Friday, April 27, 2007
Tiny little rant and then the rest is GOOD!
Ok, I know I complain like a crazy person here but the thing is, I started this blog originally so I could just write and get things off my mind. Then I started posting pix for the family and then all the knitting and swapping stuff... I have a "craft only" blog but I have been way too lazy to wade through all the back end file stuff on my server to get it going. One day, I promise!
Anyway, the tiny little rant... I think everyone will agree with this one. So, over the weekend I ordered a few things from KnitPicks - the Victorian Lace Today book, The Magic Loop book for my SP10 secret pal and some white merino yarn (for Kool-aid dyeing!). I had expected it to show up by yesterday but it didn't. This morning I went to Connor's school for the 4th grade Wax Museum/Biography Project (stay tuned for those pictures - it was PRICELESS). I was only gone for about an hour or so.
Upon my return, there was a box sitting on my front stoop. Now, it had been misty today but not enough to even need an umbrella. However, it poured last night. The box was so soaking wet that it fell apart when I picked it up. I know that it didn't get that wet sitting outside for an hour this morning. My guess is that my crackhead mailman delivered it to someone else yesterday where it sat in the rain all night and then either he or the wrong recipient dumped it at my house while I was gone.
Needless to say I am so furious. The yarn was luckily wrapped in plastic and only one skein got wet - I think it will dry ok. The lace book is a little ripply on the edge but I guess I can deal with that. I know KnitPicks would probably replace all the stuff but honestly, I hate having to go through all the hassle. I have complained to the post office about this kind of stuff repeatedly and it has only gotten worse. Honestly, I'm somewhat afraid of my mailman - he definitely strikes me as the type to go postal. Ok, rant over... on to the good stuff.
So this week has been really good. Here's how it shakes down:
Anyway, the tiny little rant... I think everyone will agree with this one. So, over the weekend I ordered a few things from KnitPicks - the Victorian Lace Today book, The Magic Loop book for my SP10 secret pal and some white merino yarn (for Kool-aid dyeing!). I had expected it to show up by yesterday but it didn't. This morning I went to Connor's school for the 4th grade Wax Museum/Biography Project (stay tuned for those pictures - it was PRICELESS). I was only gone for about an hour or so.
Upon my return, there was a box sitting on my front stoop. Now, it had been misty today but not enough to even need an umbrella. However, it poured last night. The box was so soaking wet that it fell apart when I picked it up. I know that it didn't get that wet sitting outside for an hour this morning. My guess is that my crackhead mailman delivered it to someone else yesterday where it sat in the rain all night and then either he or the wrong recipient dumped it at my house while I was gone.
Needless to say I am so furious. The yarn was luckily wrapped in plastic and only one skein got wet - I think it will dry ok. The lace book is a little ripply on the edge but I guess I can deal with that. I know KnitPicks would probably replace all the stuff but honestly, I hate having to go through all the hassle. I have complained to the post office about this kind of stuff repeatedly and it has only gotten worse. Honestly, I'm somewhat afraid of my mailman - he definitely strikes me as the type to go postal. Ok, rant over... on to the good stuff.
So this week has been really good. Here's how it shakes down:
- I got a bunch of consulting work accomplished this week. Such a good feeling! I still have a few things to do today (although they will probably get pushed off to Monday because I'm waiting on other ppl).
- Connor's two big school projects (science fair and biography project) are DONE. Phew. School projects are hard for parents!
- I started... and am about halfway through (!!!)... a lace scarf! This is the Branching Out scarf (Knitty Spring '05, I think) that I tried to start awhile ago and kept getting frustrated with. Well, I put my mind to it and muscled through the first few repeats and now I'm on a roll. That's not to say that I haven't tinked about every other row but I'm still very proud of myself. :o) Word to the wise, don't watch engaging TV while trying to knit lace - the yarn-overs will suffer. I will try to post pix today - I'm knitting it in the handpainted 50/50 silk/merino that I got at Holly Spring Homespun a few weeks ago. The colorway is "Poodle Skirt" - its bubblegum pink with purple bits in it. Yay!
- I got a new camera! Its a 7 MP Canon Powershot Elph. Its so tiny and cute. My old Nikon Coolpix is still a great camera but its only 3 MP and the shutter speed is so slow and it has no ISO range... I've had it forever and it was time for an upgrade.
- I jogged... for a mile... without stopping. Ok... this one has sort of been a big secret. A few people know I have been doing this running thing but I have been loathe to post anything about it because I've been afraid of jinxing it. I started this running program for wimpy, lame couch potatoes about 2 months ago. I haven't been entirely consistent but I've honestly been trying and I can definitely see and feel that I'm making a tiny bit of progress. I'm still very wimpy and lame but a little less so than I was 2 months ago! :o)
- I'm headed to VA this weekend to take a knitting class with my momma... it's a Melissa Leapman class - Knitting on the Edge. Not entirely sure what to expect but I think its about trim/edging/borders/etc. The swatches I had to knit in preparation included some bobbles and some interesting looking ribbing.
