I did it!!!! and new knitting goals for 2011

Back in January I joined a group on Ravelry -52in52 - 2010.  The goal of the group was to make 52 projects in the 52 weeks of 2010.  Short/quick projects would average out the bigger time consuming ones.  I started strong, especially with the Ravelympics in February.  ( a knit/crochet/spin challenge that ran concurrently with the Olympics.)  The end of Senior Year in May and June caught me in Angie's swirl for awhile and I slowed down.  In July I finished nothing.  Had a slow August as well, although can I use the excuse of getting the Angie ready for moving into her dorm and college??  September was sort of a comeback, even though I discovered that I greatly overestimated the amount of free time I would have once she left.  I entered December at 40 finished projects. only 40.  I was pretty pragmatic. I figured it was a good goal, and I finished far more projects than I ever had before in the time I've been knitting.

But yesterday, at 6pm I finished my red cowl, project 52 of the year!!  Woot!!  

Here's a picture of projects 50 & 51 - my orange keyhole scarf and mitts (from yarn my friend Min gave me)





And project 52 - my red cowl





I'm already looking ahead to 2011.  I am going to try to do the 52 again.  Harder than that I currently have 12 projects on Ravelry that are either WIPs or UFOs (Works In Progres or UnFinished Objects) I don't consider stuff I've worked on recently as a WIP - it doesn't hit that status in my mind until its been out of sight for two or more months.  To become a UFO  it has to have been a WIP for a year or more.  A few of the UFOs were cast on in 2006 ( a year before I joined Ravelry) I guess 2006 is the year I became a knitter - I taught myself to knit in 2003.  But I started out only struggling through one project at a time.  I'd finish something, then pick a pattern, go out buy the yarn (back then it was Michael's. Ragshop and AC Moore- I had yet to discover LYSs or online yarn) most of the time I also had to buy the needles too. In 2006, I started working on multiple projects, and creating my first WIPs and UFOs.  So, 12 on Ravelry, 2 not on Ravelry, I am going to aim for finishing or frogging (frogging is unraveling and giving up on a project, saving the yarn for another project)  one of these a month during 2011.  Some are almost done some barely started, so one a month is the average I'm aiming for.

You Are Wild and Outrageous

Your idea of romance is a highly sexy, highly naughty time. You're pretty much down for anything, as long as it's wild. You crave adventure, and you definitely like to mix things up a lot in the bedroom. You never let anything get routine. Your ideal partner has an active (and delightfully devilish) imagination. Your dream lover always has a new idea to drive you wild. For you, love is all about trying new things together. It's important that you don't get bored with one another.

The Lingerie Test

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Thursday Thunks - The New Year's Edition

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Thursday Thunks - The New Year's Edition

Welcome to the December 30th edition of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

Thursday Thunks: The New Year's Edition

The TT questions are brought to you by Bud, the color of ripping this meme off of a Sunday Stealing from 2007 (way back before Judd & syndication when only 3 played) and the number 36936.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Sent my baby off to college.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really make resolutions.  I make, analyze, follow up and edit goals.  That being said, I didn't really make a lot of goals last January.  The one goal was to knit/crochet 52 items in 52 weeks.  I am almost done with #52, should be done by tomorrow.  I made a goal in the fall of reading more, which since I was barely reading at all, I have succeeded.  I also read 4 books off the 1001 Books to Read before You Die list.  I also joined Juleeque in her Project It's All About Me to focus more on me.  I'm batting about .500 with that one.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A girl in my department at work had one at the end of July.  Not really close to her.  I guess the best way to answer is no one I would knit a baby gift for had one.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close enough to affect my daily life died.

5. What countries did you visit? Pretty boring, stayed in the good old US of A.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? More energy and more motivation in my personal life.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Ok, sad but off the top of my head no actual DATES come to mind, but if we're talking days, the two biggies would be the day Angie graduated and the day Angie moved into her dorm.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Not being an over protective mother hen nor a basket case when Angie moved into said dorm.

9. What was your biggest failure? I haven't found the motivation or will to find/stick to a workout/exercise paln or eating plan.

10. What was the best thing you bought? Don't know.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? the Angie.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted? the list of celebrities that I could answer this question with is too long to type.

