Knitting Class 1

Tonight was the first knitting class.  Ashley and I wondered whether we'd be the youngest people in the class since old ladies do knitting.  We wondered correctly.  We were *definitely* the youngest two in the room, however, most of the people were in the 50's and not their 90's as we feared.  Ashley and I also determined that we were going to be the class dunces that held everyone up because we didn't understand how to do anything.  We were partially correct.  We didn't understand how to do most of it, and had to wait for 1 on 1 help, but we weren't the slowest.  Yay!

Class started out with a brief meet and greet period, and then we learned how to "cast on."  This ended up being relatively easy, and Ashley and I mastered it in no time:

The we moved sloooowly on to learning how to do a knit stitch.  Our teacher, Dory, is from Germany and explained that there are two ways to knit: the American way and the European (or Continental) way.  Apparently back in the day it was extremely taboo to teach the European way in the United States.  I've decided that while I love all things American, we really messed up on our version of knitting.  I tried both ways and determined that not only is the American way 10X slower, but it's also much more complicated than it needs to be.  So, my knitting style of choice:  European.  I got the hang of it pretty quickly after Dory showed me each way to knit.

Ashley had a little more trouble with the actual knitting part.  I think it's because she's doing the American way.  There's too much stopping and starting and moving your hands off the needles.  Dory did a row of knitting for Ashley to show her how to move her hands.  Here are a couple shots of our knitting just before we left class.  

I'm pretty excited to keep practicing this week.  Next week, Dory is going to examine our knitting we practiced at home and show us how to fix the things we messed up.  I'll be really interested to see how to pick up dropped stitches because I'm fairly sure I dropped a few tonight :)

Would you like some tea with your ice?

I just ran up to McDonald's with a craving for some sweet tea.  I ordered a large sweet tea (gotta love the $1 any size), and became severely disappointed from there.

I received my drink, and attempted to put the straw in as I was driving away.  All of the sudden I feel freezing cold liquid on my lap, and I can't get the straw in.  I set it aside until I get back to work.  I quickly realize what the problem is.  They have filled my glass to the BRIM with ice.  It's so packed full that I can't get the straw in, and my attempt to shove the straw in caused the ice to push the tea out onto my lap.  This is what I was left with after scooping the top layer of ice out so I could insert my straw:

Yeah, that's the LARGE Styrofoam cup.  Depressing.  I was really looking forward to a big ol' sweet tea.  Instead I got a big ol' cup full of ice and a wet lap.

Our Favorite Things - Part 1

I have decided to start a reoccurring post regarding some of the favorite things in the Ramsayer household.  First up...

This is the wedding gift we received from my Aunt Judy.  It became a quick favorite the moment I opened it, and Stevie made it her new favorite place to lay.  I wish I would have video taped her freaking out over it.  She was rolling all over the thing in total love with it.

It's absolutely beautiful!!  And 100% warm!  You better believe that Ryan and I are going to be snuggled up under it on the couch this winter!  The whole quilt is filled with love and marriage quotes.

And here's the little tag that my Auntie made for it:

These are just a few of our favorite things :)

A House Divided

 A few times a year, the Ramsayer house is in divide.  It used to happen more often, until I converted Ryan into a Red Wings fan.  Now, we're generally only ever at odds over football.

Today, it's the Lions v. Vikings game.  Clearly, I'm rooting for the Lions even though it's generally a losing wager.  Ryan, as always, is rooting for his Vikings.  He even made a "friendly" wager at work on this game.

WOOOO!  As I'm typing this blog, the Lions just completed a touchdown pass.  I screamed "wooo" and Ryan looked at me and just said "Whatever."  Then pulled up the game stats and said, "Well, the Lions only had 13 yards on like 3 drives."

But, back to this post.  Every single year we've been together we have rooted for different teams to win the Super Bowl.  And, every single year, my team has won :)  I even pulled out the Manning brothers' wins. 

