Sunday Over Easy

This is how I spent my morning...
Knitting, drinking tea & listening to an audiobook. Heaven! I am just loving this weather!!

Don't you love the tea set? It was a X-mas gift from my sister in law & this is the first chance I've had to use it. The cups are miss-matched (they are pink, green & orange) but the set works well together.

As for the sock, I've turned the heel, finished the gusset & am about 1/2" into the foot... Just 7" more until toe shaping!
And then, this afternoon I went to see this...

Seriously funny! There are a few recycled gags from Shaun of the Dead, but still a great film. The violence is a bit graphic, if a bit cartoonish. Simon Pegg is brilliant! Oh, and Timothy Dalton is HILARIOUS! I don't normally like him, but he was perfect for this role. There are a lot of nice little cameos as well. Thoroughly enjoyable! I highly recommend and will be dragging Kris off to see it as soon as he is home for more than a few days at a time! :)

Socks & Sprouts

Since I have finished the baby knits (for now) I decided to start on a pair of socks using a beautiful merino yarn I picked up in Philly back in December. I've lost the band, so I can't tell you who it's by. This is my progress so far.
Windle decided he was being ignored & demanded to appear in the next one.
I'm knitting 72sts on size 2 needles. Started with a 2x2 rib and the rest is plain ol' stockinette. I have about 1/2" to go before beginning the heel flap.

Also, my seeds are beginning to sprout.

Oregano

Basil

Cucumbers & Beets

The weather has been beautiful these last few days, so I moved them outside this afternoon. Hopefully the other seeds will sprout under more direct sunlight. :)

In other news, I'm sure you've all heard about the new expanded pet food recall, which includes dry food. Apparently they now have reason to believe the poisoning was deliberate. They are also warning people against eating pork. Thankfully neither the kitties nor the puppy's dry food is on the list and they are getting their wet food home-cooked. How far is this thing going to go?

Edit: So I just realized that I'm knitting these socks on size 0 needles... how could I forget that?! I even had to go buy the damn needles, because I didn't have anything below size 1 and that was too loose with this yarn! Crazy!

The Landlord

This is a short movie that was just put up a few days ago by Will Ferrell. Really funny, although there is a fair bit of cursing so you might not want the kiddos in the room while viewing.

I tried to embed the player but couldn't get it off autostart.

btw- the Landlord is played by his daughter.

Sunny Sunday

Is is me or does that little cloud look like a jellyfish?

Nice bright sunny day, still chilly but more springlike. At least it isn't snowing. So I decided to do this...
The individual planters have herb seeds (basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro & rosemary) and the large starter tray has veggies (carrots, cucumbers, peppers, beans & beets). This is the most veggies I've ever attempted to grow. I'm really hoping the carrots & beets turn out because I would love to make the Russian Beet & Carrot salad using home-grown ingredients! :) I also got the seeds going in the little kitty planter we got for x-mas.

There's no catnip, just wheat, rye, barley & oats. I don't know how the cat's will take to it, but there's no harm in giving it a go.

Baby Blanket - DONE!

Front

Front with Back showing

As you can see, once the back was sewn on the edging ruffled a bit. But overall I am happy. It turned out a little more feminine than I had wanted.. let's just hope Joanne has a girl! :)

For those who are interested, the top of the blanket was knit on size 6 needles in 100% cotton. The alphabet border was taken from a chart in the book Nursery Knits (great book!) by Debbie Bliss. The body was knit in stockinette stitch, with the stripes knit in garter for textural interest. The back of the blanket is a piece of non-pilling fleece purchased from JoAnn Fabrics, and is a very close match to the lilac yarn.

Now I need to figure out what to do with the excess fleece. I'm torn between making a nesting bed for the kitties and making a baby jacket.

Sad News

You may already have heard, Kurt Vonnegut has died. There is a nice piece about him on the Chicago Tribune site.

He will be sorely missed. Not only was he an immensley talent writer, but he was the last great humanist, one of the few voices of reason in the world.

Sockapalooza & Misc.

So I just signed up for Sockapalooza 4. Should be fun! I'm hoping this exchange will be much better than my Secret Pal fiasco of 2005. But now I'm older, and hopefully wiser, and will not mention the "A" word if my life depends upon it! :)

I picked up a lovely piece of lilac fleece yesterday that I am going to attach to the baby blanket this evening. Soooo soft! :)

Oh, and one of the patterns I submitted is in contention. I will get final word in a couple weeks. Wish me luck!! :)

Thank You Easter Bunny (Bawk, Bawk)

...The things that are embedded in my brain!

I hope you had a happy bunny day! We had a lovely Easter brunch with my mil. Best buffet ever. Blueberry crepes to die for. Yummy! :)

I also finished knitting the baby blanket this weekend. It's blocked and has 3 sides firmly attached, I will finish sewing the final edge tonight. I decided I am going to sew a nice, soft, warm backing onto the blanket so it is reversible. I will post pics when it is completed.

In other news, Gryphon Perkins (creator of the Merry Maiden's Dress) has been working on her own line of yarns and is asking for pattern submissions. I have sent in 2 for her approval, wish me luck! :)

Curling Up With A Good Book

Yesterday Mary posted her top ten favorite books, inspired by a program she had heard on MPR. After reading her post I thought, "Well, that should be fun.. what are my top ten books then..". And here is where I got stuck.