13. What song will always remind you of 2010? Fireflies.  Not that I liked it, but I had never heard of it, not consciously at least.  Then the Angie played it for me.  Then everytime I turned around it was playing on Musac.  It played at least 2 or 3 times a day at work, I heard it at Shop Rite, heard it at Dunkin Donuts, on the radio!! AAAHHHHHHHHH!  It did get a bit better when I passed it on to a few of my friends. Now they may not notice the background musac, but when Fireflies comes on they hear it ... MWAHAHAHA!

14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise

15. What do you wish you’d done less of? Spend money.

16. Did you fall in love in 2010? I fall in love pretty regularly.  With yarn, with books, with plants, with recipes.... Oh you meant with a person?  Yeah I fall pretty regularly there too. usually it's with Curtis :P

17. Who did you miss? I didn't see my brother as many times as usual this year.

18. Who was the best new person you met?I didn't meet anyone new.

And no, we won't be using this sucker on Stealing this week!

Happy New Year from all of us at Thunks!

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Frost

 

White and Sparkling

A blanket covers the world

Crisp and inviting.

 

 

Curt, the "man" shovels

Snow is serious to him

Clears off the cars too!

 

 

Mom and Angie, girls

snowmen, snowballs, andsledding

enjoy frosty days!

 

 

Snowy day of play

climbing the sled hill is work,

baby needs a nap.

 

    

You Are Beer

You are very relaxed and casual. You're happy to have a drink with friends, and you're not too picky about what that drink is. You are definitely not a snob, and it drives you crazy when people get too fancy about what ever you're drinking. You drink to let loose and have fun. You are the furthest thing in the world from uptight. If someone hands you a drink, you'll drink it. You'll toast often and to anything!

Are You Beer or Wine?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

       

Thinking of Christmas Traditions

I've been  thinking about Christmas traditions.  How they vary around the world, the country, and from family to family.  They continue to change as we get married, blend traditions, have kids, kids grow up and outgrow some of them.  One desire, in the northeast at least is the desire for a White Christmas.  As a kid split between NJ and TX, the one thing I looked forward to the years in NJ was the hope of snow on Christmas.  This year, my friends down south are getting snow on Christmas and we MAY get it tomorrow, depending on the wind, the rotation of the earth, whether or not some alien on Proximus Centuri has too much spicy food and farts... SIgh.

So my current traditions are mostly from my life as opposed to Curt's.  I grew up around lots of Italians, so Christmas eve is always the La Vigilia, feast of the seven fishes.  Personally, on Christmas eve I'm not being all elaborate, so I cheat. Dinner is linguine with spicy olive oil and garlic (just in case of vampire attack)  and shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, calamari(rings and tentacles) sometimes lobster - not this year, haddock and cod.  Curt gets his with just the haddock and cod cubes. Then later in the evening we have an appetizer/tapas party, which adds some more fish in the form of salmon, tuna, eel  and other sushi fish.  

Then midnight Mass.  There is something about the pageantry of midnight Mass that I just love.  It really doesn't feel like Christmas with out it.  The music, the decorations, the incense, the candles (the butt falling asleep).  Fortunately, our parish starts at 11pm and finishes around 1am - as it is I'm not 100% awake when we leave.  

Then it's spiked eggnog and the Angie gets to pick one present from under the tree to open.  This year, she opened a silver cuff bracelet.

Christmas morning with friends, there is coffee for grown-ups, hot chocolate or chocolate milk for the kiddies.  Homemade cinnamon rolls.  (nothing like getting sugared up BEFORE the excitement of presents) The yule log on tv. Play some video games before heading to the grandparents.  We go to my mom's first, because she likes an early Christmas lunch.  We exchange gifts with my mom, Anna, her ? joe, Sarah (the akita - she always gets rawhide, something big, this year it's a wreath, she knows it's coming too) and Stardust the cat (only cat  I know that doesn't like catnip - she needs to spend some time with Fe, my friend's cat)  One of the gifts I always get Anna is a wine.  It has to be a good wine, but the label or name of the wine must be amusing.  This year she is getting Spy Valley, because she is always convinced people are trying to find out what she's doing.

