I'm So Boring!!

5elementknitr tagged me with the '6 Random Things About Me' Meme, which is a good thing since I have no idea what else I would have to blog about.

The rules:

* Link to the person who tagged you.

* Post the rules on your blog.

* Write six random things about yourself.

* Tag six people at the end of your post.

* Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

* Let the tagger know your entry is up.

1. I looked to see who won Emmy awards before deciding if I was going to watch it tonight or not.

2. I secretly watch Family Guy when nobody is around... like now. Okay, well actually my teenage son is watching as well. I'm a bad mommy.

3. My ideal GPS navigator would have the voice of Dr. House and snap at me with wit and sarcasm when I didn't follow its directions.

4. I think riding along with the Blue Angels would be the ultimate experience. But other than that, I would be content to never have to fly again. (It's just not natural.)

5. I got a pair of Lavender Cornsnakes a couple of weeks ago. I picked them out at the reptile convention and am currently keeping them in our over-crowded living room. I've been kind enough to spare you any more snake photos. You're welcome.

6. I laugh out loud when my kids watch Phineas & Ferb.

Bonus: It is possible I have an unhealthy relationship to the TV. More season premieres this week!

Which one are you most excited about?

Do you think Survivor can survive another season?

Are you still upset that House was so mean to Wilson last week? (I am.)

Finally: I am not only boring, but rebellious... so I am not tagging a list of 6 people. But if you have 6 more interesting random things to share, (which should be just about anyone) consider yourself tagged.

Have a wonderful week of season premieres!!

An Interview with the Spouse

I saw this on Sophanne's blog yesterday and thought it would make for some fun Olympic-watching conversation with DH last night.


Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
Ken: Nothing.

Me: (silent glare)
Ken: Okay... It keeps you from talking so much.

Me: (pursed lips)
Ken: I was teasing! Wait… what are you writing?

Wyatt: She’s writing down everything you say.
Ken: What?! I'm just kidding.
Me: Then give me an answer. (pouting) My friend's husband did it.

Ken: Well, what’s the next questions?

Me: (sigh) What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?
Ken: The amount of yarn that we store.

Me: What is something I have knitted that you recall as being good?
Ken: Those socks you did yesterday were really cool. They looked more intricate than the other socks you’ve knit.

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
Ken: Yes!

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
Ken: Yes.

Me: What are your hobbies?
Ken: My snakes, guitars, and bikes.

Me: If we compared money spent on hobbies, who would win?
Ken: You, at this point.

Me: But overall, honey?
Ken: But my biking hobby will prolong my life because it’s healthy. I’m not just sitting in one spot.

Me: What about the guitars and snakes?
Ken: Snakes make money.
Me: How?
Ken: Breeding and selling.
Me: Back to the original question. If we compared money spent on hobbies, who would win?
Ken: Me.

Me: Has my knitting in public ever embarrassed you?
Ken: No.

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?
Ken: That stuff you just got that you won.
Me: That would be the Wollmeise.
Ken: Yeah.

Me: Can you name another blog?
Ken: The Yarn Harlot, then there’s the Pioneer Woman.
Me: Very good.

Me: Do you mind that I want to check out yarn stores everywhere we go?
Ken: No.

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
Ken: Yeah… the Swedish love those watches.
Me: Ha ha... seriously though...
Ken: Yeah, it's one of those balls of yarn.
Me: No, but that's not really a fair question because I don't knit swatches.

Me: Do you read my blog?
Ken: Yes.

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?
Ken: Wouldn’t matter.

Me: Returning to the first question… What is your favorite thing about my knitting.
Ken: Answering questions like this so I can be a part of your blog.





Further commentary on my part just seems unnecessary at this point.

I'm a Winner!

Sheri had a contest on her blog a couple weeks ago to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of The Loopy Ewe... and I was one of the winners! (Insert mental image of middle aged woman doing dorky happy dance around the living room.)

My prize arrived today... wanna see?