What criteria should I use? Should it be books that have inspired me? Can't think of one. How about books that have changed my world view? The only one I can think of is 1984 by George Orwell and I wouldn't really call it a favorite book. I'm sure my world view has been affected by my reading, just not overtly. Just not in a way where I put down the book and think "Gosh, I've had it all wrong" or "Well, that changes how I think about that". It is perplexing.

So, finally I decided it should be books that I loved so much that I would read it again, and again, and again. The kind of book that grows in the retelling. That you can sit down on a cold day, snuggled in an afghan with a pot of hot tea, and just savor. Books that I just can't get bored of.

Ok. Well, when I stopped to think about it that came to a lot more than 10. And they were all by a handful of authors. So, instead of a top ten list of books, I give you my top ten authors (with annotations).

1. Terry Pratchett. I have read nearly every book this man has written as well as his short stories. Not only is he amazingly prolific, but his books never disappoint. He takes events in the real world and examines them in a fantasy environment. His books are always filled with humor and heart and are surprisingly insightful into human nature. My favorite books: Reaper Man, Wyrd Sisters, Wee Free Men, Guards! Guards!, and Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman).

2. Neil Gaiman. I was first introduced to Mr. Gaiman by reading Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett. It was such a wonderful book that I immediately sought out his other work. He has a wonderful talent for taking the world and bending it slightly to make you see it in a fantastical way. I simply can't get enough. My favorite books: Fragile Things (collection of short stories, must read Study in Emerald!), Good Omens, American Gods, Stardust.

3. J.K. Rowling. Does this one really need an explanation? Harry Potter has changed the world of children's literature for the better and has touched the hearts and minds of millions, nay, billions of people around the world. My favorite books: All :)

4. Douglas Adams. My, and many others, introduction to the genre of comic fantasy. He is an icon, with good reason. Unfortunately, he wasn't very prolific and the few books he has left I savor like the sweetest nectar. I sorely miss him. My favorite books: Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy, The Long Dark Tea-time Of The Soul.

5. Jane Austen. She is the only traditional literary figure in my list. As you can tell, I have a fantastical bent to my reading taste, which makes her seem a little out of place. But as many readers of fantasy know, you have to have very strong characters to make it work and Ms. Austen was the best at writing strong characters. The people in her stories are very real. I hope for them, and cry for them. That is very rare. My favorite books: Emma, Persuasion, Pride & Prejudice, Northanger Abbey.

6. Christopher Moore. He is an American version of Douglas Adams & Terry Pratchett. Need I say more? My favorite books: Lamb, Blood Sucking Fiends, A Dirty Job.
7. Shel Silverstein. I still enjoy his absurd poems and songs. I think everyone needs a little whimsy. My favorite books: Where The Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up, Lafcadio, Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book.

8. Dr. Seuss. You are never too old for a good bed-time story. Every now & then Honey or I will pull out a Seuss book and read it aloud. Honey said that the Cat in the Hat was his first introduction to the idea of anarchy! :) My favorite books: The Lorax, Cat In The Hat, Horton Hatches the Egg, The Sneetches.

9. J.R.R. Tolkein. He is the father of epic fantasy. Creating a world so beautiful, and filled with such brave, heroic beings, who wouldn't want to visit as much as possible. My favorite books: The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings Triology.

10. Susanna Clarke. This last one was a tough one to decide, but I had to give it to Ms. Clarke. I have only read one of her books (she has only had 2 published), but it was one of the most glorious books I have ever read. It was a book that I kept thrusting upon people, saying "Yes, I know it's 800 pages in small print with footnotes, but you HAVE to read it!". The book? Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell. Yes, you now have to read it. Seriously. You'll thank me.

So, that is my list. I hope you will make one as well. I would love to know who you love to read; I'm always looking for a good book, and it is cold outside.

Introducing The iRack

Honey just showed me this & I had to share. This is from Madtv. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Tuesday Funny

(Click for big)

Thanks to Dani for the link. I'm so glad it took me a minute! :)

Natural Born Killer

What the heck am I going to do now?!

My sweet, gentle little puppy has taken another life! She was acting funny this morning. Wanting to stay out longer than usual and then wanting to go right back out after coming in, when she usually wants to snuggle in the morning. I peeked outside and saw a fuzzy mass in the middle of the yard. Oh crap, I thought, she's gotten another squirrel.

Well, it wasn't a squirrel. It was a bird. A large bird. About a foot long from beak to tail. I'm really bad at identifying birds, but both honey & I are pretty sure it was a pheasant. Kris said it weighed about 6 pounds! And I think it was a female, because it didn't have the bright colors.

What the heck are we going to do?? Life in prison?

At least pheasants are legal to hunt in Michigan.

Fun With Photoshop

Ok. Having a really crappy Monday. Needed a little fun, so I started fooling with the paint filters in photoshop.

The pictures were taken yesterday afternoon. I just love the way he is silhouetted by the light coming in the window.

Here are the before pics...


And after...