- I'M GOING TO CALIFORNIA IN 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! Long time readers (ok, pretty much just my mom fits in that category I guess -lol!) know that my friend Isabel moved back to CA in October. I've missed her so much and we've been planning for me to come out there for a little visit for months now. Well, time flies and next week is the week! I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. There will of course be lots of pix to post and crazy stories to tell when we get together. We are both magnets for drama and madness (or maybe we ARE the drama and madness).
Labels: good things, knitting, rant
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Needs vs. Wants
One of the sections of the Managing Conflict training I do is called Causes of Conflict. One of the causes is the concept of Needs vs. Wants. The class always comes up with interesting examples for this one and, when necessary, I debrief using the examples of credit card debt ("I need to save money but I want these shoes!") and need/want confusion in children ("They need rest but they want to stay up late.")
I feel like a major hypocrite when I talk about this because I'm the worst offender of Needs vs. Wants... much to my own detriment (and the detriment of my bank account, pants size, yadayada...)
What's my point here? Well, I've been knitting socks for Mr. Cake using the Colinette Jitterbug ("Jewel") mom bought me. Its really sweet yarn so I checked out the Colinette website and then the Unique Colours site (their US distributor) and found all the other great colors that Jitterbug comes in.
It goes without saying that I headed over to eBay and found the "Toscana" and "Popscicle" colorways that I was coveting for a very decent price. You can probably guess the rest. A vicious bidding war ensued. But I drew the line at paying more than the stuff retails for. Some other sucker got both hanks of yarn and I'm super miffed about that.
You know where this is going. I don't just WANT more Jitterbug. I NEEEEEEEEEEED more Jitterbug! LOL! I'm like a spoiled little child. So, I'm off to Cloverhill Yarn today(Monday's trip to Woolworks was fruitless... at least as far as Colinette products go)... cross your fingers for me. (And say a prayer for my credit card.)
I feel like a major hypocrite when I talk about this because I'm the worst offender of Needs vs. Wants... much to my own detriment (and the detriment of my bank account, pants size, yadayada...)
What's my point here? Well, I've been knitting socks for Mr. Cake using the Colinette Jitterbug ("Jewel") mom bought me. Its really sweet yarn so I checked out the Colinette website and then the Unique Colours site (their US distributor) and found all the other great colors that Jitterbug comes in.
It goes without saying that I headed over to eBay and found the "Toscana" and "Popscicle" colorways that I was coveting for a very decent price. You can probably guess the rest. A vicious bidding war ensued. But I drew the line at paying more than the stuff retails for. Some other sucker got both hanks of yarn and I'm super miffed about that.
You know where this is going. I don't just WANT more Jitterbug. I NEEEEEEEEEEED more Jitterbug! LOL! I'm like a spoiled little child. So, I'm off to Cloverhill Yarn today(Monday's trip to Woolworks was fruitless... at least as far as Colinette products go)... cross your fingers for me. (And say a prayer for my credit card.)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The English language is in a sad, sad state.
I know I'm a huge grammar snob. I just can't help it. I'm a detail person. Poor grammar and spelling makes people look and sound ignorant (even if they aren't).
Why am I ranting about this today? Well, for one, I haven't complained about anything in a good 18 hours and that's simply unacceptable (haha! don't you love it when I'm self deprecating?).
Plus this was featured in today's WikiHow. It's truly sad that there is a Wiki written about the proper use of THERE, THEIR and THEY'RE. As if 99.9% of the American population didn't learn this stuff by 4th grade.
I can certainly understand someone who isn't a native English speaker/reader having trouble sorting this out. But really, come on, the average American has no excuse. And... um... I don't know... (yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm being totally cynical and bitchy here)... maybe if you know how to READ, you might figure this stuff out regardless of whether you remember Houghton Mifflin grammar exercises??
Why am I ranting about this today? Well, for one, I haven't complained about anything in a good 18 hours and that's simply unacceptable (haha! don't you love it when I'm self deprecating?).
Plus this was featured in today's WikiHow. It's truly sad that there is a Wiki written about the proper use of THERE, THEIR and THEY'RE. As if 99.9% of the American population didn't learn this stuff by 4th grade.
I can certainly understand someone who isn't a native English speaker/reader having trouble sorting this out. But really, come on, the average American has no excuse. And... um... I don't know... (yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm being totally cynical and bitchy here)... maybe if you know how to READ, you might figure this stuff out regardless of whether you remember Houghton Mifflin grammar exercises??
Monday, April 23, 2007
The crafting plague
So my friend Isa posted the following on my MySpace page today....
"Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies." You can NEVER get rid of it. It always seems to be on your upper lip too. Bahahahaha!
"Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies." You can NEVER get rid of it. It always seems to be on your upper lip too. Bahahahaha!
That KTE Spoiler is very tricky!
A new postcard in the mail today! Yay! I love suprises. I have the nicest KTE partner!
OK... well.... I honestly haven't met a color I didn't like. My undergrad degree is in fine arts and I often got myself yelled at in the Art Foundation classes because I had a wee bit of trouble limiting my color palette.