This cute little canvas tote and a Wendy Johnson sock pattern. (I lurve Wendy's sock patterns.)




And what's that inside???


Lime & Violet Shuanmi Sock in "Shiny"!


and...




wait for it....




wait for it...




my very own skein of...




Wollmeise! (More happy dancing.)



The colorway is "am kalten Polar" and I couldn't have picked a better color if I had gotten to choose it myself. I. Am. In. Love.

I tried. I did. But there is no way to capture the vibrant colors with my mere mortal camera. I couldn't pick up the deep and blue purple transition colors. But they're there... your just gonna have to believe me.



I know exactly what I'm going to knit with this yarn too! Empoisonnee from the new Twist Collective. My Ravelympic WIP Wrestling stamina is waning with each passing moment.

One more look. All together now... say "Loopy"!


And remember...



Thank you Sheri!!!!!

Rambling and Venting Ahead

I love blogging. I love meeting so many interesting people and the new friends I've made. I get ridiculously thrilled when I find somebody who shares a common point of view or quirk (especially quirk), and I have also enjoyed a couple of respectful discussions on points of difference with people who I otherwise might have never had a chance to sit down and chat with, or get to know better... people who I also now consider my friends.


Sometimes I'm just all full of blogging love.


I think it is mostly because there seems to exist, at least in the majority of knitting blogs, a respect for their guests. The "hot topics" of religion and politics tend to be ignored, downplayed, or at least respectfully approached, and ideas are shared without name calling or ridicule. This gives us a chance to get to know each other as people... not just as labels. Ugh... I'm struggling with phrasing here, but, maybe since so much of my time is spent with children, other SAHMs and my like-minded friends, I really love how blogging has expanded my social circles to include such a variety of fascinating people.


And then comes Ravelry. I LOVE Ravelry! The organization, the creativity, the patterns, the ability to see every Clapotis that has ever been knit! Priceless! And there are groups (forums) for everything (and I do mean everything) on Ravelry. I have met some wonderful people there too... and that seemed like fun at first too.


But something is making me sad.

While the forums provide a great opportunity to unite with other people who share your interests (from significant to trivial), it seems to me that they end up breeding a lot more division than unity. And I think that's a shame. There is something less personal about the message board or forum format that seems to make people feel they can check their manners at the door. I actually stopped visiting homeschooling forums years ago for this very reason. People (especially in the general forums) just get downright rude... and not only that, I find people visiting groups just to insult or disagree with the members. Why? I mean really... why?!


The real kicker was a visit I made to an LYS yesterday only to endure a gathering of women who raucously discussed a variety of topics (including politics) with very little concern for the other shoppers in the store. Now don't get me wrong... I am in no way offended by the political views of others... but when insults and condescending remarks have to be thrown into the mix, I think it's just rude. They even started making fun of other Ravelry groups. Hello! You're in a yarn store... do ya think you might be insulting somebody standing next to you?


So, sadly, my illusion of knitting unity and love has been shattered. Sniff.

And my tooth is infected and needs a root canal... or so my dentist informed me when I called him today with unmanageable pain. Now I have antibiotics and "House meds" as my friend up north calls them. So if I sound cantankerous... or don't make sense, that may be why. At least we'll go with that, 'kay?

What's Your Flavor?

I'm not sure about the results... but I do love Rocky Road ice cream.



What flavor are you??

Summer Goals

Ali at Skeins Her Way holds a contest each summer. The prize is some wonderful new Blue Sky Skinny Cotton with one of her patterns. The timing is perfect for me because I was just thinking that I should make a list because I'm suspecting that my "goals" may becoming a bit unreasonable ridiculous more than I can handle. So here goes...

Finish:
Lace Ribbon Scarf
Juno Regina
Tuscany
Clapotis

Garments:
Noro Carlotta
Labyrinth by Wendy Bernard
The Perfect White Summer Cardigan (more on that later)
Dream in Color Shrug

Shawls/Wraps/Scarves:
Gilda (beaded scarf) Completed 6/19
Swallowtail Shawl Completed 6/29
Heather Beaded Undulating Waves Scarf
Ene's Scarf


Socks:
Lots


Those are only the things that come to mind (are sitting within my line of sight). The list actually doesn't look too bad... but I definitely need to get busy!