Ryan is currently screaming "THE VIKINGS GET IT BACK!  THE VIKINGS GET IT BACK!!!"  And, he's also making the Vikings horn noise.

And, as I end the blog post the Vikings and the Lions are tied...7-7.

Cider Mill II

My parents, Ryan, and I made it to Parmenter's today to check out the wine and hard cider.

We picked up some cherry hard cider, doughnuts, and cider. Mmmmmm...but the hard cider out by Flint is still the best!!!

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Cider Mill

Anyone who knows me (even just a little bit), knows that I look forward to fall all year to be able to go to the Cider Mills.  If you're asking what a cider mill is, well you'll just have to visit Michigan to find out.  It's big here.  And, it's amazing.

I made my first trip to the cider mill (Plymouth Orchards) this past Sunday.  My mom and I headed out there while the boys watched football.  It was the free Red Zone preview, so they were more than happy to let us have a mother-daughter day.

We wandered around the store picking up some cool items like my new Apple Butter BBQ sauce!  My mom picked up a bunch of fresh apples to make an apple pie.  I'm super excited to make it with her, hopefully this weekend!  And then we sat down to guzzle the delicious apple cider and stuff ourselves full of gut-bomb doughnuts (in all three flavors)!!

We still have two more cider mill trips on the list, possibly three.  Dexter Cider Mill is one of our usual spots.  We've been going there since we were kids, and I noticed last year that they were featured on Food Network.  My personal opinion is that Plymouth Orchards & Dexter Cider Mill have *the best* cider around.  Dexter will be the third place we hit if we end up having time.  Inked into our schedules is a visit to Parmenter's and a yet unknown and undiscovered cider mill.  My mom recently told me that Parmenter's has a winery now as well as hard cider.  We found a place a few years ago that had the most amazing hard cider, so I definitely have to check out Parmenter's since it's about 5 minutes away!  Then, as per tradition, we will be joining Jill & Aaron to visit a new and undiscovered cider mill.  We've found some great ones over the last few years!  I can't wait to see where we end up this year!!!

Woohoo!  Fall, here I come!

Oh, also another of my favorite fall occasions...haunted housing with Eddie & Ashley!  We already have our 2010 Fear Finder, and we've already started mapping out our stops!  Can't wait!!!

Lost in Translation

Today I had to call France.  You would think after going to France multiple times and taking French lessons for a long time as a small child I would remember SOMETHING.  Not so much.  I realized I remember the alphabet, how to count, and how to say "My name is...", "Do you speak...," and "How are you?"  I had hoped that my limited vocabulary could at least get me directed to *someone* who spoke English.

Nope.

I call France.  BTW, the ring for international calls is annoying.  Someone answers with what I believe was the company name, but he spoke so fast that I'm not totally sure.

I say, "Bonjour.  Je m'appelle Melanie.  Parlez-vous anglais?"

Man:  "No."  Then he said something so quickly in French that I didn't even catch a single word that I recognized.

I say, "Je ne comprends pas."  Meaning, I do not understand.

Man:  Makes a strange noise and then starts talking more.

Me: "Je ne comprends pas.  Anglais?  Anyone?"

Man:  "Yes.  English.  I speak little."

Then we proceed to have a conversation that is half in French and half in English.  But, it turned out that my memory of French numbers and letters was 100% necessary to the conversation.  Seriously.  I'm honestly not totally sure what he said because it seemed like all of the important parts were in French.  Figures.  I did confirm that we were talking about the same thing and that he will be sending me an e-mail tomorrow.  I may be making use of a French translator tomorrow. 

Too bad I wasn't calling Spain.  I can definitely hold a coherent conversation in Spanish.  But, this call to France made me wonder why I ever dropped French and switched to Spanish in high school.  And, I also realized that it's amazing what the brain forgets over time.  I went to France in 5th grade and was fully capable of speaking the language enough that I was able to get by for a month.  Now...I remember only a few phrases.  Maybe one day I'll try and brush up on my foreign language skills. 