BUT, I tend toward brights and muted retro-y colors. I ♥ bubblegum pink in the worst kind of way. Mix it up with turquoise, brown, or orange (and maybe all of the above) and I'm in heaven.
Lavender + celery green... Robin's egg + chocolate brown... Coral + baby pink.... Pumpkin + Tiffany blue + mauve... Butter yellow + lime green + tan... you get the picture. :o) Any color combo a Pucci print comes in is a-ok with me!
The Extreme Sport of Knitting
So knitting is a nice little relaxing hobby, right?
Domain of grandma's and hipster's making socks and scarves?
I don't think so. Check this out. (not for the squeamish) She deserves mad props for surviving that. Although, that beautiful hand-knit sock...!!! Oh, what a terrible loss!!!
Knitting is dangerous. A virtual thrill ride. We are in peril everytime we pick up our sticks. I don't think any snowboarder or skater ever had themselves impaled on their equipment. Knitter's definitely deserve a spot in the XGames.
Domain of grandma's and hipster's making socks and scarves?
I don't think so. Check this out. (not for the squeamish) She deserves mad props for surviving that. Although, that beautiful hand-knit sock...!!! Oh, what a terrible loss!!!
Knitting is dangerous. A virtual thrill ride. We are in peril everytime we pick up our sticks. I don't think any snowboarder or skater ever had themselves impaled on their equipment. Knitter's definitely deserve a spot in the XGames.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
100 Random Things
I'm feeling nostalgic. And a little self obsessed. So I thought today I would post 100 Random Things About Stephanie Cake. Here goes:
- Food makes me happy. Its a sad fact for my waistline. I could easily make this post "100 Food Items That Make Me Happy".
- I frequently make new product purchase decisions based on the packaging. Sometimes I am terribly disappointed.
- Vodka is my drink of choice. I'm not that much of a drinker but a vodka/tonic, vodka/cran or an Ivan Collins will make me very happy. Oh, and that Absolut Pear? Heavenly!
- I used to have a minor obsession with cheese. I've cut back. A lot. My colon is much happier.
- Terrible fates have befallen every car I've ever owned. I currently drive a grocery getter. Everyone else thinks its cool - I worry that I look like a soccer mom.
- Looking like a soccer mom is my worst nightmare.
- I weigh at least 25 lbs more than my driver's license claims.
- I used to have a major phobia of drive-thrus. Laziness helped me get over it.
- I still have a major phobia of spiders. Making me watch Arachnaphobia or 8-Legged Freaks will not help me get over it.
- I secretly like the sound of my own voice. Even though it embarrasses me to hear it.
- I have more shoes than any person I know. I only wear about 10% of them.
- I have been saving a pair of size 10 velvet Calvin Klein pucci-printed hip huggers I bought for my 21st birthday for over 12 years in the hopes I will wear them again. It isn't looking good but a girl can have dreams, no?
- Lavender is my favorite smell in the world.
- I like Bergamot too.
- My 8th grade Social Studies teacher explained that "one mans rights end where another man's begin". I have tried to live my life this way ever since. Who knew I was a Libertarian at 13?
- My other motto is "everything in moderation". This of course applies to housework, alcohol consumption and exercise. It does not apply to brownies, my yarn/fabric stash and art supplies.
- My other, other motto is "Do unto others." It truly hurts me to think I have treated other people badly.
- I was moved to tears by the architecture (particularly Gothic cathedrals) in Europe. Much to the annoyance and dismay of my traveling companion.
- I am a die hard skeptic. My greatest acheivement in life was becoming a Certfied Professional Behavior Analyst so I could justify my untrusting attitude.
- I love other people about 47.6% of the time. And merely tolerate them the rest.
- I'm good at acting like #19 and #20 aren't really true... most of the time.
- I am a cat person.
- I don't hate dogs. I just don't understand them.
- I have come to realize that I am fussy and particular about the dumbest things. Case in point... Regular Coke? YES. Regular Pepsi? NO. Diet Coke? NO! Diet Pepsi? YES. Pepsi One? Sometimes. Coke Zero? Sometimes. Coke w/ Splenda? YES.
- I want to be cremated when I die. And, after the Jazz Funeral Parade in my honor, I want someone who loves me with all their heart to scatter my ashes in 10 different places.
- I haven't yet traveled enough to know what those 10 places will be... but one of them will be the Blue Ridge Mountains and another will be Monterey, CA.
- I love pink + orange + turquoise + brown. It just makes me happy.
- Nothing quenches my thirst quite like Tropical Punch Kool-Aid.
- When I was about 3 I cut the middles out of a pile of fabric in my mother's stash with her pinking shears. I was quite proud of myself.
- When I was 3 I also had imaginary friends named Nogger and Kevident.
- When I was 9 I desperately wanted a bra so I made one with fabric, elastic scraps and safety pins. My mother saved it and has tormented me with it for the past 20+ years.
- If I had only known then, what I know now, I would have wished for smaller boobs.
- I love Earl Grey tea. And French Roast coffee.
- My feet are always cold at night. Even in the summer.
- I'm not a very good secret keeper. Unless the secret is horrible and unspeakable.
