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BLOGSTALKING: ASSIGNMENT 10 - WHAT I'M THANKFUL FOR...

I am grateful for my life, my health, my freedom, my peace of mind, my family, my friends, my home, my kitty and my yarn stash. As long as I have those I am happy. No matter how hard things may seem remember things can be worse and thank God for what you have and pray for what you truly need.

Modular Obsession

*tossing my other WIPS aside*

It happened just like that. I was stashing my Lion Brand Wool Ease on Ravelry and it came to me. I know what to do with it! Make a blanket, but not just any blanket! A MODULAR BLANKET! I remembered Vyvyan's Conceptual Design Blanket

that she knit for her father. I, IMMEDIATELY, favorited her blanket on Ravelry and inquired about the pattern. She informed me that it was based on the "Conceptual Design Jacket"

Vyvyan's Conceptual Design Jacket

pattern from the out of print "Dazzling Knits by Patricia Werner". JACKPOT! I found a seller on eBay that just happened to have one. I think she's one of those garage sale ladies that buys up a ton of books and resells them on ebay. As is my typical behavior, I couldn't stop at ONE book. Yesterday, I bought "Knits from a Painter's Palette by Maie Landra of Koigu Wool Designs" at Joann's with my 40% off coupon. Then, realizing that I need more of an instructional book on Modular Knitting, I ordered "Modular Knits by Irish Schreier" and "No Pattern Knits by Pat Ashforth" on Overstock.com.

ANYWHO! Now, the fun begins. It took me a few attempts and some brain juice, but I figured it out. I figured out how to start and join the pieces. I'm loving it. It's involved enough that I don't get bored and I love piecing things together like a puzzle. Considering the shape and color combinations. This will be a fun project and I can't wait to show off each phase of progress.

WIP Wednesday - November 14, 2007

First, let me show you want I've finished this week.

Kool Molly's Headband

Pattern: Molly's Headband by Pam Allen, Interweave Knits, Summer 2006
Yarn: Lion Brand Kool Wool Colorway: Black
Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo US11

Cherry Garcia Neck Tube

Pattern: Cherry Garcia by Hello Yarn
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Colorway: 25014
Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo Circular US11

The Rock Calorimetry

Pattern: Calorimetry, Knitty, Winter 2006
Yarn: Moda Dea Ricochet Colorway: Rock
Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo Circular US11

Ronan's Cap & Socks



Pattern: No. 2 Set from Mandarin Petit 0605: Mandarin Petit
Yarn: Sandes Garn Sisu Superwash Colorway: Lime 8514 & Chocolate 3062
Needles: [Watchcap] Addi Turbo 16" US2 & US3; [Socks] Addi Turbo Lace 47" US2


Now, for what's next...

The Black Cigar Gloves

Pattern: Knitty! Cigar Gloves
Yarn: InterAmerica Group Lavish Alpaca Sport Colorway: Black
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace 47" US 6

The Trekking XXL Ombre #66 Socks

Pattern: Generic Toe Up Sock
Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL Degrade Colorway: 66
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace 47" US2

The Black Marsan Watchcap for Adrian

Pattern: The Marsan Watchcap by Redlipstick.net
Yarn: Lion Brand Kool Wool Colorway: Black
Needles: Clover Takumi Bamboo US 10.5

BBC AMERICA: How Clean Is Your House?

Lately, whenever I'm working from home during I tune into BBC America during the day. *I'm a BBC America-holic* One of the reality shows that I can't help watching is "How Clean Is Your House?" Germ-o-phobes avert thine eyes. You won't be able to sleep if you watch this show. TRUST ME!

Whenever, I'm obsessing about the state of my own home, I can always look at the poor wretches featured on "How Clean Is Your House" and say "PHEW! Thank Gawd that ain't my house!", but then again, I have a housekeeper. *cheese* Without Housekeeper Laura, there but for the grace of Gawd go I.