What do you think? Honey thought it was too subtle.

April Fools

I was reading Neil Gaiman's blog this morning and followed his link to this article. An April Fools' joke by Locus magazine about him being made a saint. Very funny, and the quotes even sound like him. :)

Un Lun Dun

I just finished reading Un Lun Dun by China Mieville. It's a sci-fi/fantasy book for young readers. I would recommend it for ages 9 & up, because there is some imagery in the book that may be frightening for younger children. Also, there are several "big" words in the book that may be difficult. There is a bit of British slang used, but Mr. Mieville has been thoughtful enough to provide a small glossary at the back of the book. Also, he has kept the chapters short, most are only 4-5 pages long, so it is easy for even a slow reader to get through a chapter quickly. Below is a brief synopsis from Amazon.com

"It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too–including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.

When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last. But then things begin to go shockingly wrong."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very imaginative and the illustrations are wonderful! Mr. Mieville is a very talented writer, with a voice that reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman. Apparently this is his first novel for younger readers, however he does have several other novels out that I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.

I have to say that, since the break through of the Harry Potter series, the quality of novels for the young has skyrocketed. I find myself enjoying these books far more than most of the adult novels I have read. These books seem more original & imaginative, without all the sexual tension/hangups that can cause books aimed at older audiences to falter. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for good love scenes... just not obligatory love scenes. Not every protagonist needs a love interest.

Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have. I am definitely giving this one to my niece.

The Insurance Battle

Today I had my first (of many, I'm sure) talk with Blue Cross. Apparently the referral I had was a "global office visit" referral and did not cover the operation, even though it was performed by that doctor. They said I need to call Dr. Randolph's office and have them submit a request for authorization. Ok.

So I call there and am told that, because the operation was performed at the hospital & not "in office", I need to contact surgery scheduling at the hospital & have them do it. I did find out from the lady at the office that I wasn't supposed to get a separate referral, they (meaning surgery scheduling) were supposed to submit said request prior to my operation. So, not my fault. Ok.

Call surgery scheduling. They are going to "try and get the surgery retroactively approved" but need me to call my primary care physician and have them issue a surgery referral. I told them that Blue Cross said I didn't need to do that. But, whatever.

So, tomorrow I have to call my pcp and have them do a retroactive referral and then call the hospital billing dept. and let them know what is going on. Somehow I just don't see this being cleared up anytime soon. (sigh)

On the bright side, I came home to find such loveliness blooming in my backyard...


Also... Honey & I are working on setting up my own website (since I already own the domain). I have set up a blog at wordpress to get a general idea of how I want it to work with multiple pages. Please, take a look and let me know what you think. What aspects do you like/dislike from my blogger site and which aspects do you like/dislike from wordpress. I'd really appreciate the feedback!

Stripes & Strife

I want to thank those who commented on my striping dilemma. I really appreciate your input. Unfortunately, I had reached the tipping point on the blanket before I had received any responses and decided to forge ahead with the stripe, reasoning that I could always rip it out if I don't like it. Below is my progress so far, with the borders laid on top to give a hint of what the final product will look like. The measurements are such that there would be 3 such stripes in the end (4 sections of purple).

Please let me know what you think, however I am leaving the final decision to Joanne (after all, it is for her little bun).

As for the strife... I came home to find a $5,000 bill from the hospital for my surgery. Blue Cross, in their infinite wisdom, decided to only cover $200 stating that I had not received a referral from my Primary Care Physician prior to my operation. I BLOODY WELL DID! Now I get to spend the next few months (at least) fighting with them to pay for the damn operation. What is it with the health care system in this country? Even when you jump through all the hoops, they still try to screw you! GRRRRRR

Generational Icon, Or How Do You Like Your Fish Heads

Ok. I need you all to settle a debate between my hubby and I. This morning on the way to work, somehow, the song Fish Heads by Barnes & Barnes (which included Billy Mummy from Lost In Space) came up in conversation. My honey thinks that this song is a "generational icon" for those of us born in the mid60s-mid70s. I disagree and contend that, although it is a pervasive novelty song, most people born in that era probably don't even know it.

So, this is my question to you. Were you previously aware of this song, Fish Heads, and if so would you consider it an iconic song?


I blame this debate on NPR. If they weren't in the middle of fund drive I could have been listening to the news!

Dark Chocolate

Yet another study is out touting the health benefits of dark chocolate!

I love it when they tell me eating chocolate is good for me! :)

A Little Peek

Ok. So there hasn't been any knitting content in a while. As I said previously, I have been mainly knitting for Joanne's bun and didn't want to spoil the surprise. I'm not going to show the F.O.'s, but I will show you what I'm working on now... mainly because I want some feedback.


This is a baby blanket. SURPRISE! What you see is the bottom border (the multicolor strip) and the body (the purplely bit). The border will be on the sides & top as well, and the discerning eye will notice the letters A, B, & C faintly appearing in reverse stockingette stitch. Here is my question. Should I continue the body as a solid color, or should I add narrow stripes of the variegated yarn? I'm so torn! I need help!! Opine people, opine!

Oh, and apparently the cats feel they have been neglected on my blog.