- I'm very sentimental. But it embarrasses me so I try not to act like it.
- My very first boyfriend is still one of my close friends.
- I'm afraid of scary movies but I watch them anyway.
- I get overwhelmed by the beauty of everything in bloom when spring arrives.
- Fall is still my favorite time of year, though.
- All the war, greed and hatred in the world depresses me so I try not to think about it.
- I'm a moody person. My friends and family have learned to get over it. Because it doesn't have anything to do with them.
- I love spending money.
- I feel really guilty when I spend money.
- But not for long because I love spending money.
- I have 4 friends who constantly flake on me... I've come to realize 2 of them are just like that and the 3rd actually doesn't like me that much. The jury is still out on the 4th.
- I have a very short attention span.
- I crave neatness and cleanliness. But I hate housework more than anything. Its a quandry that takes up more of my life than I care to mention.
- I was so bookish as a kid that I would read cereal boxes and my grandparents' Reader's Digest's when I ran out of other reading material.
- I wish I were more athletic.
- I'm obsessive about things being symmetrical.
- I can be opinionated in the worst kind of way.
- Flip flops are my favorite shoes.
- I get excited everytime there is a new text message on my cell phone because it means someone is thinking about me.
- I love that tingly feeling in the air after a summer thunder storm.
- I prefer the beach as a vacation destination.
- Coworkers at several of my jobs have assumed I was a perky, preppy, cheerleader type in HS. This makes me howl with laughter since it couldn't be further from the truth.
- An acquaintence recently told me that I am very pretty. This really suprised me. I'm also paranoid that it really meant "You are very pretty, except..." or "You are very pretty for a..."
- I have terrible self esteem and zero confidence sometimes.
- I always paint my toenails red in the summer.
- My best day ever was the day my son was born.
- The thought of crying in public terrifies me.
- There are certain smells that make me physically ill.
- I wish I had a trust fund.
- I prefer circles to squares.
- Like every little girl, when I was 8, I wanted to be a veterinarian.
- Flirting makes me feel powerful.
- I probably own 40 times more books than CD's.
- I only have 72 hours of music on my iTunes.
- Deep down inside I feel it is very important for people to like me.
- I've been on a quest for the perfect pair of jeans for years. I refuse to give up.
- I have always eaten cereal without milk.
- I love being a woman but I'd like to be a guy for one day. Just to see what it's like.
- I have almost the same taste in music that I did when I was 12.
- I haven't been roller skating in 23 years.
- Seinfeld always makes me laugh, even though I've seen just about every episode 10 times.
- My ultimate fantasy is to go back in time and give my teenage self a good talking to.
- But I wouldn't want to meet myself in the future.
- It drives me nuts when people know something and won't share it with me. Even if it's for my own good.
- I am an average cook.
- The volume of junk mail I get astounds me.
- I wish I had more MySpace friends... but not enough to friend request people I don't actually know.
- I love the feeling of teetering between wakefulness and sleep. I have the best dreams there.
- I'm not a huge fan of children. That's why I only have one.
- #84 makes me sound like a psychopath, doesn't it?
- I love men with Scottish accents. Double that if they are wearing a kilt.
- Shabby chic is my favorite style of decor, much to my husband's dismay.
- Revlon Super Lustrous Glossy Rose is the best lip gloss ever. I think it is like the jeans in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because it looks good on everyone I know.
- Amy Sedaris is my hero. I try to be as silly as her in private but I'm not sure I pull it off very well.
- I think joy is an underrated emotion.
- And humility is an underrated character trait.
- I'm a huge fan of independent films.
- The smell of a new box of crayons is intoxicating to me.
- My favorite flavor of ice cream is banana.
- Banana ice cream is hard to find so plain old chocolate is the next best thing.
- Gossip is harmful but I love it anyway. Especially when its not about me.
- I prefer polka dots to stripes.
- The sound of ocean waves always calms me.
- Folk art and outsider art fascinates me.
- My goal every day is to learn something new and be a better person than I was the day before.
Labels: lists
Friday, April 20, 2007
The socks! and the Colinette Jitterbug!
So I FINALLY finished the Lichen socks I cast on about 8 months ago. Not sure why I could never get them finished. Its a simple pattern and the Koigu I chose for them is awesome. Anyway, they are done! Just in time for flip-flop weather!!! LOL!
I also have been neglecting to post a pic of this delicious Colinette Jitterbug (in "Jewel") yarn my mom got for me at a fiber show a couple of months ago. Mr. Cake got his hands on it so it's going to be socks for him. :o) I have a couple of bids in on eBay for more... I'm smitten with the "Toscana" colorway. "Popscicle" and "Alizarine" are also very cool... someone keeps outbidding me on those 2 colorways. I may have to stay up late and do a little sniping..... Oh geez! The lengths I will go to for yarn!!!!!
Labels: knitting
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Hey, Flickr!...WTF?
I'm very tired and feeling cranky and desperately want to post pix of the socks I finished knitting today but something is up at Flickr. What the heck? Flickr is never down. Who do they think they are???
Guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow. :o)
Guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow. :o)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Juicy Deee-licious Yarn!
I must be stopped. My yarn habit is worse than a crack addiction. And more expensive too. I could suck down a mountain of China White and be less broke.
But enough of the negative talk about my current obsession. Two little packages came from Simply Socks Yarn Co. and The Knitting Zone today. I love it when yarn shows up in my mailbox. The only thing that could possibly be more gratifying would be to find money... or maybe cheeseburgers and brownies... in my mailbox.
Here's the score from the pix above... clockwise, left : Cascade Fixation Spray dyed (Hawaiian Splendor and Tahiti); Lorna's Laces (Somerset and Amish), Koigu KPPPM, Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots. Whee!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
I know I promised but.....
So I know I promised no more rants today (or this week) but I just have one more thing to note.
First let me say that I'm not defending the actions of the University and the Blacksburg and VA police. I don't think anyone who was not there can appropriately or fairly make judgements about their actions. I'm sure there is going to be a lengthy investigation and as someone who has merely viewed media coverage I have no right to defend or criticize.
What I can say however is that I HATE ROSIE O'DONNELL. [Excuse my language, mom] SHE FUCKING SUCKS. I wish she would keep her big idiot blabbery mouth shut. I don't make a habit of watching The View but I had left the TV on WBAL while I was doing some work @ the computer and I caught the first few minutes of the show today.
OF COURSE, because they can't just sympathize with the vicitims and comment on the senselessness and tragedy of it all, they have to start analyzing and criticizing. And they had to comment on how the students should have been notified.
And so, this is what comes out of Rosie's big, stupid mouth... "Why didn't they just pull the fire alarm? They should have just pulled the fire alarm. That way everyone would have known something was wrong!"
OK. So let me get this straight. Hindsight being 20/20, we now know there was a person with heavy artillery roaming the campus. So the campus security should have PULLED THE FIRE ALARM sending everyone out into the public areas of the university, exposing thousands of students to an unknown assailant with frikking assault weapons?????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Clearly Rosie has never attended an American University where they are total nazi's about public safety. If you live in a dorm and there is a fire alarm, you report to a very open, public area (usually at 3 am, when its 12 degrees, wearing your rattiest PJ's, the night before a huge exam). Fire alarms are for getting away from FIRES. Perhaps she has never heard about Charles Whitman... 1966... University of TX... shot and killed his classmates from a CLOCK TOWER. Think about the ramifictions of that situation if someone has thought to pull a fire alarm to alert those students? Think he might have had a bigger crowd to pick from?
I know I need to relax about all this. But seriously, a word to the media and all the talk show talking heads.... if you don't know what the hell you are talking about or if you only THINK (FYI - there is a difference between people who know what they are talking about and know-it-alls) you are contributing something worthwhile, do the rest of us a huge favor and KEEP YOUR F'ING MOUTH SHUT.
Rant over. Really. I promise.
First let me say that I'm not defending the actions of the University and the Blacksburg and VA police. I don't think anyone who was not there can appropriately or fairly make judgements about their actions. I'm sure there is going to be a lengthy investigation and as someone who has merely viewed media coverage I have no right to defend or criticize.
What I can say however is that I HATE ROSIE O'DONNELL. [Excuse my language, mom] SHE FUCKING SUCKS. I wish she would keep her big idiot blabbery mouth shut. I don't make a habit of watching The View but I had left the TV on WBAL while I was doing some work @ the computer and I caught the first few minutes of the show today.
OF COURSE, because they can't just sympathize with the vicitims and comment on the senselessness and tragedy of it all, they have to start analyzing and criticizing. And they had to comment on how the students should have been notified.
And so, this is what comes out of Rosie's big, stupid mouth... "Why didn't they just pull the fire alarm? They should have just pulled the fire alarm. That way everyone would have known something was wrong!"
OK. So let me get this straight. Hindsight being 20/20, we now know there was a person with heavy artillery roaming the campus. So the campus security should have PULLED THE FIRE ALARM sending everyone out into the public areas of the university, exposing thousands of students to an unknown assailant with frikking assault weapons?????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Clearly Rosie has never attended an American University where they are total nazi's about public safety. If you live in a dorm and there is a fire alarm, you report to a very open, public area (usually at 3 am, when its 12 degrees, wearing your rattiest PJ's, the night before a huge exam). Fire alarms are for getting away from FIRES. Perhaps she has never heard about Charles Whitman... 1966... University of TX... shot and killed his classmates from a CLOCK TOWER. Think about the ramifictions of that situation if someone has thought to pull a fire alarm to alert those students? Think he might have had a bigger crowd to pick from?
I know I need to relax about all this. But seriously, a word to the media and all the talk show talking heads.... if you don't know what the hell you are talking about or if you only THINK (FYI - there is a difference between people who know what they are talking about and know-it-alls) you are contributing something worthwhile, do the rest of us a huge favor and KEEP YOUR F'ING MOUTH SHUT.
Rant over. Really. I promise.
Labels: big time rant, rant
KTE - Wheeee!
Ok, so enough rants for the week.