It never ceases to amaze me the level of filth and nastiness poor Aggie and Kim, Queen Cleaners of the show, manage to scour away in a matter of days.




My favorite part of the show is when Kim reveals the results of the swabs samples she took throughout the house to the homeowners. I'm always amazed at the level of disbelief and disgust that the homeowners have at their own nastiness. Results typically reveal crazy off the charts amounts of e-coli, staph, listeria, salmonella, to name a few. *shudder* One lady got so sick to her stomach at the level and types of disease that were present in her home that she got physically sick and ran off the set. LOL! *ehem* She was disgusted and upset to find that some of the contaminants in her house were deadly to her family, especially one child who had breathing issues.

One guy used a DIRTY sock to clean his dishes then left the sock in dirty dishwater to rot and stink! He also used another dirty sock as a potholder! NASTY!!!! One crusty old man hadn't cleaned his hovel in EIGHTEEN YEARS. His whole house was just one big nasty grimy stinking mess. He hadn't cleaned his toilet in EIGHTEEN YEARS, there was poop smeared on the toilet handle, the toilet bowl was DARK BROWN and he hadn't used his bathtub/shower in ages. It was covered in dust and cobwebs!!!! Of course, fecal matter was all over everything in his kitchen which was adjacent to the bathroom. Did you know that fecal matter can go airborne when you flush the toilet and can float around in the air about 6 feet from the toilet? *dry heave* Thank Gawd I have my toothbrush in my VioLight Toothbrush UV Light Sanitizer some feet away from my toilet. There's actually a barrier between my toilet and the sink. I designed it that way on purpose. :)

As a result of my major de-clutter venture when I dredged up stuff from the basement and closets, I've got corners of clutter that have yet to be resolved. I feel another clutter be gone fit coming on, so in the next couple days/weeks you'll see that the heaps have disappeared.

BLOGSTALKING: ASSIGNMENT 9 - JUNK DRAWER

Items of Note:

Fiskars Scissor Sharpener
Black Stress Ball - Obviously I have no interest in squeezing black balls. *smirk*
Bathroom Ionic Breeze Silent Air Purifier - This actually works, but for some reason I can't clean the blades well enough and it makes a sizzling noise now. I blame it on Kitty's litter box. LOL!
PestContro by Lentek Electronic Pest Repeller - I have a cat now. She's not very fierce, but at least she's a cat.
Shot Glasses I brought back from Amsterdam, London and Calgary
A future turtle magnet for Crisiti aka TurtleGirl76 - Just gotta tape a strip of magnetic tape on the back and ship it.

WIP Wednesday - November 7, 2007

If I can put my laptop down long enough, I can finish my Cherry Garcia tonight or tomorrow.
Ronan's hat is, also, almost done and ready for delivery.

We had a team builder at Incred-i-bowl the other day. I wasn't feeling all that great AND I wasn't in the mood to repeatedly MOON the entire organization every time it was my turn to bowl, so while everyone was bowling and shooting pool, I was staked out at a table knitting. Anywho, the director came over to my table to inquire about the knucks I was wearing while knitting and I offered to make him a pair of gloves for when he goes bow hunting. So I guess I'll be cranking these bad boys out in the next couple days.

Socks are on hiatus until I can get the other WIPs done.



I'm totally stalled out on the EZ February Sweater. *argh* I'm not motivated to finish it since I haven't spoken to Ashanti since the day before she gave birth to Alyvia. *shrug* Not my problem.

I've got another Marsan Cap cast-on with one row done. Great exercise bike project.

BLOGSTALKING: ASSIGNMENT 8 - WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST?

BLOGSTALKING: ASSIGNMENT 7 - THE OLDEST PHOTO OF MYSELF

One picture says it all, doesn't it?
I'm 9 months old in this photo.
Apparently, My Mommy Dearest decided it would be entertaining to stick that coyote (suction cup) on my forehead and I'm looking at her like,
"WOMAN! What in the h3ll!? Git this thang off my head, dagnabit!"
LOL! *ehem*
Check out the binky! Good lawd.