BTW - For those of you who asked about my computer. The darling child known as my youngest son (or "Mud" at the moment) threw it when I told him it was time to get off Lego.com. The black is one of those weird color blobs within the display but the whole screen is shattered inside as well. Does military school take 5 year olds?

Make My Day

What better way to start my week than with a kind, encouraging gesture from a blogging friend! Yarnhog has awarded me with this "You Make My Day" Award!

There are so many blogs that I look forward to each day, and it's very heartwarming to think that somebody feels the same way about mine.

So here's the deal, "Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

Now there are most definitely more than 10 blogs on my bloglines list, so this is hard. I mean, if I didn't like you and your blog I wouldn't be visiting right? But it says choose 10, so I'm going to try to stick to the rules...

Auntie Pudentaine

Becca at Forward Motion

Julie at Good Yarns (my local pal)

Lynda at Knit Together

Wendy at Knit & Tonic

Angelika at Knit Wiz

Marie Grace Yarn Slayer

Michelle at Miknits

Maria at Passing Down Crazy

Donna at Quiet Life

and, of course, Suzanne at Yarnhog would be on any such list I had to make!

Thank you all for making me day!

And the Winner Is....

Life finally slowed down enough for us to take a few minutes to draw a winner for my contest. First off I really enjoyed your comments and found great comfort in knowing that so many of you share the same struggles as me. I could pretty much ditto everything you said.

Anyway, after some swift negotiating, the Wy-Guy won the opportunity to pick the name... and the winner is...
Dana!


Dana - Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll get the book out to you.

I want to say thank you to everyone for participating! I'll try to get a real post in later as I do have a couple of things to share but this one was delayed so I didn't want to wait any longer.

8 Random Facts & Minimalist Tip

Thanks Donna for tagging me with the following Meme! I think being tagged is terribly fun although I have no idea what to say when I am. How do I come up with 8 random facts? How do I stop at 8?


Being a bit obsessive (which is not at all a random fact but probably general knowledge by now), I have struggled with this all day. Since I also struggle with blank-mind syndrome when put on the spot, I've decided just to ramble off the first things that come to mind...


8 Random Facts...

1. I refuse to ask for directions or the location of a product in the grocery store. I will search hopefully for a ridiculous amount of time.

2. If I do ask for directions, I will forget them and be lost again almost immediately anyway.


3. I flunked out of my first year of college. (Hey, it was UC Santa Barbara, I was distracted. I later graduated from CSUN.)


4. Movie scenes with people singing in cars always crack me up. (Think Tommy Boy, Corky Romano, Vacation, etc. Don't know why, but it gets me everytime.)


5. I met my husband while stopped at a red light 20 years ago. He was a passenger in the car next to me.


6. I love public speaking (but struggle horribly with one-on-one small talk).


7. I am a major procrastinator.


8. I will think of at least 3 more interesting things I should've posted instead as soon as I hit "Publish" and it will drive me crazy all night.

*********************

BTW - Yesterday's plan was a success! The Minimalist back is complete, I've cast on for the front and even managed to find some complementary sock yarn in my stash. To top it off, I even got the laundry done today... because after all, it's perfectly acceptable to do laundry on a school day, but knitting like crazy all day... not so much.

My tip... When I started the front of the cardigan the bottom rolled up horribly. Like this...

I was concerned at first and spent some time searching Ravelry and the web. I saw that some people had added ribbing and some had switched the stitch pattern, but being one who needs to make mistakes for myself in order to learn, I proceeded with the pattern as written.

Now, I don't know what the final result will be, but I can tell you that as the piece grew longer the urge of the stockinette to curl in overcame it's desire to curl up, so the bottom does lay flat now... well, at least it's curling in instead of up.