Then off to Curt's Dad. ( we did try to get them both to our place, but it was a dismal failure - my dream is a 3 ft blizzard on Christmas allowing me to stay home)  We have dinner.  and exchange gifts with him and my sister in law.  My SIL is a pain.  She inevitably e-mails out a "wish list" a week or two after Thanksgiving.  I keep saying if I get the list before Thanksgiving, I'll get stuff from the list.  But as a matter of principle, if I did accidentally get her something that turns up on her list, I won't give it to her.  This past thanksgiving, she was talking to Curt's cousin about something and "Kung Fu Fighting" came up. And she kept humming it. So she got a cd with the song, a dvd of Kung Fu Panda and a bottle of Kung Fu Girl wine.  I got her the dvd of some play she was talking about never having seen but wanting to as well.

I then usually pass out in the car on the ride home.


MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

 

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas Eve!!  I ran the gauntlet of Shop Rite pre-holiday and went grocery shopping this morning, went to help Curt finish his Christmas shopping because I wanted to hit Godiva for some Aztec chocolate (chili and chocolate - brilliant!).  Angie got  something else as a result of me walking through Penney's.

Angie actually met us for lunch at the diner - despite me wearing the repulsive hat and embarrassing sneakers:





Tonite, I'm wrapping presents , we're eating tapas, and Angie & Curt are watching stupid tv.

And - stolen from LOL race pics

For those of you wondering how all those presents get delivered so fast.

You Are Stylish

You are a sneaky gift giver. You're good at throwing people off the trail of what you're really giving them. You are spontaneous and impulsive. You tend to do things quickly, and you're quite impatient. You are very organized and together. No one would ever accuse you of being a slob. You love to dress up and take care of yourself. You get a lot of confidence from looking sharp.

The Present Wrapping Oracle

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

   

You Are Frosty the Snowman

While the holidays are around, you try to have as much fun as possible. You're a kid at heart. You're always dreaming of a white Christmas, and nothing gives you more joy than playing in the snow. Every year, you feel like the holiday season is too short. You wish you could freeze time every year and bask in the celebration forever. When the holidays are done, you can't help but feel a little sad. It's like a part of you has melted.

What Christmas Character Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

       

I know I tweeted it - but have I mentioned that I'm on Vacation?? Until next year???? Woot!!!

I know I tweeted it - but have I mentioned that I'm on Vacation?? Until next year????  Woot!!!

 

 

Thursday Thunks - The Christmas Version

Welcome to the December 23rd edition of Thursday Thunks!

(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)

Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!

We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.

Write about it on your blog... simple as that.

Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!

Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.

Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.

Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!

That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?

We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

Thursday Thunks - The Christmas Version

The TT questions are brought to you by Berleen, the color of the foot spray on the table and the num

ber 25.

C- What color/flavor candy cane should I put in your stocking?  How about a dark amber ale flavor??  Best way to survive my family Christmas!

H- If Santa really comes down the chimney of people's houses and he busts out the bricks on the way down, do you think that is covered by his Christmas insurance?My chimney is a vent pipe maybe 8 - 10 inches in diameter. Don't think the fat guy is getting down that.  Of course I'm perennially on the naughty list so it's a moot point anyway.

R- Did you know that rabbits eat their own poop to get the nutrients from the food that they didn't get from it the first time they ate it?Well, I guess I've eaten my last rabbit, blech.

I- Have you ever sucked on an icicle?Yes, I did mention being on the naughty list right???

S- Do you think there is too much sex on tv?I'm fat, and have a flatscreen.  Don't think I could balance on it, so no sex on my tv ;P

T- We're eating tacos. Taco sauce - hot, medium, mild or OMG my butthole is going to hurt tomorrow! ? Liquid fire hot!!!

M- Are you sick of Christmas music yet?Just te Little Drummer boy.  There are about 8 versions on the stoopid loop that the muzac in out store plays.

A- Add up the number of windows in your house, subtract that number by the number of doors you have in your house, multiply that by the number of hallways you have in your house and then add the number of light switches. Whats your answer?Seriously????  You fell one questions short this week?? (17 for anyone interested)

S- You build a snowman (yes you really do), what color hat do you have him wear? And now you are going to build a sand castle (yes, shut up, you do that too), does it have a moat?Red w/ black trim Santa hat!!  Not in Hawaii with Thom or in Arizona with Kimber, so no sand. And it has been below freezing for 2 weeks, don't think I can dig in the dirt.  But every one I ever built in the past did have a moat if that counts.

You Are Eggnog

Rich, sweet, and probably a little drunk. Everyone who knows you tends to get a little fatter.

What Holiday Food Are You?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

       

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Noel

 

Partridge and Pear Tree

An Angel getting her wings

Signs of the season.