Oops...

...I just realized that Ryan and I still haven't picked out the pictures for our wedding album yet.  I should probably do that so we have the album before our 1 year anniversary :)

Crazy week

I thought I was busy before...now it's just a joke.  I ended up having to fly to Vegas on Tuesday and didn't get back until Friday afternoon.  Long story short, my uncle was at a conference out there, fell, and broke his leg pretty badly.  My dad and I had to fly out there to organize and execute his transport back to Michigan as the hospital in Vegas could not set his leg properly and would not do surgery on him.  It was three extremely long days spent on the phone and in the hospital arranging his transport to the Vegas airport, then from the Detroit airport to Botsford Hospital.  It's a darn good thing that my dad and I are relatively cool headed in emergency situations.  It was a big job (much bigger than I anticipated it would be), but it all ended up going very smoothly despite a few surprise set-backs during the trip.

However, Delta and I are in a fight.  If you're going to charge me $400 for a flight, how about you try letting me sit in a seat that has a cushion instead of a concrete slab.  For those of you flying on a Delta airbus anytime soon...DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT, sit in seat 10A or 10 F.  These two seats are the window seats in the first exit row.  Because there is a second exit row behind you, your seat does not recline.  That's not so bad, and I really didn't mind it that much.  What I did mind was the crazy seat "cushion" they use in those seats.  Because they are directly against the exit door, the cushion is lower (actually, 4" lower than the seat next to me).  I'm a midget and it was uncomfortable for me because my thighs were off the chair for the whole 4 hour flight.  But the absolute worst part about it wasn't the height difference, it was the sheer lack of cushion.  There was literally *NO* padding on the seat...it was like sitting on concrete.  So please, if you want to feel your butt by the time you get off the plane...DO NOT SIT THERE!

In other news, I managed to finish the 2nd book (The Girl Who Played with Fire) in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.  It was awesome.  Read it.  Seriously. 

So, I end up back at work Friday afternoon with a pile of stuff on my desk.  I have everything I missed while gone for a few days, all stuff that didn't get finished on Tuesday because we were arranging the trip to Vegas, all the added work that was delegated to me because my Uncle will be out of work for a while, AND some legal problems that cropped up for my cousin.  I'm pretty sure this week is going to consist of some pretty late nights.  All this and I'm STILL trying get to the contracts I promised to review for my bff.  I wanted to get it done before they launched their new business (Check it out: Sign It With Love), but they already launched and it's still sitting on the back burner because I just don't have the time.  Sorry J!!!!

I'd love to write more, but I have some e-mails to attend to before work tomorrow. 

Detroit

I know a good portion of my readers have never been to Detroit.  The vast majority have obtained their knowledge about Detroit from the popular media.  From that they have formed their opinions.  I thought I would introduce some of you to what Detroit is really like.

Are their crack houses, murder, homelessness, urban blight, and suffering?  Yes.

Are their bad neighborhoods, crime, and corruption?  Yes.

Is there anything good about Detroit?  Absolutely.

Detroit is like any other urban city in the nation.  There are good parts, there are bad parts, and there are the really bad parts.  Just like in Chicago, one learns that they shouldn't venture TOO far into the south side otherwise they may be risking life and limb.  The same is true of Detroit.  There are areas that aren't "safe."  But just like Chicago, there are wonderful areas with streams of people. 

Detroit has been brought to it's knees.  It's battered, bloody, and broken from the "white flight," the suburban sprawl, the multiple crises of the Big 3, recessions, corrupt politicians, and lazy citizens.  Detroit is but the bare bones of it's former 1960's self.

But, in the national media you only see the terrible things about Detroit.  You see stories about crime, poverty, abandoned buildings, and destruction.  What you don't see are stories about the City of Detroit demolishing thousands of abandoned buildings festering.  Or, the stories about the community gardens.  Or, the stories about people trying to make a difference.  You don't hear about Detroit streets crawling with young adults.