I'm clearly more handsome than the dog, worship me!

Addendum: The first trailer is up for the movie Stardust, which is based on a Neil Gaiman story! I am really excited!

Pet Food Recall Aftermath

First off, let me just say that Corrina is fine. Now I can relate my story without worrying anyone! :)

This morning I awoke to not one, but two piles of vomit on the floor (one of which I stepped in, bleck!). They were obviously from the dog. Not good. She didn't seem lethargic, which was a good sign, and she ate her breakfast fine. Still, I was concerned. I called the vet and, even though she was fully booked, she wanted me to bring Corrina in. The dog's demeanor was that of a healthy pup, but sometimes they don't want you to know they are in pain, so better to be safe than sorry. Dr. Rhode (who is the most awesome vet ever!) had me bring in a couple pouches of Corrina's old food and ran blood & urine tests on the pup. She said it was probably that the puppy ate something that didn't agree with her, but she was glad I brought her in just be safe. And she is fine, as I stated earlier. Dr. Rhode said that she is extremely healthy. Thank goodness! Now I can obsess about something else! ;)

Now, onto the Recall news. As you may have heard they have identified the substance that caused the deaths as aminopterin, which is a chemotherapy drug that is also used as a rat poison in other countries, but not the US. Apparently it was used as an abortion drug at one time as well. This drug is not even in current use as a cancer treatment, only in research! According to the news reports, they have no idea how it found it's way into the food, however they are NOT launching a criminal investigation! WHAT?! Why the hell not?! How did this substance, that is basically outlawed in the US except for research, find it's way into 2 separate food processing plants?!

Your government at work, folks!

Well, Are Ya Congress?

God I love this man!

Much Ado About Puppy

After hearing about the problems my dear Joanne (nobody messes with my Joanne!) has been having with Blogger I decided I would give wordpress a try. After all, you can have your own domain name & separate pages attached to your blog. Cool... Well, after 2 days of fussing with it and still being unhappy/frustrated with wordpress I decided not to switch after all... they won't even let you change the colors on the template or modify the html! And all the cool stuff comes at a cost. So, for now, I'm sticking with blogger. (Sorry Joanne, I hope you figure the commenting thing out!) I did end up purchasing a domain, which now means I have to figure out what do with it... (sigh)

In puppy news, I decided to give the whole "cooking" thing a try. She had her first home cooked meal this morning...

steak, peas & redskin potato

Ms. Corrina is now eating better than we are! This definitely gives me peace of mind and the cost ends up being about the same... probably less in the long run.

I will leave you with a bit of a puppy romp. This is her at the dog park this past weekend. :)

VisualDNA

I found this site thanks to Dani. Very cool & amazingly accurate!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Let me know if you try it!

Pet Food Recall

So by now I'm sure you've all heard about the massive pet food recall by Menu Foods, which includes wet food under Eukanuba, Iams and Nutro brands. We have been feeding Corrina the Nutro Natural Choice pouches for at least 6 months, with the odd Eukanuba & Iams pouch thrown in for variety. Needless to say I am fairly wigged! We went through the cupboards and don't have any of the recalled products, but who knows how many of the suspect packages we may have fed her unknowingly? These things have been on the shelves since December at the places where we shop. I threw out any that were manufactured around the same date (we had a few that were made the next day or the day before), but now I don't feel comfortable feeding ANY of them to her.

Am I over-reacting? I just don't have any confidence in the manufacturers anymore. Are they not taking the precautions they should because it's "just dog & cat " food? Here I thought I was being a good puppy momma by spending the extra 10-20 cents a pouch to get brands that are supposedly more nutritious... would I have been better off with Alpo?

I am really upset about this. We don't have children, may never be able to have children, and these animals are our babies!

I'm seriously considering making her food myself from now on. I found a couple of good articles online about it. I will have to discuss it with my vet. (sigh)

As if life isn't stressful enough!

Knit, Knit, Knitty

Last night we hit Borders because honey was in need of a new book. Whilst there I wandered over to the magazine section. I picked up the spring Interweave Knits and the March issue of the British knitting magazine Simply Knitting.

I'm not sure I like the new layout of Interweave Knits, seems a lot like Vogues layout to me, but there are several really cute patterns in this one. I particularly like Merry Maiden's Dress by Gryphon Perkins

and the Ribs & Lace Tank by Jodi Green.

I picked up the Simply Knitting mag specifically for the Farmyard Frolics by Alan Dart.

This issue has patterns for the horse, cow & sheep. Looking at the pictures it seems that I will have to get the next issue for the pig, duck, & chick patterns.. well worth it though, too too cute!

Btw- you may have noticed the little mp3 player widget in the upper right corner of the page. There are several songs you can play by some of my favorite artist. The list is still growing (it takes awhile to upload the files) and I haven't yet figured out how to get it to "shuffle" the songs. Please, give me some feedback! Let me know if you like it, like the songs, have suggestions... :)

A Limerick

In honor of St. Patricks Day, I thought a limerick was in order. This one was written by a classmate of Kris' back in elementary school and it just too cute.

There once was a fat little guniea pig,

Who was sad that he wasn't a skinny pig,

He tried to reduce,

By living on juice,

And now he's a regular mini-pig.

