I misread the recipe and added two tablespoons of salt to my proofing solution instead of two teaspoons and the yeast failed to proof so I had to start that over, off to an auspicious start

reserved the salt for the flour and left it out of the second proofing solution and like crazy, so now I have a beautiful hideous dough baby that's gonna spend the next hour-ish rising into a handsome pretzel boy

Er. The solution proofed like crazy. but I did not proofread when tooting about proofing.

progress! now to boil them in baking soda water.

gave the kids a bath, an egg wash, and a bit of salt and cheddar and now they're in the oven

Yeah, that'll do. that's a good bake, Mary.

This is the recipe I used, for those of you playing the home game - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-soft-pretzels-recipe