There's something happening in Detroit.  Something is boiling under the surface.  Will it be the movement to restore Detroit to it's former glory?  No one can tell.  But, trust me.  There are plenty of places in Detroit that are WORTH seeing, and despite popular belief...they're safe.

Check out this video about Detroit featuring Johnny Knoxville by Palladium:
Detroit Lives -- Palladium Boots

If you're ever in town you should definitely try Slo's BBQ.  Also, check out the Heidelberg Project.  Want some amazing home-grown foods?  Then you should head over to The Eastern Market!  If you get hungry while you're there and feel like some great old fashioned Italian food, check out The Roma Cafe.  Into a little history?  Then check out The DIA, The Motown Museum (you know you love Motown!), or even the Detroit Historical Museum -- oh, and for the little ones the Detroit Science Center is pretty sweet too.  Want a little of the Detroit sports flavor?  Well, then go check out a Wings game at Joe Louis, or a Tigers game at Comerica.  If you're hitting a hockey game, you definitely can't leave without seeing Hockeytown Cafe!  Want some more night life?  Well the Fox Theater is absolutely breathtaking and it brings in some of the best shows around!  What's that?  You want more, well then go try your luck at any of our three casinos:  MGM Grand, Motor City Casino, and Greektown (and yes, there's a whole Greektown in Detroit).  MGM is my personal favorite.  Oh and if you're here in January be sure to head to the Auto Show at Cobo Hall.  Want to see some beautiful scenery?  The check out the Detroit waterfront.  There are some beautiful (I know you don't believe me -- go see for yourself) places to see.

Have I intrigued you?  Do you want to come for a visit?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Jill!
Happy Birthday to you!

I wanted to wish a very happy birthday to one of my best friends in the world!  I'm so glad that law school brought us together!  I hope you have an absolutely wonderful day...but knowing your hubby, I'm sure he'll take care of it!

XOXO

That's interesting...

Just took a look at my blog and realized that the post I wrote on Thursday never posted.  So, I checked in the drafts...not there either.  Not really sure where it went, but clearly NOT on my blog.

The quick recap of the missing post was basically how I'm super busy right now, and it described in detail what I've been doing at work, and how my weekend was jam packed.  I apologized to J for not getting to her contract yet, but that I hoped to be able to do it sometime this week.

Today is shaping up into being a bit of a slow day for me.  Thank goodness!  I haven't had a slow day at work in quite some time.  So, I'm going to spend some time cleaning up my desk...seriously, it's insane.  Don't judge:

Definitely needs some attention.  Once I've organized my desk, my goal is to get to the about 300 e-mails that I've yet to read an respond to.  Let's be honest, that's probably going to take a few hours. 

But, before I get to all of that "fun," I thought I'd let you all know about the weekend.

Friday, after work I ran over to my parent's house so that we could run downtown Plymouth to pick up the Rotary Chicken BBQ tickets.  It's a family tradition since before I can remember.  My mom said she thought we started doing the chicken dinners when we first moved to Plymouth.  So, that would mean we've been doing it since 1988.  Back in the day, we used to take the dinners over to my Grandma & Grandpa Winslow's house.  Sometime after my grandma died, the dinners took place at my mom and dad's house. 

Not sure if anyone is interested, but they give a neat history of the Fall Fest and the chicken dinners here:  http://plymouthfallfestival.com/History/History01.htm.  I was really surprised at how many dinners they sold in the '70s.  We learned in 1988 that the Chicken Dinner was not actually a "dinner."  If you wait until dinner time to go pick up your chicken, you're not going to get any.  The Rotary sells as many tickets as people want, but that doesn't mean that's how many chickens they cook.  In 1988, my mom went to pick up the chickens for dinner and they had already sold out.  To say the least, we've never made that mistake again.  We now have bbq chicken LUNCH!  And boy is it delicious!  Aaaaannnndddd...back to my weekend!