This inspired me to send a little something to my KTE pal who is in New Zealand. She's a quilter and a sock knitter so I knit a wee little sock last nite to put in a card to her today. I was thinking of making a little quilt block too. We'll see if I can get my act together!
Labels: swaps
The tragedy @ Tech
I've been watching the news footage of the shootings at Virginia Tech for the past 24 hours.
As sick as I am about something like that happening in my home state (my sister-in-law is also an alum of VT and my husband attended Roanoke College nearby) ... I'm nauseated by the press coverage.
I can't even imagine the media circus that has descended upon Blacksburg. Of course the media is pointing fingers about the police not locking down the campus after the 1st shooting and notifying the students, yadayada.
How about the question of: How does a 23 year old man decide to shoot 30+ people on a snowy spring morning? Mental illness, sociopathic behavior... all that aside. How does society fail a person so much that they do something so horrific like this?
I'm sure I'm opening a can of worms by mentioning it but Virginia's fairly liberal gun ownership laws don't help. Some facts to help you out... Is there a waiting period on gun sales in VA? NO. Is a license or permit required to buy a handgun? NO. Are there limitations on assualt weapons and magazines? NO. Are background checks required at gun shows? NO. Are there limitations on junk handguns (Saturday Nite Specials)? NO. May cities enact laws stronger than the state's? NO.
Growing up in the redneck round-up, I had to take gun/hunter safety as part of 7th grade health class (I beleive it was the marking period before hygiene... we didn't get sex ed until 10th grade). And I also grew up hearing the constant reminder: "We don't need stricter gun laws! The criminals will always have guns! If they restrict gun sales, then private citizens can't protect themselves!" or how about "Guns don't kill people! People kill people!"
It is a statistical fact that more people are injured and killed in gun accidents in the home than there are good samaritan citizens protecting themselves from the bad guys. I worked at a Walmart in college where several customers bought rifles/shotguns and proceeded to kill themselves shortly thereafter.... one of them in the woods right behind the store. Nope, guns aren't killing people. They're killing themselves in record numbers.
Sure, maybe people kill people but the access and ability to make rash decisions with no checks and balances also kills people. I'm not all that liberal. In fact, I'm very libertarian with much of my ideals. I really and truly don't believe in the government interfering with my private life. I firmly adhere to the idea that people should be self policing and should have the right to behave any way they please as long as it doesn't step on the rights of others. But I'm also not an anarchist and I don't think the right to bear arms should be a fundamental right.
As sick as I am about something like that happening in my home state (my sister-in-law is also an alum of VT and my husband attended Roanoke College nearby) ... I'm nauseated by the press coverage.
I can't even imagine the media circus that has descended upon Blacksburg. Of course the media is pointing fingers about the police not locking down the campus after the 1st shooting and notifying the students, yadayada.
How about the question of: How does a 23 year old man decide to shoot 30+ people on a snowy spring morning? Mental illness, sociopathic behavior... all that aside. How does society fail a person so much that they do something so horrific like this?
I'm sure I'm opening a can of worms by mentioning it but Virginia's fairly liberal gun ownership laws don't help. Some facts to help you out... Is there a waiting period on gun sales in VA? NO. Is a license or permit required to buy a handgun? NO. Are there limitations on assualt weapons and magazines? NO. Are background checks required at gun shows? NO. Are there limitations on junk handguns (Saturday Nite Specials)? NO. May cities enact laws stronger than the state's? NO.
Growing up in the redneck round-up, I had to take gun/hunter safety as part of 7th grade health class (I beleive it was the marking period before hygiene... we didn't get sex ed until 10th grade). And I also grew up hearing the constant reminder: "We don't need stricter gun laws! The criminals will always have guns! If they restrict gun sales, then private citizens can't protect themselves!" or how about "Guns don't kill people! People kill people!"
It is a statistical fact that more people are injured and killed in gun accidents in the home than there are good samaritan citizens protecting themselves from the bad guys. I worked at a Walmart in college where several customers bought rifles/shotguns and proceeded to kill themselves shortly thereafter.... one of them in the woods right behind the store. Nope, guns aren't killing people. They're killing themselves in record numbers.
Sure, maybe people kill people but the access and ability to make rash decisions with no checks and balances also kills people. I'm not all that liberal. In fact, I'm very libertarian with much of my ideals. I really and truly don't believe in the government interfering with my private life. I firmly adhere to the idea that people should be self policing and should have the right to behave any way they please as long as it doesn't step on the rights of others. But I'm also not an anarchist and I don't think the right to bear arms should be a fundamental right.
Labels: rant
Sunday, April 15, 2007
I knit, therefore I am.
So life has been nuts lately and I haven't had a chance to post much about my charmed knitting life.
First, the pirate baby sweater went to El and his lady. I think they were suitably pleased. I'm looking forward to the birth of the baby and I'm happy that I made something for him/her that turned out well.