 

 

Wishing and hoping  

for a White Christmas this year

my vacation bliss.

 

Spend some time, give back

to others less fortunate

Noel's true meaning. 

Some more Knit Ornaments.

I finished a couple more of my mini-knit ornaments.

 

 



Am a little over half way on the second of a pair of fingerless gloves.  Depending on how long I get to take lunch, they may be done this week.  I am on ruffle 3 of 8 on a second Christmas tree.  Another Murphy mini-sock kit shipped.  I saw really cute little hats and scarves for wine bottles I may try to make, since I am giving 3 people wine. (hint if you are getting wine - you are too boring and need a life - it means nothing else says "you" in the stores or on the internet!!) I want to make another mini-sweater and a couple of mini-santa hats.  We'll see what the realities of time  have to say about that.


Coming tomorrow - I won a blog contest on Thom's blog -so there will be pictures of my cool prize package ( Angie already snagged the t-shirt)  and there will be a brief recap of my trip Thursday to get the Angie back home (42 hours - if you were wondering how long before she pissed me off)  Oh and I won the football elimination league I was in ( so to all the boys I beat - Suck It!!)


 

You Are an Optimist

You are thoughtful and responsible. It's rare that you find yourself in a bind. You are good at finding balance in your life. You rest when you need to, but you also know that too much rest is dangerous. When you get tired, you slow down at first... but then you usually get a second wind! You are happiest when you've reached an important goal or milestone. You like to feel like your life is progressing.

The Mountain Test

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

       

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Harmonics

 

I'm a Physics geek,

String theory explains so much,

but not Everything.

 

 

Inner strings vibrate,

We are attracted to those,

We harmonize with. 

18 Days - project me - recapping

Yesterday I realized there are 18 days left until the year is over.  Not just the year but the decade as well.  It seems like just a year or two ago everyone was freaking out about Y2K. The Angie was 8 almost 9. Totally obsessed with dance - at that time she was @ the studio almost 20 hours a week.  She had just become an altar server at church. I think time goes faster when you have a kid.


Don't worry,  I'm not going to rehash the whole decade - my memory isn't all that good!  But I'm in that looking back on the year, deciding if it was worth the carbon footprint I left , and thinking about plans and goals for next year sort of mood.


Parenting wise - since we already did a double take on the Angie, I would say 2010 was definitely a hit out of the park.  Angie had a great senior year,  a good summer, and moving her into Temple went relatively (relatively being the key word) smoothly.  She absolutely loves Temple, loves her dorm, loves her classes, likes her classmates, is fencing very well.  She really enjoys being in Philly, although after mid-October stopped having the time to head into the city.  We'll be picking her up on Thursday for Christmas break. She goes back the day after her birthday in January, assuming we don't kill her in the month.  It will definitely be interesting to reincorporate her into day to day household life.


Marriage wise - we've been in this for 20 years later this winter.  Not shabby for someone who categorically dumped a guy after 90 days for most of her dating career.  We've had some issues this year, mostly because of communication style and because there is our married life, and our outside of marriage life, and the outside part includes a lot of important stuff, and we just usually just don't talk about it.  Also Curt hates conflict at home, so just side steps it, and because of that I don't bother anymore and just bitch to my friends alot.  But we came to a new truce and moved forward.   I was a little bit apprehensive as to how we would deal with Angie being gone.  We really haven't had any issues, probably because Angie had such a full plate through High School that she wasn't home a lot, and because we are still great friends and can have a lot of fun just hanging out together.

Now the hard part. the me part.  I had a bunch of false starts at trying to take better care of my health and my body.  I really need to make a better attempt here, as I am really starting to feel not just my age, but all the abuse I threw at my body over the years as well.  I just need to figure out how to motivate myself here.  


I posted earlier in the fall that I was going to make a concerted effort to start reading, because my brain was turning to mush.  Although I am not entirely happy with my accomplishments here, I must say I have read 3 books each month.  the book of the month for my 1001 Books To Read Before You Die group and 2 others.   I really want to get that up to 4 books a month - except that the book for Jan & Feb together is War and Peace. I  wasn't going to read this book, I mean I will never logistically be able to read the whole list since they keep updating it, and I don't plan on taking 10 years off to just read, so there will be books I don't hit.  I just want to read a bigger chunk of the list.  But since that was the book voted on, and I suppose it will have a sort of sense of satisfaction to accomplish it, I am going to give it a try.  And I'm not going to feel bad if I quit!  