Sunny & 70!

That was yesterday. 73 actually. Gorgeous! To take full advantage of the weather, I took Corrina to the dog park after work. It was packed! There must have been 20-25 dogs there! Needless to day, she had a wonderful time and came home absolutely filthy! Kris will be bathing her tonight!

As a consequence of this beautiful weather, my poor plants are prematurely budding:

This premature warming is wreaking havoc on the poor things. Alas, they will be dead by morning, as we are supposed to get snow overnight. I have to say, I can't remember when we've had such a mild winter & I've lived here my whole life!

In music news, I've been listening to The Essex Green lately. Honey loaded them on my ipod, cause he thought I'd like them. He was right. The female vocalist reminds me of early 10,000 Maniacs era Natalie Merchant, especially on the first track "This Isn't Farm Life". I'm really digging them. Check out Don't Know Why (You Stay) from their latest album Cannibal Sea. Catchy, ain't it!

Thanks for the suggestions on the use of my beautiful Manos yarn. I think I may go with the "My So Called Scarf" pattern that Ingrid suggested. Very purty!

Ok, now I must have myself a little rant. Has anyone else been following the firing scandal in the justice department? I swear I don't know how much more of this people are going to stand before they impeach this administration! For pete's sake, they impeached Clinton for lying about having sex! These idiots have lead us into a war under false pretenses, are sanctioning torture, and have suspended habeas corpus! The rampant cronyism & incompetence are disgusting! (puts soap box away... for now)

Man Oh Manos

Last weekend Kris was in New York & Connecticut doing sound for Gandalf Murphy. Apparently, the little town he was staying in had a yarn shop. So my dear hubby, the sweet man that he is, decided to browse their selection to see if there was anything special he could bring me. He decided on this:



Anyone have a suggestion on what to make with 2 skeins of Manos?

So, while Kris was off buying me yarn, I spent Saturday afternoon with my sister and my niece. We had a lovely lunch, I let my sister fill her ipod from our music hd, and then Autumn stayed with me while Dawn went off to bowling. We rented a movie, and about 45 min in this happened:

Poor thing woke up just in time to go home. :)

Other than that, the weekend was pretty uneventful. We had warm weather on Saturday, which turned the back yard into a pond. Corrina loved it!

Of course, when she came in she needed a good cleaning. Thankfully Windle was more than happy to help out...

Thankfully she didn't notice this...

Poor thing has no idea how close it came to being squirrel tar tar!

Oh the books I've read!

I haven't done a meme in a while. I saw this one (may have done it before, who knows) and thought it looked interesting. So, here it is:

Look at the list of (100) books below.
Bold the ones you've read.
Italicize the ones you want to read.
leave blank the ones that you aren't interested in.
Movies don't count.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25 . Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones' Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard's First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

23 of 100 read, not too bad. And only 1 (Brave New World) was read for a class! Still haven't read any Dickens though, will have to remedy that soon.

Sock Invaders!

The new issue of Knitty is up! I totally have to make these:


I can just hear the atari sound effects. :)

I've actually gotten a fair bit of knitting done recently.. finished stuff & everything, but I don't want to show it yet cause it's baby stuff for Joanne and I want her to be somewhat surprised when she gets it!

Not much else is going on with me. Honey has been rather busy lately, running off every weekend to do sound for Gandalf Murphy And The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams! I am so happy for him. He really, really, really enjoys working with these guys, and they are all so sweet! Not only is their music wonderful, but they even have their own kick-ass brand of coffee!

That's about it here. There have been no more squirrel casualties... let's hope it stays that way! :)

Beware the Sheep!

Wow.. just.. wow...

Spring?

The first signs of spring are appearing here in frosty Ypsilanti.

A few days ago I noticed little green hosta shoots beginning to peak out of the soil. I've been hearing more and more birds tweeting in the trees. And today, I saw the first open Dairy Queen! It is official! SPRING!

Of course, the temp is supposed to get down to 5 below tonight. But that's just a technicality! ;)

We Have A Wiggy Factor of 10!

There are some events that bring home the jarring realization that your sweet, adorable, loving little fluffballs are in fact animals who still have their predatory instincts.

With the cats, it was the first time I found bits of a mouse (not even half a mouse) laying in the middle of the carpet and 4 very satisfied looking pussy cats.

Well, last night I had this moment with Corrina.

Yesterday I let her out to do her business and have a romp in the yard. About 5 min later I hear her barking. Not her usual "Look at the THING!" bark, but a more aggressive, territorial "Get out of my yard or this will happen to you" kinda bark. I looked outside and there was a squirrel in the tree, about halfway down the trunk. Too high for her to reach. I left her to it. She is after all a dog, and they love to bark & chase squirrels.

I let her in a little bit later and there were no signs of the squirrel. I assumed the squirrel had climbed higher in the tree, or jumped to our neighbors yard, and didn't think anything more of it.

The rest of the day pasted uneventfully. She was doing her little kid routine, wanting to go out & then come back in every 5-10 min.

