Yesterday afternoon when I arrived home, my SO had surprised me- "my bookshelf" was put together and he was washing dishes!! He had stayed home because he wasn't feeling well. Now I have a real place to put my 1-mind candy and 2 craft books. The other bookshelf we have was suppose to do double duty with dvds and books, but it didn't work quite that way. Now to organize the books. He even emptied out some boxes and broke them down and took them downstairs this morning. He didn't want me to do that, but empty boxes take up a lot of space. He found another box of books he didn't remember me having-and I know that there is another box in our closet. I have a feeling that I am going to have to keep an empty box to store some books. Or really go through the books to pass along. Quite a few of the books are series type books and I need to decide if they are "reread" books. The books about prehistory-AUEL and GEAR are definately keepers. MaComber books are probably keepers too, but not to sure yet. Have to really think about it.

Speaking of books, next Wednesday there is a book signing with "500 authors" from one of the "Romance" groups here in DC. Anyone going? I have never been to one and I would like to go, but it sounds like a crowd which is not my best situation. I received the invite since I joined Macomber's news club. I was tired of missing certain books. I don't buy all of hers, but some. I don't automatically buy books by certain romance authors anymore. Except if I see a Betty Neels book-she is deceased, but I enjoy quick "Cinderella" reads which a lot of her stories are. They are also safe for a juvenile reader to pick up. I have to think of my oldest GD. Who is taking after her mom and I as far as reading goes. 3rd grade reading Harry Potter and understanding it-not the first book either-but the one that is just coming out as a movie. Serious questions determined that 1 she can read the words and 2 she does understand what she is reading. But then, as of next year she is in a special learning program- IDEA LAB.

Two or three times a week she goes to a 'lab' to work on projects that are excellerated. Next year the project will be developing robots. The program is hard to get into, the first 3 years she tested and missed by 1 point. She does her mom and step dad (whom she started calling "Dad" this year-after mom & him got married) proud. Biological dad is in picture but doesn't step up to the plate even to take full visitation-he has court allowed 1 day a week-Sundays- all day if he wants. She is lucky if she gets to see him 1 hour. And she has caught him in lies and has learned (unfortunately) that he cannot be counted on. Hard lessons to learn at 9, but 'Dad' does a fantastic job as a role model, as a true parent. My SO did great for her earlier years, but since they are in IL and we are now in DC it is hard to fulfill that role.

Tried some more knitting last night- SSK and PSSO (?) stitches are tricky and I ended up frogging some. Good thing I remember a trick I read about threading a piece of yarn through the a row that I knew was correct. And good thing that these are only dishclothes out out old cotton yarn. I would hate to ruin expensive yarn.

Actually voted for dance couple on "Dance". Apparently, you can vote as many times as you want. I think I ended up voting 10 times for couple 6. I liked all the dances-couples danced 2 routines and I liked both of theirs whereas most of the other couples had 1 good and 1 not so good dance.

I really did not intend on writing all of this, but this site is allowing me to count my blessings, even when I am upset with SO. I don't know what impressions I gave earlier, but even with the aggravation, I would still have married him. I do love him and I know he loves me. (Just have to remind myself when he isn't being sweet.)