*************************

Now, as for tagging... how about...

Julie
Miknits
Knitwiz
Becca
Octopus Knits

Can You Guess Who?

So last night while I was knitting away on Montego Bay, I did some TV viewing as well. Have you seen the new show, The Singing Bee? We watched the first one just to see how lame such a show could possibly be... and while it is fairly lame... I do have fun trying to sing along. I also find great comfort in learning that there's a whole world full of people out there who can't sing either.


Then we had the great disappointment of realizing that Pirate Master, Mark Burnett's Survivor-with-a-Pirate-twist, had been cancelled mid-season. With all the really shameless reality shows on TV, I was surprised that they would cancel one mid-season. True, it wasn't what I'd call captivating... or even good, but my 8 yo loved it. The remaining episodes are playing on CBS.com so he got to skim through that and tell us who was cast-off.


I was up late enough to see Rob Schneider as Lindsey Lohan, who had apparently needed to cancel at the last minute (what a surprise), on the Tonight Show... and even some Conan O'Brien who tends to make me laugh in spite of myself.

But in between I watched some of a TV series I rented on DVD.

Who is that fine gentleman walking down the street...


and sipping tea in bed?

That should help.

Can you name the actor? How about the TV series... can you name the TV series too? There's a prize in it for you if you can!! Maybe, hmmm, sock yarn.

ETA: Uberstrickenfrau was right on. It's Hugh Laurie in Jeeves & Wooster. An old British TV series in which he plays a rather foolish, hopeless man of wealth who is often rescued from his foibles by his butler Jeeves (Stephen Fry). It's especially enjoyable because the character is so different from Dr. House, yet the expressions and mannerisms are so much the same... only silly instead of sarcastic.

And yes, DH is well aware of my House crush... but knows the two of us wouldn't last an hour in the same room together... plus, you know, the whole fictional character thing is a problem.

Rock On!

I love this blogging thing! Honestly, I don't know how we (at least, I) survived before the internet. I have vague memories of trolling the mall for just the right clothes, traipsing all over town trying to find Christmas gifts and that one hard to find toy that my son had to have, and especially thinking that I was weird just because the limited circle of people I was geographically connected with didn't get it when I thought something was just the coolest. (Come on... there's got to be at least a few of you who still know the Time Warp.)

Over the last (almost) year, I have met some of the most interesting people around the world (and I must say I am much better at getting to know somebody when I don't have to struggle through the awkward small talk thing). Fascinating, intelligent, creative women who have become a part of my daily life... and even better, most of them make me feel less weird and more normal! This may not sound like such a good thing but it is... really.

Anyway, because I just love this blogging community, I was thrilled, and totally surprised, to be named a "Rockin' Blogger" by Ruth at 5elementknitr!

Very cool!

I now get to pass on the nod to 5 more blogs, but I have no idea how to limit it to 5. Here's a few that come to mind.

Knit Together... Lynda is one of the first bloggers I "met", virtually and in person. She makes me laugh.

Forward Motion - because I think Becca and I could do some intense damage yarn shopping together!

Miknits - Michelle is an amazing sock designer and knitter. I want her sock speed!

Knit & Tonic - Of course! Witty, creative and talented... we all know she rocks!

Knit Wiz - Angelika is talented and encouraging. Plus she's a military wife thereby deserving of much admiration!

Quiet Life - because Donna is my morning encouragement every day!

and one more...

Good Yarns - Julie is my only local friend who knits and blogs along with me... thereby making her my only local friend who doesn't think I've got a screw loose. (Whether or not I do is another subject entirely.)

Oops... more than 5. Well, I would've liked to include a lot more so I don't think I did too bad.

Rock on blogging sistahs!

Oh, and don't forget to pass the Rockin' love on.

Eight Things About Me

This is my first time ever being tagged! What fun... thanks Laura.