I made a goal last January to create 52 knitting/crochet projects in 52 weeks this year.  I had one month, July, in which I really barely knit, and didn't finish anything that month.  As of yesterday i am at 45 projects started in 2010 completed.  I am knitting the second fingerless glove of a pair at lunch ar work.  I am working on a second slightly different lit Christmas tree- this one with smaller LED lights and beads knit into the tree as "ornaments".  I should be getting 3 or 4 (I slightly lost track) mini-sock kits this week.  I also have a couple more Christmas ornaments I want to knit.  So although it isn't a guaranteed "give me"  I have a good shot at reaching this goal.


I also had a goal of trying new types of projects this year.   I think I was true to this one.  I did not one but 2 beaded shawls.  ( I am currently using that beaded technique on the tree I'm knitting)  I made a slip stitch felted bag.  (not 100% thrilled with the bag but the colorwork came out great).  I have done more lacework this year.  ( i am usually more of a cables than lace knitter) As a matter of fact the gloves I am working on have a lace inset.  I am doing miniature projects, thanks to my Creepy Cute swaps and these Murphy mini-socks.


I finished one afghan for the Victory Junction camp.  I fixed another one so it would comply with the camps guidelines.  I crocheted some cat beds, and knit several hats  for charity.  I definitely am going to do charity knitting this coming year.  I am not sure other than an afghan or two for VJ in which direction that will go.  


So other than charity knitting, I think I am going to look at creating one Christmas decoration/ornament project a month, so I can decorate for next Christmas with more knit items.  I think in January I am going to make a real effort to dig out some of my UFOs and actually finish them ( I think I said this last year also,  but the 52 new projects sort of pushed this one aside)  I am definitely after Christmas going to cast on for my Tappan Zee Cardi.  I usually avoid sweaters ( I have made 3 all for the Angie since I learned to knit) because of the large project/short attention issue and also because I really A. hate seaming and B. am bad at seaming.  But I want to beat this, and while I don't picture them becoming the mainstay of my knitting, I want to make one for me.  


A goal I completely failed at this year, is I told myself after Angie went off to college and I wasn't running to her meets and booster club meetings and parents groups, and other volunteer stuff at her school, I would work on organizing.  I have a lot to organize.  I want to get my stash list updated.  I know people who can pull up their stashes on their smartphones in a LYS and determine if they have what they need for a project.   Probably 30% of what I had listed was yarn from when I first started knitting, when I thought AC Moore was the bomb because they had better yarn choices than Rag Shop (now gone) Michaels, Jo-Anns or Walmart.  I was never going to knit with it. SO I gave it away to a teacher that runs a knitting club at her school.  And probably 25% has been used.  AND Most of what I have acquired in the last year and  a half is not listed.   I need to file all the paper patterns I have accumulated.  I need to deal with all the paper and stuff in this place.  SO after Angie goes back in January, I will address this.


I did a much better job following through on my garden to the end.  And this year I actually got all, the pots emptied and cleaned up before Thanksgiving.  SO it will be easier to deal with in the spring.  I tried a bunch of new plants,  and while some failed some succeeded so I learned for the future.


These are just my thoughts right now.  Nothing concrete yet.  Just a mental perusal.  In other words you may be subjected to more in the near future.

Simon and Garfunkel

Friday, December 10, 2010

Simon and Garfunkel

Hi I'm DJ KathyA! Welcome to Rock 'n Roll Fridays. We are like other memes in that we will ask you thirteen questions each and every Friday. But our little "twist" is that each week we will pick a singer, band, era or category and pick thirteen of their songs. Each of our questions will be based on the lyrics. Got it? Great! Let's begin this week's meme!

Today we picked Simon and Garfunkel.

1. A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER But look around, the leaves are brown, And the sky is a hazy shade of winter. Oh, seasons change with scenery, weaving time in a tapestry, Won't you stop and remember me?
Do you think of someone special during Winter?  Frosty!

 

2. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER When you're down and out, When you're on the street, When evening falls so hard I will comfort you. I'll take your part.
What cheers you up? Snow, Curt, a hug from the Angie, Braun's sending C with my carpet, MMMBD ,one  of my teams winning, new yarn..