We pick up the tickets early because the presale price is $2 cheaper than the day of.  After picking up the tickets we had some yummy fish with my parents for dinner.  Then, by 10 o'clock Ryan and I were at hope, in bed, reading.  Ryan made a comment about us being old and lame for being in bed reading at 10 o'clock on a Friday night. I pretty much didn't care because I was exhausted.  I read for about 20 min and then I was out like a light.

Saturday I slept in MUCH later than I planned (11:30), but I didn't kick myself too hard because obviously I needed the sleep if I slept like a rock for more than 12 hours!  Soon after getting up, my dad stopped by to pick up Ryan and head to Kohl's with him and Eddie.  I did some cleaning and organizing around the house and then I started getting ready for my cousin's wedding.  By 3:45 we found ourselves at St. John's running through the rain to the chapel.  The wedding ceremony was gorgeous, albeit terribly long because it was a Catholic ceremony.  Afterward we had some appetizers and then went to the ballroom for the reception.  Dinner was filet & chicken with a grape reduction sauce.  I think I got hosed on dinner.  Someone in the kitchen must have had a mild seizure while putting the sauce on my plate because EVERYTHING was absolutely covered in the grape sauce.  It was so strong that every. single. thing I ate tasted like super sweet grapes.  The cake, however, was super delicious.  It turned out to be the same cake and flavor we had at our wedding :)  The band was phenomenal.  They played a lot of Motown and I LOVED it!  We stayed until the party ended, and made it home around 2 a.m.  I promptly crashed.

Sunday was a day of good food (Rotary BBQ) and football with family.  We had lunch with my parents, Eddie, Ashley, my grandma, and grandpa.  We won't EVEN get started on the horrible call at the end of the Lions game.  And, after reading the news things morning, I realize that nearly all of the country is in my corner on this one...even Bears' fans.  The rule is stupid.  The call was stupid.  The Lions actually made a miraculous play with a second rate quarterback and it was thrown away.  Sad.  Very reminiscent of the Galarraga game and the blown call by Joyce. 

Actually I did get started, so I'm going to continue.  I realize that the NFL has a very stupid rule stating that the process of the play must be completed.  I'd like to argue first and foremost that Calvin's process WAS completed.  It was even called a TD initially by the refs.  Johnson leap, CLEARLY caught the ball, landed on TWO feet then a knee, kept possession and total control of the ball the ENTIRE way to the ground.  Then he hits the ground, slams the ball into the ground in what I could consider celebration of a miraculous TD.  The ground had nothing to do with the equation, so I would argue that the "process of the play" rule shouldn't even apply.  He caught the damn ball, and then slammed it down.
I think that no matter how we look at this situation, everyone has to realize that the NFL's rule is illogical and ridiculous if it ends in this result.  Obviously it was meant to control the plays where a player lands to the ground and the ball squirts out.  This isn't that situation.  The rule was applied here and ended with an unjust result.  There seems to be a huge discrepancy between TDs from rushing and from passing.  And to you Bears' fans that are arguing in favor of the rule -- wait till it happens to you, because it's assuredly going to.

On of my favorite quotes from my perusing today was: "Aside from being in the end zone, clearly catching and controlling the ball, and getting two feet in, what more does the NFL want people to do? Should Calvin Johnson have brought the ball with him to the sideline? Should he hold it for the flight home? Take it to dinner?" I think this pretty much sums up the ridiculousness of the rule and the call.  End Rant.

Alright, now I've really go to get to the desk cleaning, some research that was just handed to me, and my 300 e-mails.  XOXO, M

Self Absorbed...

...people are horrible excuses for human beings.

That is all.

I'm still here.

I am sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been absolutely swamped at work.  I'm so glad we have a long weekend in about...45 minutes.

I promise I'll post this weekend to catch up on life, and I'll fill you in on all the crazy that has kept me from my blogging. 

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.  And, safe travels to the Malics (and Unti).

Tomorrow = ALL DAY WITH MY FAVORITE COUPLE IN THE WORLD!  Can't wait to see J & A!!!