First, the rules: For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I go to Starbucks for a Venti Iced Mocha every morning. I think I need the brief escape from the house each morning as much as I need the caffeine.


2. I taught my husband to beat the first Super Mario Brothers game when we were dating (I'm still pretty sure that's why he married me), I have the fastest time in our family on Tetris, and I am the only member of my family to have beaten Super Mario 64.


3. I am easily addicted to video/computer games.


4. I'm an introvert and homebody. Unless knitting is involved, I'd rather stay home and read a good book than attend any kind of social event.


5. I lived in 7 states by the time I was 11. (Dad was in Marines)


6. I still like chocolate sprinkles on my ice cream.

7. My husband asked me out on our first date at a red light after seeing each other in a music store.

8. Ummm... I'm 1/8 Gypsy... but I'm not sure if that's good or bad... but surely interesting. Maybe?

Now... who should I tag? Julie, Charity, Marie Grace, Becca, Michelle, Amanda, Knitnerd, and Wendy.

A Little Splashing and a Contest!

I'm here, but no new knitting to show you, unless you want to see the heel I turned on a sock today. Nah... probably not. Today was spent at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor where my time was devoted to my youngest since I had promised that I would be able to play with him all day today. There was no shortage of play area for a little guy like him... and he wanted me next to him at every moment. My pleas of "But Mommy won't fit down that slide," meant absolutely nothing to him. But it was worth every slide and splash since he can never get enough Mommy-time and it's one thing that can be spread a bit thin around here. So we slid and we splashed and we floated around with Brother on a rented 2 person inner tube. The boys even managed to get Dad to take the day off work to go with us, so I'd have to rate it as a great day.

Note: Yes, pictures of wet, splashing, happy boys would be great about now... but, of course, I forgot my camera. I mean, it's not like I was going yarn shopping or anything. (Ugh!)

Anyway, all that said... I really don't care for water parks. What I do like are the big roller coasters we could see at Six Flags Magic Mountain right next door. I like things with tracks... built by brilliant engineers... technologically designed to give you the maximum thrill within a precise range of safety and structural guidelines. Fast, sideways, upside down, all around - bring it on. But water slides? In my opinion, they just leave way too much room for human error. No tracks, no stability. I mean how do they no that any given slide will provide the necessary safety for a person of unspecified weight, size, or, well, wiggling? Rafts can tip, people can flip... and as for the enclosed dark tubes... nope, I can't even talk about it.

So I'll talk about knitting. Actually, I'm going to direct you to a blog I just found (through Kaity's blog) and let her talk to you about knitting and a contest she's having right now. Ali is a designer for Blue Sky Alpacas and a fellow homeschooler! (I thought that was way cool.)

BTW - She designed this Eyelet Cardigan here which has had my attention for some time.



Well, one of the contest rules is to make a list of summer knitting goals. Although I don't really have many specific goals myself... and I especially hate to put anything down in writing since I tend to rebel against even my own best intentions (remember my, what was it, 2 week attempt at Knit from Your Stash 2007?), the contest is simple and involves possibly winning yarn, so I'm in!



My Summer Goals (on which I'm sure to look back and laugh):



Finish Mom's Tulip
Finish Bonita
Finish Lutea Lace-Shoulder Shell
White Cardigan (more of an obsession really than a goal)
At least one other summer tank or top
6 pairs of socks (yes, really, this will be necessary to make up for my recent sock yarn splurges)



I'm stopping there. I would like to think that I'll knit several tops, dozens of socks, and a great wrap. But I'm trying to keep at least one foot on the ground here.



What are your goals???

Just for Fun

It's raining and Sahara has been joined (pictures soon I promise)!

Both of these are big news for our household (well, maybe not the Sahara so much for everyone... I mean, the kids aren't begging to run around with it like they're begging to run around in the rain... but for me it is!)

Now, the just for fun...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I got a kick out of this because I am from Ohio (plus small stints in a few other states such as Florida, New York, Virginia, Missouri and Connecticut) but have spent most of my life here in So. California.