3. EL CONDOR PASA I'd rather be a forest than a street. Yes I would. If I could, I surely would. I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet.
When was the last time you went barefoot in the grass? Yesterday, running out to my car... yes it was 28 degrees, I just hate putting shoes on once I take them off andall my flip flops are in my bedroom closet.

4. AMERICA Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike, They've all come to look for America…
How do you entertain yourself during a traffic jam? Big reason I work from 4am - 130 pm? 
No traffic at either time.  What do I do in traffic? literally bang my head on the steering wheel and headrest.

5. SOUNDS OF SILENCE When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night And touched the sound of silence
What words would flash on your ideal neon sign? No stoopid people!

6. 59th STREET BRIDGE SONG Got no deeds to do, No promises to keep. I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep. Let the morning time drop all its petals on me. Life, I love you, All is groovy.
What was the last event that made you feel groovy?Not sure, but it had to involve a lot of alcohol.

7. RICHARD CORY The papers print his picture almost everywhere he goes: Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at a show. And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht! Oh, he surely must be happy with everything he's got.
Do you make enough money to keep you happy? I thought I DID, until the Angie went to college and I started getting her bills.

8. THE BOXER In the clearing stands a boxer, And a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
How do you feel about boxing as a sport? Heavyweights remind me of two tuskless  walruses - and all they do is hug!  I like the lower weights - my last favorite was DelaHoya.

 

9. MRS ROBINSON Hide in the hiding place where no one ever goes. Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes. It's a little secret just the Robinsons' affair. Most of all you've got to hide it from the kids.What was the last thing you hid from the kids or significant other in your home?  Um Curt does read this occasionally you know!

10. I AM A ROCK I have my books And my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor,
What item protects you? fists, guns, bows, brains

11. KATHY’S SONG I hear the drizzle of the rain Like a memory it falls Soft and warm continuing Tapping on my roof and walls.
What is your least favorite thing about rain?I love the rain, always have.  Love the soft gentle caresses of rain in the summer, love the power and energy behind a good thunderstorm, love the peace behind a nice grey rainy day.  I do not like the days that are not really drizzle more like heavy mist that are not wet enough for wipers but wet enough to annoy you on the windshield.  I do not like people who complain about rain and then bitch about droughts. 



12. HOMEWARD BOUND Home where my thought's escaping, Home where my music's playing, Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me.
What’s your favorite thing about your home? My home is my sanctuary.  No stoopid people are allowed inside.

13. FIFTY WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER The problem is all inside your head, she said to me The answer is easy if you take it logically I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
What was the worst way you ever left a lover?ok, funny story.  It was the late 80's, there was a gay bar on the other side of the lake from where I was living. To get there you had to drive about 3 miles down a wooded/unstreetlighted road from either direction of the 2 main highways it was between.  Because of vandals the pay phone  out front never worked.  I had a really good friend, Kevin, that did an AMAZING  Tina Turner. My friends and I used to go there pretty regularly to see Kev and because the food was really amazing and relatively inexpensive.  So the guy I was seeing, but needed to dump, knew we went to this bar to see Kevin play pretty often, but never took him along, because he was annoying about said friends being males (part of why he needed to go, other part was I found the next guy)   So I asked him if he wanted to come with me because my friends couldn't make it and he was annoying, but agreed.  I told him I would drive  since it was hard to find, he said ok.  So I drove, told him to get a table and get me a drink while I hit the ladies room.  He went inside and found out what kind of bar it was, and what kind of show Kevin did (btw I discovered after we had been dating that he awas a HUGE homophobe)  and went to look for me - but I was halfway home!!!  Yes, I know very wrong.  he ended up walking the 3 miles in the dark with his little keychain light to the gas station, because he wouldn't ask the bartender to call him a cab.  So he did deserve it a little.  But he never called me again, so it did the job.   

Lost

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Lost

Welcome to the December 8th edition of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

Thursday Thunks: Lost

The TT questions are brought to you by Bud, the color of an African split-toed frog and the number 369.

1. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21? If yes, how often? Well first - NY's drinking age changed to 21 39 days after I turned 19, so I did drink in their bars legally 39 times before I turned 21 LOL!  But the honest answer to that question is yes, and too often to count.

2. After Obama, who do you think will be the next president? Well, if we look at the 50 year trend I would say... a jellyfish. 

President elect with Secret Service

3. Do you believe places can really be haunted? I don't know about "haunted" per se,but evil energy can linger at a location.