Around 10:30pm I let her out for her bedtime potty. When I went to let her back in 10 min later, I received a serious case of the wiggies! My sweet, loving, gentle baby had in fact killed the squirrel... and then brought it to me! EEK! She dropped it on the porch and I let her inside. We went to bed. She promptly jumped up & lay down in my spot and was looking pitiful. She probably didn't understand why I was wigged... and I was too wigged to properly snuggle with the dog... I mean, she murdered a squirrel!

Ok. So, here we are this morning. I wake up resigned to the fact that I am living with 5 cold-blooded killers (at least of rodents) and let my baby outside for her morning pee. I brought a garbage bag with me to scoop up the corpse. When I bent over, I got my first good look at the squirrel. It looked normal.. except for the head, which Corrina had tore the skin & fur from... she ripped off the squirrel's FACE! DUDE! (shiver)

I think I need a lay-down.

Squirrel Enemy #1

Playin Footsie

This is a simple pattern that is great for those half-used skeins of yarn. I got the idea after knitting a pair of full size socks and having about half a skein of beautiful sock yarn left-over. Not enough for a regular sock, too much to go to waste.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces sock yarn; approx. 1/2 skein (~110 yds). Plus waste yarn.

Needles: size 2dpn

Fits women's size 8-9.

Note: This is a toe-up pattern using short rows for shaping. The first portion of the pattern can be worked on regular straight needles.

Cast on 30 st loosely using waste yarn.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette st.

Toe Shaping

Row 1 - Knit 28 sts, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 2 - Sl 1, p26, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 3 - Sl1, K25, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 4 - Sl1, P24, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 5 - Sl1, K23, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 6 - Sl1, P22, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 7 - Sl1, K21, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 8 - Sl1, P20, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 9 - Sl1, K19, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 10 - Sl1, P18, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 11 - Sl1, K17, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 12 - Sl1, P16, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 13 - Sl1, K15, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 14 - Sl1, P14, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 15 - Sl1, K13, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 16 - Sl1, P12, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 17 - Sl1, K11, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 18 - Sl1, P10, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.

Turning the toe

Row 21 - Sl1, K10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 22 - Sl1, P10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Row 23 - Sl1, K11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 24 - Sl1, P11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.

Continue in this manner until all sts have been reincorporated, finishing on a purl row.

K 1 row, dividing sts onto 2 dpns (in preparation for knitting in the round). These are needles 1 & 2.

Foot

Remove yarn used for provisional cast-on. This will give you 30 "live" sts. Pick up & knit these sts, dividing equally onto 2 dpns (needles 3 &4). There should be 15sts on each needle.

K around for 4 rows.

Row 1 - P2, K2 across needles 1 & 2, end with P2. K across needles 3 & 4.

Repeat this row until sock measures approx. 7" from the tip.

Heel

Note: The heel will be worked in the same manner as the toe.

Work only the sts on needles 3 & 4.

Purl 1 row.

Row 1 - Knit 28 sts, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 2 - Sl 1, p26, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 3 - Sl1, K25, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back.
Row 4 - Sl1, P24, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 5 - Sl1, K23, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 6 - Sl1, P22, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 7 - Sl1, K21, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 8 - Sl1, P20, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 9 - Sl1, K19, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 10 - Sl1, P18, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 11 - Sl1, K17, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 12 - Sl1, P16, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 13 - Sl1, K15, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 14 - Sl1, P14, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 15 - Sl1, K13, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 16 - Sl1, P12, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.
Row 17 - Sl1, K11, move yarn to front, sl1, move yarn to back
Row 18 - Sl1, P10, move yarn to back, sl1, move yarn to front.

Turning the heel

Row 21 - Sl1, K10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 22 - Sl1, P10, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Row 23 - Sl1, K11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, k2tog.
Row 24 - Sl1, P11, pick up yarn wrapped around next stitch, p2tog.
Continue in this manner until all sts have been reincorporated, finishing on a purl row.

K 1 row.

Cuff

Return to knitting in the round.

Row 1 - P2, K2 across needles 1 & 2, end with P2. K across needles 3 & 4.

Repeat this row 5 times.

Row 2 - P2, K2 around.

Repeat this row until cuff is approx. 1" or desired height.

Cast off all sts loosely.

Caution: Do not cast off too tightly or you will have difficulty fitting the sock over your heel. Do not cast off too loosely or you will have difficulty keepin the sock in place.

This pattern is for personal use only! Please let me know if you have any questions or problems! Thank you!

Post-OP

I had my post-op appointment yesterday morning. Everything is just fine! Dr. Randolph said that they had no problems removing the polyp, which according to him was kinda cute! (??) He also said the reports on the polyp all came back normal and that the cavity & tubes look good, so no worries there. He was very concerned that the polyp would act as an iud & keep me from getting pregnant, which is why we went through this whole thang.

So now we are going to try the clomid. If I don't ovulate by Friday I am to start a course of prometrium. Then, on days 5-9 of my next cycle I will take the clomid. On day 14 they want me to come back into the office for an ultrasound. They will check the size of the follicles, and if they are big enough he will give me an injection to make me ovulate. If the follicles are not big enough, we will start the whole process over again but use a higher dose of clomid.