*cheese*

La Meme Chaussette

...The Same Sock...The Sock Meme...The Same Sock Meme.

*wink* I love playing with words. It makes me happy.

1. What’s your favorite sock yarn?

(please note that the word ‘yarn’ is singular. Just pick one. I know it’s hard.)

• Skacel Zitron Trekking XXL Degrade or Ombre

2. What’s your favorite type and brand of sock needle?

• Skacel Addi Turbo Lace 47" US0 - US2
  

3. Do you knit your socks toe up, cuff down, or sideways?

• TOE UP EVERYTIME ala Queen Kahuna's Fan Toe Method

4. Do you knit both socks at once or just one at a time?

• I'm a Diehard Two at Once Magic Looper.
  
• *I speet on the DPN for sock knitting* *patoeey* LOL!
  

5. What’s your favorite toe and why?

• Queen Kahuna's Fan Toe Method
• I have an OCD thing about pointy toes, so I exclusively use QK Fan Toe for all my socks.
  

6. Favorite heel?

• I don't have one, but I'm leaning towards short row heels because I think I can finish the socks faster. Just needs to perfect my knit side short rows since they seem to be a bit looser than my purl side.
  

7. Do you prefer plain or patterned socks?

• Depends on what the yarn says to me.
• Sometimes the yarn they they wheesper, "HEY! I am a strongly variegated yarn...you cannot kneet me in no stinkin' pattern, mmmk!"
  

8. Who do you knit the most socks for?

• Er? Me!
  

9. Do you darn your socks? If not, what do you do with them?

• I haven't had to darn any yet, but I save a bit of yarn just in case.
  

10. Do you only wear handknit socks?

• I don't have enough knit yet, but as soon as I have a weeks worth knit up. I'm donating my old socks to charity.
  

Bonus question: What pattern, if any, is your basic “I-just-need-a-pair-of-socks” sock pattern based on? Do you keep it written down or memorized?

Cool Nerd Queen

...'Nother Dose of Mental Viagra, Please!

*deep breath* *lightbulb of realization*

I GET IT! I FINALLY FRICKIN' GET IT!

I know I've posted about this topic before, but I'm TOTALLY convinced that I'm way too freakin' smart for the average guy. I'm not saying this to be elitist. I'm saying this as if I'm standing up in front of a local support group. As if I am, finally, ready to admit that I have a problem. I'm too smart. Who would think that being too smart would be a problem, but for me...and I'm sure for others, it is. You may ask, how, prey tell, did I come to this sudden conclusion?

FUNNY STORY!

The past few sessions with my nubile trainer, J@son have proven to be quite exhaustive for both of us. For me, physically exhaustive. For him, mental overload. You see, my mind runs at warp speed ALL THE TIME! Talking to Ab3 last night, he explained that he NOW understands why I knit. To slow down the cylinders...as a way of relaxation and calming..much the way a p0thead smokes w33d to unwind, I suppose. Anywho. Back to Jason. I figured out early on that talking about current affairs and such was a lost cause with him. H3ll, he doesn't even know what a freakin' WEEBLE is. *sigh* So, I was ranting about something or other during our last session and he said, "Uh? I have no idea what the h3ll you are talking about. You lost me about 10 minutes ago." LMAO! *pulls at hair* FINE! Ab3 says that because I like to tell such elaborate, colorful stories that the average man just can't keep up. They checkout about 3 minutes into the thing. *pout*

