First, Debbie MacComber's referred to her fan website. I was referring to a contest she is running. It's called "Second Chance". What would you do if you could do it over? Prize $10,000 to help the dream. You have 100 words-(I think). The submission area counts the words down for you. I came in just under-by less than 1. Title is "Why Mommy?" It is referring to my birth mom. And asks questions. From the little bit of reading I did of other entries, it was a unique entry at least!

Now the ongoing saga of Hubby & I. Long talk in the park. First discovered and discussed with him that that is good neutral territory. We both agreed to 'call each other out' when we see behavior that is harmful to our relationship. He said he was 'afraid' to tell me that we hadn't had our down time. I asked him what was the worst that could happen. That I would get mad? Then we would talk it out. Even if I was upset then-it would be over with and we would have had a better evening. Chances are we would have discovered that I needed the 'space' time I was trying to get that without leaving the room and without actually telling him I needed. I did mess up there-and when he would ask if I was upset I would tell him no which wasn't quite right. And he knew it. but I wasn't open to talking about it.

What to do. I made him think. Hey-I knew there where solutions. I use them all the time with him. He wanted to ignore them and told him they don't go away-that is what caused me to get into the mess I did.

We both commited to bringing them up during our 'down time'. After we talk about work and wind down. It becomes part of our daily talk- I told him to note it on his phone-his has capabilities mine doesn't. (but not in front of me when he knows I'm aggravated.) I will do the same-we will work together. I remember things. He's afraid that layers will build again, I told him not if we are talking daily-but if something breaks routine and I or he forgets the Down Time again, the other is remind us!!

After all of that was over. We talked about my writing. Come to find out, he wants me to write. Quoting, "You were happier when you were writing, but you can't work all day and spend four to five hours on the computer writing. You started getting bad headaches again. But how about you do this, now this is just an idea. Print out what you have and read it through. Use a note bad and outline where you want to go from here-may work on it a couple of hours, a couple of nights during the week. And on Sunday, you sit down for 4 to 5 hours and type it up. Maybe you can edit some during the week."

I asked him if he would do some of the research that I can't seem to get answers for, he got an evil grin, and said-are you sure and what type?

On the crochet front: I have put my DD afghan to the side. I have come to detest working on it. The stitch pattern is nice-but the black/gray color combination causes me problems. Combining the stitch, which does go slower than normal crochet with the black, which is hard to see- and even my normal persistance is not enough. I have put it down. I am almost tempted to find a pretty lace look knitted afghan pattern to make her. She does like the knitted look. HMMM. Tree of life done in black & gray? Rhubar? Knitters-is it a hard pattern for a not beginner/intermediate to do? I have done shawls but not cables? Picture gray back ground black tree or should it be the other way around? Or how about tumbling blocks? Either way needs to be large enough for double to queen size bed. How much yarn? what size needle?