So, that's the plan. Wish me luck! :)

Tech Support

Ok. So I have been a little YouTube happy lately, but I couldn't resist sharing this one. This goes out to all my peeps who have spent time in the hell that is technical support.

Yeah Boy!

I can't wait! Simon Pegg! SQUEE!

OMG!

This is one talented feline. Check out her site. So incredible!

See what no work does.. 2 posts within 1 hr! LOL

Snow Day!

I'm so excited, like a kid! I haven't had a real snow day since high school! My office is closed because of the inclement weather, so NO WORK! WHEE!

Apparently, even though they had 2 days notice of the storm, Washtenaw County decided not to put salt trucks & plows on the road last night... even though it started snowing around 3pm and they knew we were projected to get upwards of 8", with major drifting! So, this morning the surface streets are terrible and the evidently the road to my office is virtually impassible.

This, of course , is second hand knowledge. Honey called me about 15 min ago to tell me they were closing the office & not to bother coming in! SQUEE!

Puppy is very happy. She is having such a blast in the snow... she thinks it mighty tasty!

OH! I have to relay the cutest thing. I watched a bit of the Westminster Dog Show on Monday & Tuesday. Personally, I was hoping the Akita or Bouvier would win. (see below)

But, anyhow... Corrina was laying on the couch next to me and then the tv caught her eye. She immediately perked-up and was very intently watching the dogs! When the bigger breeds would come on she would start a very low growl, like she was telling them to get out of her house! When the toy group came on, she ran over to the tv & was trying to sniff them! awwwww! She got very excited when the boxer came on... there's a boxer that she plays with regularly at the dog park! :)

Off to a bit of shoveling and then warm up with some tea!

Weighty Matters

Today I went to the doctors because my hiatal hernia has been driving me crazy. Bad news, I have to go to a gastroenterologist and get scoped. Good news, I haven't gained any weight back.. in fact I've lost another 2 pounds! This is probably because I haven't been eating as much, considering I haven't worked out since Thanksgiving!

So with this little bit of good news I decided to take my measurements & compare them to my starting stats from July.

Here's where I started:
236lbs
49" bust
44" waist
52" hip

And, here's where I am now:
217 lbs
45 1/2" bust
42" waist
49" hip

Now, if I can just keep it going... :)

What The?

So, last night I came home & there was something different. Then it dawned on me that our "Impeach Bush" sign was gone. The frame was still there (probably frozen in the ground), but the sign itself was missing. Not on the ground, not torn, just gone. I went inside.

me: Did you know the Bush sign was gone?
Honey: WHAT?!
me: Our impeach Bush sign is gone!
Honey: No way! I have to see this!

Sure enough, it is gone. Honey walked down to our neighbor's house who also had one.. their's is gone too. However, their "Peace" sign was still in place! Interesting.

So, apparently we upset someone. Oh Darn. We are thinking of getting an even bigger sign.. and maybe rigging a camera this time to see what happens.

owie

Surgery went just fine. I was out of recovery and on my way home by 10:30 am. I am doing pretty good, I am having the most problem with my throat due to the tube they inserted for the surgery. I must say, that general anesthetic is good stuff. It was faintly blueberry scented & I was out in seconds. Next thing I know I am waking up in recovery! I am feeling a bit sore all over, but they said this would be normal. I should be feeling completely normal by monday.

Here's a little silly to y'all over till I'm ready to post more.

Eeek! & Yippie!

My surgery is tomorrow morning & I am the first scheduled patient. I'm hoping that means I will get a fresh doctor who will have had all his coffee & not make any mistakes. This is a super low risk surgery, but still.. I have never had any kind of surgery before, nor have I ever been under anaesthesia, so I am a little wiggy!

So, you may say, why the Yippie? Well, because I got this in my email a little while ago...

Apparently, Borders wasn't really prepared for the kind of response this would generate because their site is currently down.. I'm betting from overload! :)

In HP related news, for those of you who don't know there is a big stink going on about Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry in the movies, starring in a revival of Equus. Below is a publicity pic for the play.

The main problem is that the content of this play is decidedly adult and parents are freaking out about their children going to see it. From what I understand the theater is not putting an age restriction on the show, which features full male nudity and bestiality. I personally am very proud of young Mr. Radcliffe. This is a very controversial play and it is very brave of him to take it on. Also, big kudos to his parents for allowing him to do so. And for all those who are freaking out about Harry Potter being naked on stage... News flash! Daniel Radcliffe is NOT HARRY POTTER! He is an ACTOR! Big difference... And if you can't tell the difference, then you have bigger problems than whether your 13yr old daughter sees a naked 17yr old in a play!

Ok. Off my soap box.

Damn Swedes

As some of you know, we moved into our very first house last April. I love my home, but it is seriously lacking in closet space... to the point where I dread doing laundry because I have no place to put the clean clothes (yeah, that's why I hate laundry...). Honey & I have been meaning to pick up a wardrobe for a while now, but just couldn't justify the expense.

Well, this past Sunday we received an IKEA catalog with our paper. Inside there was this cute little wardrobe for $79.95.

Not really big enough to completely solve the problem, but if we got 2 of them it would certainly give us some breathing room.