4. Kimber is flying to Minnesota to finally meet Berleen. What do you think about space travel? Um, I'm really terrible at geography, but I really thought one could get to Minnesota via plane, train or automobile!

 

5. What if you had exactly one year to live. What are the three things you'd want to do before you died? 1. Ski somewhere in the southern Hemisphere.
       2. Visit Ireland
       3. Spend as much quality time making memories with my daughter as possible. 

6. What if you could take one thing back. What would that one thing be? What is something you said, something you stole, something you did wrong? Junior high, pouring monsoon rain, my great grandfather met me at the bus stop with an umbrella. I was "too cool" and ran home instead.  He was pissed.  I don't use umbrellas to this day because they make me feel bad.

7. Other than emergencies, do you think the cell phone is more intrusive than convenient?  Um my cell phone is like an appendage.  I would go through serious withdrawal without it. Not so much the talking on the phone part, I don't do that much, but texting (about 800 a week) g-chatting, e-mail, internet, and now with my incredible, what can't I do - and even the camera takes better pictures than my real camera~

8. You are stuck on an island forever due to a plane crash. Like Lost without Harley or andbody else.. But you find all the water, food and shelter you needed. What would be the three other things would you want with you? Did I mention my cell phone is like an appendage?  (and is beer included in the food and water thing?) My i-pad definitely, a really, really large crate of yarn and needles,

9. We've decided you can change one thing about the world. What would that one thing be? Send all the stooopid people (as opposed to mentally challenged for real) to Mars!!

10.What if a million dollars fell off a back of a truck. Would you keep it?  Maybe a few grand, but the rest I'd give to various charities I support.

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Crabby

Two and a half hours

Road trip down route 95

Baltimore crab cakes!

 

 

Sexy tv hunks,

probably smell pretty bad,

Deadliest Catch ... yum. 

Christmas Knitting

here are some Christmas projects (more decorations than gifts)

This one is a gift - it is a knit Christmas tree (yes I used, blech, festive fur yarn) that lights up with LED lights.  It is for my mom, b3cause if I don't give her something handmade by me, she pouts until her birthday. Plus, it gives my sister a complex about being non-creative ( I tell her take the stick out ya ass and the creativity will be able to flow)





Then there are some stockings for the tree.







I also finished the Angie's keyhole scarf:




And yes, I admit it, I judge people!

You Judge People Based on Intuition

You can't explain why you trust and like some people. It's all about going with your gut. Your instincts tend to be right, and your first impression of someone usually sticks. Keep going with your intuition, as it has served you well ... especially when you have a bad feeling about someone. Be open to changing your mind about people. Your intuition may change if you learn more information about someone.

How Do You Judge People?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

        

I made it!! And pics of things I've made!

I made it through inventory without killing anyone!!  Some random quotes that almost got the special ed/special olympics despartment supervisors whose dept.s I  seem to get assigned to, killed.   " You want me to get a ladder and get them from behind the pallet?  But they are only 99cents"  "Yes I can see that the 2 rolls labeled 18 feet are different sizes, I must have screwed up when estimating."  followed by " seriously? you now want me to unroll and measure all of them? Do you know how long it will take?"  "why are you taking down the pre-count sheets?" followed soon after by " well yes, I can see we only counted 8 skus and there are 10 items on the shelf, can't we just add them?"  and my personal favorite "you take inventory waaaaay to seriously" (mind you my title is technically Inventory Management Specialist - even though that is only 1/2 my job) 

The prior store manager is pissed at me - because he gets credit for this inventory -because A. I have been telling him all year he has a problem because I had way too many count discrepancies that I couldn't trace to paperwork, on items that were not high theft items.  And B. all the department supervisors, not just my morons, were focusing on the wrong priorities on the inventory prep sheet and the count wasn't going to go well.  and C. that my best guestimate the day before inventory was a flash of 2.25% and the flash came out 2.32% (that will chang once Atlanta's bean counters go through stuff)  Our last 3 numbers were 1.1%, .97% and 1.2%.  Is he pissed at me because of the really bad number? not really. He is pissed at me because " you just always have to be right don't you?"  