Then, that same night, talking to Chris on the phone, the one I went on a date with last Friday, I heard similar feedback. I was ranting about how I heard that some schools don't teach CURSIVE anymore because its not on the freakin' "No Child Left Behind" assessment test! I swear! I mean humans have an opposable thumb for a reason!!! The fact that we can write in cursive is one of the MANY factors that separate us from primates! I mean even a chimp can print! H3ll, they can identify colors and do sign language, surely they can print! So, now they aren't teaching CURSIVE anymore. No art, no music, no cursive, no PE, good lawd. We will be a nation of PRIMATES in the next couple of generations. Why isn't anyone else pissed off about this? I only pray that I die before the complete and utter downfall of the once notable American ingenuity. *headdesk*

Please, please for the love of all this is good and natural, TEACH CHILDREN how to write cursive, how to paint without numbers, conduct a symphony, write lyrics, how to speak another language, how to knit, how to sew, how to grow a plant from a seed, how to cook. I can't believe the mass of subjects that are simply falling by the wayside in the name of "No Child Left Behind"! Imagine entire generations of Americans who can't write cursive, write a haiku, dream a fairy tale, paint without numbers, sing a song, grow a potato plant, make a friendship bracelet...all the things that make us decidedly HUMAN! Obviously we cannot depend on the educational system at large to instill those things in our future generations, so it is up to each one of us who already knows to pass this valuable knowledge onto our youth. Chief among all these is CRITICAL THINKING! How many of our youth are stymied by seemingly simple tasks? It's scary, I tell you.

Then, I told him about my UFO Wednesday night rant about how ridiculous the TSA is for making us take our shoes off, but any ole schmuck running a fever and drooling at the mouth and board a plane. H3ll, they care more about sh0e b0mbers and drunks than they do someone loaded up with a deadly v!rus. Case in point, the @ssh0le lawyer who flew around the world carrying a deadly strain of tuberculosis. *grumble* HE DIDN'T LOOK SICK because he was an affluent Wh!te male, but if he looked like a "terrorist" and they had him flagged in the system as having TB, then they would have carted his brown @ss right off to "r3ndition" land...never to be heard of again. *loud cry* OK! I hate to state the obvious, yet again, but a human can be used as a biological weapon quite easily and the easiest way to spread a pandemic is via AIR. *headdesk* Did anyone see "12 M0nkeys" or "0utbreak"? I'm not stating anything new or novel, but try to board a plan wearing a face mask and you'll be carted off to "r3ndition" too. Don't know what it is, google it. :)

So, this was the rant and poor Chris was on the receiving end of that rant. Don't get me wrong. He's pretty freakin' smart this Chris. He's d@mn smart, but even HE has a hard time keeping up with my mental jujitsu. I can jump from topic to topic like a lemur jumps from branch to branch in the jungle and/or I meander through a topic like a stealthy panther on the hunt for prey.

Sadly, the only man so far that can even come close to matching me mentally is Ab3. *facepalms* Yeah, I know. The other funny thing is that we enjoy the fight of it all. The mental grappling that takes place is quite beautiful, actually. I compare it to two lions getting it on. LOL! Grrrr...

I told Ab3 last night that he reminded me of Dr. Perry Cox from Scrubs and I was like his ex-wife/baby mama Jordan Sullivan. *check out Dr. Cox's famous quotes*
Anyone remember the " My Self-Examination" episode wherein, Dr. Cox is going through fighting withdrawals when Jordan refuses to fight with him anymore and the hospital staff pays the price. He was looking for a fight anywhere he could find one...like a dope fiend looking for their next hit. I think that is what I was trying to replicate with poor ole Jason, but like the Lion and the Tin Man...he doesn't have the courage or the heart for it. LOL!

Unfortunately, every now and then when I go too long without a good ole mental grapple. I look for one. LOL! I was looking for a fight with Jason and Jason turned into a mix of Odie and Nermal. *pfft* Here I am all Garfield'd out with extra sharp claws and he turns into NERMODIE! DAGNABIT!

...and so, I say all of this to say that I may NEVER get married or even have a long term relationship because they don't have MENTAL VIAGRA! I guess I'll just keep burning through them like a light saber. LOL!