So, off we trek to the Canton IKEA to see this solution to all our problems.. Only to find that it is not cute, in actuality it is pretty ugly & cheap looking. The center piece in the doors is made of a really cheap opaque plastic, and the whole thing is really very flimsy.

However, we were not discouraged. After all, IKEA is the land of cheap, stylish furniture... no?

Well, after searching for a while, we decided we should do the PAX wardrobe system. It's all components that mix & match and you can buy the interior shelves, rails & drawers as suits you. Perfect! And each piece is so inexpensive too! $24 here, $12 there... Damn those bastards, it adds up quick...

We came home with 2 narrow wardrobe pieces & 2 38" cabinets. All the storage that we will need.. and it only cost $700. Now, I know this is not that bad, but we were originally thinking of spending $250-$300 just to get us through!

So, we have spent the last 2 evenings putting it together.. and we are about half way done (we needed to stop for dinner & puppy breaks.. Oh, & 24!). We are hoping to have all the pieces built tonight & then will tackle the mounting to the wall thang tomorrow.

I will post pics of our wardrobe once it is up & tidy... and I get that damn charger.

Knitting Along With Nothing To Show

Unfortunately honey was unable to repair the charger for my camera and I have to hunt down a new one. Initial searches seem to indicate the charger is going to run about $40, which is almost half of what we paid for the camera 2 yrs ago. Granted, we did get an excellent deal because it's a good camera. It's a Sony Cybershot 5.1 Megapixel and it also records short movies. So, I will just have to suck it up and spend the money (cheap, aren't I)!

In knitting news, I have been doing quite a bit. Recently I designed a pattern for footies to use up left over sock yarn. I knit 2 pairs and they are very comfy. I will post the pattern & pics once the aforementioned charger has been obtained.

I also am making a pair of fingertipless gloves (not fingerless, since I am knitting the fingers up to the last joint). I need something for work, since it is always cold there and my hands tend to get like icicles after a few hours. I want something that is going to cover as much of my hands as possible and still let me feel the keyboard.

Last week I went into a fit trying to find something to knit on needles larger than size 2s. I've been making so many socks lately & I really needed something to work on that was, ya know, BIG. I had to swing by Jo-Ann Fabrics to pick up a new set of needles for my sewing machine, and wandered over to the yarn section.

It's been a long time since I browsed their yarn selection.. at least a few years. I was surprised to find that they are trying to get on the "good yarn" bandwagon. They are now carrying a line of yarn under the brand name Sensations. Some of the yarn is on par with Lion Brand, but a few collections are quite nice. Much better quality than I've seen from them before. I actually picked up a few skeins of the Bellezza Collection Dolcetto in light blue (the skein on the top in the pic below) and am making a scarf. I must say it is knitting up quite nicely and is very soft! The yarn is made in Italy, and is 54% wool, 24% nylon & 22% cotton. I don't know how well it comes across in the pic, but there is a slight heathered quality to the yarn.
Jo-Ann's isn't about to become my primary yarn source, but it's nice to know that I can find some half-way decent yarn there in a pinch. :)

WOW!

That's the first thing I could say after seeing Pan's Labyrinth last night. WOW! Truly an amazing film and worthy of all the praise it is receiving! Writer/director Guillermo del Toro has certainly secured his place as one of my favorite directors with this (I became a fan after seeing Hellboy)!

This film is disturbing and beautiful at the same time. Flawlessly integrating stark realism with the fantastical. An adult fable that warns of the capacity for human cruelty and against the wisdom of unquestioning obedience.

The cinematography is breath taking. The acting is superb, especially from the little girl Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and the housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdu).

On a particularly geeky note, I was thrilled find out that the actor hidden under make-up as the Faun and the Pale Man (Doug Jones), appeared as one of the Gentlemen in the Buffy episode Hush! Squee! He also appeared in Hellboy as Abe Sapien! Very cool!

This movie is definitely a must see! Don't mind the subtitles, it's worth it! I will be adding this to my personal collection as soon as the dvd is released!!

Hey there! Remember Me?

So, it's been quite a while! Too much to catch up on, so I will just give a super cliff notes version.

My mom is doing much better. Hospice has been providing physical therapy and she is able to feed herself now. She's been doing so much better that I have been able to go whole weeks without having to go out there. This is particularly good because...

My health has been crappy. I was sick for about a month. After a few weeks of misdiagnoses, it was finally determined that I a. had bronchitis & b. have developed a hiatal hernia. Unfortunately, I am in the small percentage of people who has symptoms with the damn thing.. I actually felt it happen! Bleck! On top of that, I have a polyp in my uterus that is further complicating my fertility efforts. They tried to remove the polyp in the office, but were unable to fit the scope through my cervix. I am having surgery to remove it on February 2nd.

Work has been great. I had my 90 day review last week and it was excellent! Even got a raise! Whee!

That's about it. Honey, cats & puppy are all doing well (although puppy has developed a taste for remote controls, grrr).

Once I find a new charger for my camera I will post pics of my latest knittings. And, now that things are calming down a bit I will try to be more diligent in the posting.

BTW- Any thoughts on the new template? I switched over to the new googlfied blogger and now am kinda missing my old template...