Then because some idjit in Atlanta, probably was reading off the wrong calendar, we were scheduled on a Friday.   The day after inventory, me and my fellow IMSs usually come in at 2am, to start working some reports and fixing counts.  We can't print the reports until the computer has cycled to the next day which is usually around 1230am.  Since the next day in this case is Saturday, and it is Christmas time, making certain departments really busy, trying to change counts after the customers start going through the register is kind of futile.  So we came in at 1am (blech)  and did what we could.  I drove past one of my favorite bars (well I do every day but at 330 they are generally closed) and the parking lot was full.  I was thinking  - GDamn, I should have left a half an hour ago and stopped for a pint!

Well now that you know that I made it (well almost anyway, will have to try to finish next week)  here are some pics of finished projects that I don't think I showed you yet.



My Murphy goes Apple Picking mini-sock.  (Murphy is a sheep - who the designer uses to pick on her brother Murphy. IT'S GREAT FUN!)


 

A toddler sized cabled hat with earflaps




A pair of wristers with the scrap yarn

Live Long, and Prosper

Live Long, and Prosper

Welcome to the December 2nd edition of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

Thursday Thunks: Live Long, and Prosper

The TT questions are brought to you by Bud, the color of a one eyed jack and the number 69.

1. There are a lot of emotions in life. Except for Mr. Spock. What emotionally scares you the most?  Dependence, the feeling of needing someone.  I even have issues sometimes needing Curt.  It bothers him sometimes that I have trouble letting him take care of me.

2. Do you have any present goals that are tough enough that you'd like to forget about them? Yes, forget them and take a nap.

3. Your Internet service goes down. What would you miss the most? That's why I have a droid.  Now for Optimum AND Verizon to go down would imply I had bigger problems than the internet not being there.

4. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you. (Nomenclature? Can you tell that I stole this question?) Stupid little things make my daughter happy.  Like when I mailed her some stuff to her dorm last month and Giradelli's peppermint bark had just come back out so I mailed her 2 pcs (it's her favorite chocolate)  Or I gave her the freebie vendor pen I got at a meeting.  I guess to her it's proof that I think about her at random "non-mom" times.

5. If money was no object, and you had a free month or so, what would you love to do? Take a leisurely tour through Ireland.

6. Why did you start your blog? Was it because you were pissed at someone? Because a lot of my knitting friends had them to show their creations, and to make it easier to update my far flung family on the Angie. Curt predicted it would last less than a month.

7. Kimber and Berleen (Thunks founders & BFFs) are finally going to meet in person. Who are you friends with in the blogosphere that you'd love to meet? Why? Would my NASCAR knitter peeps be cheating? Because I actually met them on Ravelry, and I am probably the most regular poster.  if not them then, I would say Bud and Thom.  Mostly 'cause they make me laugh, and I think if we went out to dinner we'd have a blast.

8. When you were in high school, if you can remember back that far, what mistake did you make that you'd like to change?  I never took school seriously, I mean I got mostly A's but not by working for them. 

9. Do you believe in forever, as in 'love forever'? I believe in love until I keel over.  Not sure about the eternity thing after that.

10. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, what is you favorite romantic comedy movie?  What?? Seriously don't get the question.

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Antique

 

Deep, rich oiled and waxed

It has felt the touch, known dreams

of those before me. 

A Walk to Remember

This post is not about me, but about my friend Sarah , whom I met on Ravelry.  She is a race fan and a knitter.  She will graduate in 3 weeks,  and it is the accomplishment - she didn't take the easy road to success.  Here's her catch.  She is short $$ to be able to walk to get her diploma.  It would be HUGE for her family to be able to see her go across the stage.  I know this time of year money is short, but she is hosting a raffle on her blog there are some cool prizes - stitchmarkers, wollmeise. For you non-knitters, there is an offer to handknit socks or a shawl from some fabulous yarn.  Entries are $5.  So if you can, please help my friend out.

Happy Birthday Curt!!

Happy Birthday to my other.   I love you (well except when you are picking against my team)


and for those wondering how I got him:

Your Seduction Style: Sweet Talker

Your seduction technique can be summed up with "charm" You know that if you have the chance to talk to someone... Well, you won't be talking for long! ;-) You're great at telling potential lovers what they want to hear. It's partially because you're a great listener and good at complementing. The other part of your formula? Focusing your conversation completely on the other person. Your "sweet talking" ways have taken you far in romance - and in life. You can finesse your way through any difficult situation, with a smile on your face. Speeding tickets, job interviews... bring it on! You truly live a *charmed life*

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!