I haven't had much time to work on any of my miriade of unfinished projects. On an unfortunate note, I realized that 2 skeins of Panda Cotton isn't quite enough to make the Monkey socks. And YarnMarket is currently out of the colorway. Poop. Its my fault for not doing the math. Mom said that she thinks Knitter's Cottage in F'burg has it so hopefully I can score some more when I'm down there in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of which, I think I already mentioned it but maybe I didn't... we are signed up to take a Melissa Leapman class - Knitting on the Edge. I think that is also the title of a Nicky Epstein book so I was really confused when Mom aksed me to take the class with her. Anyway, I'm almost done with my swatches and I'm looking forward to it!
I sent another package to my SP...
I made her Red Sox stitch markers (she's a huge fan) and a "Happy Opening Day" card. Also included the Malabrigo I scored for her on the weekend yarn store tour a few weeks ago. I think she liked it. :o) I love to come up with cool things for people so I think I hit a homerun (no pun intended!) with this one.
My SP also sent me a box of treats....
First, the pirate baby sweater went to El and his lady. I think they were suitably pleased. I'm looking forward to the birth of the baby and I'm happy that I made something for him/her that turned out well.
I haven't had much time to work on any of my miriade of unfinished projects. On an unfortunate note, I realized that 2 skeins of Panda Cotton isn't quite enough to make the Monkey socks. And YarnMarket is currently out of the colorway. Poop. Its my fault for not doing the math. Mom said that she thinks Knitter's Cottage in F'burg has it so hopefully I can score some more when I'm down there in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of which, I think I already mentioned it but maybe I didn't... we are signed up to take a Melissa Leapman class - Knitting on the Edge. I think that is also the title of a Nicky Epstein book so I was really confused when Mom aksed me to take the class with her. Anyway, I'm almost done with my swatches and I'm looking forward to it!
I sent another package to my SP...
I made her Red Sox stitch markers (she's a huge fan) and a "Happy Opening Day" card. Also included the Malabrigo I scored for her on the weekend yarn store tour a few weeks ago. I think she liked it. :o) I love to come up with cool things for people so I think I hit a homerun (no pun intended!) with this one.
My SP also sent me a box of treats....
Lion Brand felting wool is some good stuff! :o)
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Spay and Neuter Your Pets....
... or I'll find you and kick your ass.
Last Tuesday, a woman showed up at my neighbor's door with 4 kittens she found in an urn at the antique store on our block. While I suppose the mama cat might have dropped them in there, we feel it is highly unlikely and we never could find an adult cat anywhere. They were all clearly in "indoor" condition - there was no way a stray mama cat had been raising these guys outdoors.
The babies were so tiny - we figured approximately 2-weeks old (not just cute and furry but literally infants) - so my neighbor and I had a momentary lapse of reason and took 2 of them. Reality set in about 10 minutes after the stranger left with the other 2. What is it about any infant that will make your womb tingle and your ability to make rational decisions impossible??
We unfortunately discovered that none of the animals rights places would assist us - the song and dance is that it's illegal for them to take orphaned cats under 7 weeks old. We were told "nope, you're just gonna have to bottle feed them and then we can take them when they're old enough." (as if I'd give up an animal after hand raising it for a couple of months!) While I can understand a non-profit's hand being tied by animal control laws, I also seriously question laws and policies that would leave an endangered domestic animal in the hands of someone who doesn't have the resources or knowledge to properly care for it.
When reason set in, we realized these little guys had a very slim chance of survival, even if we could keep up with their care schedule. I kept the little girl and my neighbor kept the little boy overnight... after the 2 am and 6 am feedings we both knew we were unfit cat mama's (not to mention the stark realization that caring for any kind of infant has not been in either of our plans since we made it over the infancy hump with our human children).
Luckily Rob has contacts in the animal world (remember the squirrel babies weekend in 2004?) and he helped track down a rescue organization that specializes in orphaned kittens. I sadly handed them over at the vet's office they operate out of the following morning. Even more sad is the fact that its "kitten season" and the woman who runs the organization, The House of Hugs and Kisses, is getting ready for many more to come her way.
Kittens and puppies are cute. But there is absolutely no excuse for having a pet and not getting it spayed or neutered. Shelters are overrun with animals that are make their way into the world through irresponsibility, negligence and indifference. Spaying and neutering are cheap and if you adopt a pet, you can usually get it discounted or even free. So I can't imagine any reasonable explanation for having to dump defenseless kittens. Or for allowing a pet to become pregnant in the first place.
There's not much in the world I feel really strongly about... not many causes that get me in an total lather.... but this really and truly is one of them. People who are guilty of this crime should be punished severely because they absolutely suck.
Last Tuesday, a woman showed up at my neighbor's door with 4 kittens she found in an urn at the antique store on our block. While I suppose the mama cat might have dropped them in there, we feel it is highly unlikely and we never could find an adult cat anywhere. They were all clearly in "indoor" condition - there was no way a stray mama cat had been raising these guys outdoors.
The babies were so tiny - we figured approximately 2-weeks old (not just cute and furry but literally infants) - so my neighbor and I had a momentary lapse of reason and took 2 of them. Reality set in about 10 minutes after the stranger left with the other 2. What is it about any infant that will make your womb tingle and your ability to make rational decisions impossible??
