere. All three drugs cause hair loss. I will be a baldy. My friend, Kathy, works at a local high school. She told me a story about how some of the goth kids are starting to transition to rockin' the bald look. I will be cutting edge! But just in case I don't want to go "topless", I now have this lovely prescription for a cranial prosthesis. I love how there are no refills on the prescription.

The Pathway Inside

Today I had the surgery to put in my port. I decided to go with the port because I already have issues which require me to get blood work on a regular basis. I wanted to be able to keep my veins available for that. It is a bit uncomfortable. I don't know how long this discomfort will last, but I am ready for all of the surgery and the aches and pains associated with it to be over.

So Very Sad

Poor Skittles is ruled by her tummy. She is a true member of this family. She sits and waits patiently while anyone eats. Maybe someone will take pity on her and throw her a crumb. Occasionally, the aroma and the sight of the food is just a little too much and she starts to drool. It is not very lady-like, but she can't help herself. It is just all too good.

Genes

I didn't give genes or DNA much thought before I had children. I don't know if many prospective parents do. Once the baby is born, we are quick to notice her (I use "her" since mine are "hers") eyes are like yours or her toes are like her dad's. The outwardly physical things (and later personality traits) are easy to see. As the child gets older, other things come into play. Will the child inherit your poor eyesight or your teenage acne issues? Will she excel in math or be talented in art? With the cancer, I worry about the possibly I could have passed a gene on to my girls that would raise their chances of getting breast cancer. Guilt is something all parents deal with. Many times it can be warranted, but other times it is not. You blame yourself for things that are logically out of your control or or decisions made before additional factors were made known. It really tore me up to think I could cause this for my girls. I know that most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. And, I know that I didn't know I would get cancer when I decided to have children. That is beside the point. You want your child to have a perfect world, a perfect life regardless of how impossible that is. It hurt to think I could have messed that up for them. I decided to have the blood test for the BRCA 1 and 2 gene. If I had the gene, then they needed to know they too could have it and their risk increased. I am happy to say test came back negative. They are at a higher risk for getting the disease, since I have it and my mom and aunt had it. They will be screened more closely, as I had been. There could still be a gene we have that does increase the risk for cancer. At this time, there is no test for other breast cancer genes. I can live with that.

A Perfect 10

These last couple of pictures (the ones from the hospital) were taken with my phone. I didn't have my camera at the hospital, so the picture quality is not the best.

This is a picture of a dime. It is not just any dime. It is a "Papa dime". Right after Dad died, we started finding dimes around where we were. It is always a single dime. I keep all of the Papa dimes I find and Robyn and Cara bring me the dimes they find as well. Sometimes months will go by and I will not find a dime. Other times I will find several in the same week. This was one of those weeks. I found 2 just before my surgery (one of which was lying next to the fur babies water bowl), Phillip had one fall out of a set of client files that had been banded together (he doesn't keep any money in these files, ever), and the girls found this one on their way to come spring me out of the joint (hospital). I know this is my Dad's way of letting know he is watching out for us. It gives me great comfort to know he is always with me. I really need him now.

A View From The Bed

Ok, I am ready to leave, but they are not ready to let me. It is boring in the hospital, although I do take a lot of cat naps. When I look to the left I see this lovely picture on the side of my bed. I try to have fun making my bed change positions, but it is just not as fun as it would be if I didn't have to be in the bed. Can you tell I am getting squirrely?

Surgery

Well...the surgery was a go and I had it yesterday. Benedict and Arnold are history. Good riddance. I am not a fan of being in the hospital. The bed is uncomfortable, you are hooked up to all sorts of junk and people come in and out all of the time to poke and prod you. They have these nifty boot thingies on my legs to keep me from getting blood clots. They said they would feel like getting a massage. Ummm...no. It doesn't, but it is better than a clot. Those are not fun and I have had enough of those to last a lifetime. I miss my "bed" and my sleeping buddy, Pretty.

PET Scan

This is where I had my PET scan. It was not the most comfortable experience. They inject a glucose solution with a radioactive isotope into you vein an then you sit for an hour for the solution to circulate around your body. The cancer cells love sugar and scoop up the glucose. Then you lie on a table with your arms over your head. They slide you into the donut looking machine and you lie complete still for 25 or so minutes. Of course when you can move, your nose starts to itch, your back hurts, your arms cramp, etc. Needless to say, I was quite happy when that was over. If nothing suspicious shows up on the scan, my surgery is on for tomorrow.

Cards for Cancer...the drop off

This is our contribution for the Cards for Cancer event. I dropped them off at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Covington. Amy and I made a bunch of cards and several other members of Handmade Louisiana sent in cards as well. Two members sent items to be given to cancer patients and their families (an additional member is sending something too). I donated 9 hats I knitted too. I am happy to knit hats for others. It brings me joy.

Prom

Tonight was Prom. Robyn looked beautiful and Michael was handsome. I am glad she decided she wanted to go. So many things this year have been bittersweet for her. This will be a happy memory of a wonderful night. Have fun my baby.

Snow Happens When You Least Expect It

We do not get much snow here in southeast Louisiana, but our household has occasional snow "events", as the weather people refer to them. The snow is not like the traditional snow and usually involves an empty stuffed animal skin or two. The ones who cause the snow have usually left the scene before the snow is discovered. Fortunately, this snow does not melt and leave a mess.

Making Me Laugh

Today I was playing around with my phone and I realized I never took any pictures to correspond to the people on my call list. Since Cara does not have a phone yet, I decided her picture would be the one that came up when "home" called. I was thinking (erroneously) that she would give me one of her cute smiles. Why would I assume that? She said she had the perfect pose and gave me this. Cara is the funniest person I know. She makes me laugh and is a lot of fun. I love when "home" comes up on my cell. I love that face!

Life's Little Pleasures

Sometimes you are innocently going about your day and you happen across something that brings you joy. It doesn't have to be a big thing or something meaningful. It just brings a smile. As I was drive down Hwy. 59, I noticed this car 2 cars ahead of me. It was fabulous! I wanted so badly for the car between us to turn off, but it did not. This was the best picture I could get. How cool would it be to be seen in that bad boy? Plaid is the new black, you know.

Squidward

I love to see what artists create. You give them the materials and they find what those materials tell them to make. Robyn was give the task of creating a teapot in her Talented Art class. The clay said "Make me into a squid." So she did. We are now the proud owners of an amazing squid teapot. Try not to be too jealous :)