We unfortunately discovered that none of the animals rights places would assist us - the song and dance is that it's illegal for them to take orphaned cats under 7 weeks old. We were told "nope, you're just gonna have to bottle feed them and then we can take them when they're old enough." (as if I'd give up an animal after hand raising it for a couple of months!) While I can understand a non-profit's hand being tied by animal control laws, I also seriously question laws and policies that would leave an endangered domestic animal in the hands of someone who doesn't have the resources or knowledge to properly care for it.
When reason set in, we realized these little guys had a very slim chance of survival, even if we could keep up with their care schedule. I kept the little girl and my neighbor kept the little boy overnight... after the 2 am and 6 am feedings we both knew we were unfit cat mama's (not to mention the stark realization that caring for any kind of infant has not been in either of our plans since we made it over the infancy hump with our human children).
Luckily Rob has contacts in the animal world (remember the squirrel babies weekend in 2004?) and he helped track down a rescue organization that specializes in orphaned kittens. I sadly handed them over at the vet's office they operate out of the following morning. Even more sad is the fact that its "kitten season" and the woman who runs the organization, The House of Hugs and Kisses, is getting ready for many more to come her way.
Kittens and puppies are cute. But there is absolutely no excuse for having a pet and not getting it spayed or neutered. Shelters are overrun with animals that are make their way into the world through irresponsibility, negligence and indifference. Spaying and neutering are cheap and if you adopt a pet, you can usually get it discounted or even free. So I can't imagine any reasonable explanation for having to dump defenseless kittens. Or for allowing a pet to become pregnant in the first place.
There's not much in the world I feel really strongly about... not many causes that get me in an total lather.... but this really and truly is one of them. People who are guilty of this crime should be punished severely because they absolutely suck.
Labels: rant
Monday, April 02, 2007
A weekend of funfunfun!
We hooked up on Friday nite in F'burg and got together with some other mutual friends (one of whom I hadn't seen in over 12 years). Then we went to Richmond and hung out Saturday nite too. SO MUCH FUN and it was so great to see her.
We both commented on the fact that its so easy to fall back into a comfortable relationship with people you've known for a long time. Particularly when they haven't changed much (and that's meant in a good way!!!). I got to thinking how much sense that makes.
Afterall, when you are a kid you are sort of raw and untouched. It becomes harder and harder to get to know people as you get older because you put on all this fakery and I've-got-it-all-togetherness in order to succeed. On the other hand people from your childhood sort of know the "real you". This may all be total drunken bullshit but it really hit me as true when I thought about the relationships I have rekindled over the last few years with friends from my past.
SP Treats and Tasty Yarn
The past week has been off-the-hook busy but I'm finally getting around to posting some things!
I received a nice package from my SP 10 secret pal early last week. Inside were some cotton Sugar'n Cream yarns - ironically a ball of pink which I was unable to find when I embarked on knitting the Upside Down Daisy baby hat! - some candies, tea, candles, a neat knitted cell phone cozy pattern, some handmade dish cloths, a tiny ME photo book, a keychain, some mango flavored pineapple, a lipstick case (pink!!) and a CD that I haven't had a chance to check out yet.
I'm excited about the yarn... so I can make that baby hat in the color I intended. But then they featured cotton bar towels on Knitty Gritty today and I'm kind of interested in trying some of those stitch patterns. Ahhh... so much to knit so little time!!!
I already sent my SP an email but a huge THANK YOU again!!! GRIN!
I received a nice package from my SP 10 secret pal early last week. Inside were some cotton Sugar'n Cream yarns - ironically a ball of pink which I was unable to find when I embarked on knitting the Upside Down Daisy baby hat! - some candies, tea, candles, a neat knitted cell phone cozy pattern, some handmade dish cloths, a tiny ME photo book, a keychain, some mango flavored pineapple, a lipstick case (pink!!) and a CD that I haven't had a chance to check out yet.
I'm excited about the yarn... so I can make that baby hat in the color I intended. But then they featured cotton bar towels on Knitty Gritty today and I'm kind of interested in trying some of those stitch patterns. Ahhh... so much to knit so little time!!!
I already sent my SP an email but a huge THANK YOU again!!! GRIN!
THE SP 10 TREATS
(I forgot to include the packets of tea in the pic... whoops!)
Also in the mail last week was a dee-licious ball of Opal sock yarn from the Friedensreich Hundertwasser collection. Apparently Hundertwasser, an Austrian artist, was asked why he wore 2 different socks and he replied "why do you wear 2 of the same?" A man after my own heart for sure. I'm planning on knitting a side-ways sock from the yarn. I'll post progress when I get around to casting on.
Also got some Brittany size 2 5" DPNs... one can never have too many of those!
IN VARIATION NACH HUNDERTWASSERS WERK...DER BLAUE MOND
I'm also taking a Melissa Leapman Knitting on the Edge class at the Knitter's Cottage (in F'burg) with mom at the end of the month. I need to get on the pre-work for it so I'm not all last minute... I have 5 swatches to knit!
Labels: knitting
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